Principal, Deputy Nabbed Over Illegal Fees

The principal of a public school in Oyo State and his deputy (both names withheld) have been apprehended in Ibadan over illegal collection of fees.

The Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Tokunbo Fayokun, announced the arrests at a news conference in Ibadan, saying the task force set up by the education ministry to check the collection of unapproved fees from parents and students took the measure.

She explained that the task force was constituted to make life bearable for parents and guardians, and ensure that the cost of education was affordable.

“The task force proceeded in its task on Wednesday and succeeded in apprehending some principals who engaged in the act.”

The commissioner said the principals were apprehended following a tip-off from concerned parents and expressed regret that in spite of government’s directive that illegal fee collections in public schools should stop, some principals still indulged in the unwholesome act.

She said the task force would continue to comb schools across the state to apprehend erring principals.

Fayokun urged principals to comply with the guidelines on placement and registration of JSS I students as contained in the ministry’s circular, warning that any official who flouted the guidelines would be severely dealt with.

The commissioner advised parents who had paid such fees on behalf of their wards to immediately seek refund from the concerned schools.