Afam Aminu Chimezie,Onitsha
Despite Gov.Chukwuma Soludo's free education policy in all public primary and secondary schools in Anambra State, management of Oreze ll Primary School under Onitsha North Education Authority is bent on collecting school fees and other illegal levies from pupils amounting to N13,000 in the school.
The school which is named after Onitsha first king, Igwe Oreze has been a subject of controversy since two years ago due to illegal collection of school fees among other fees not approved by government.
It was gathered that the former Headmistress of the school, one Mrs. Anastacia who spent only one academic session in the school has been transferred to New Bethel Primary School, Onitsha North Education Authority after much pressure as parents alleged that she failed to summon PTA meeting for two terms where important issues affecting the school should be discussed.
The current school head and Headmistress of the school, Mrs. S. Ibe told journalists who visited the school yesterday over the allegation that there was no demand of N13,000 from pupils as she was aware of the State Government free education policy in public primary and secondary schools.
When pressed further over the allegation she said that her school belongs to the category of "Public/Mission" and not "Public/Public School and referred the press to Education Department, Diocese on the Niger.
Mrs. Ibe stated that some schools were not properly captured by the State Government before the free education policy was introduced.
She disclosed that Diocese on the Niger was responsible for any renovation work on the school and thereby answerable to the Diocese.
When asked whose responsibility it was for payment of salaries and other entitlements, the primary school head responded that it was the State Government who also makes annual donations to both Catholic and Anglican schools .
However,the school seems not yet ready to summon a PTA meeting where such matters could be trashed for the good of all parties.
Our correspondent gathered from two parents, Mr. Kachi Obiekwe and Mrs. Deborah Ugwummadu that Oreze ll Primary School Management is deliberately avoiding termly PTA meeting until after the collection of the illegal fees.
From investigation,there is no difference between when school fees were paid and now that free education has been introduced in Anambra State run public schools.
Our correspondent also gathered that pupils of the same school are forced to bring brooms, soap, toilet tissues among others. This has become a termly exercise in most public and mission owned primary schools even when Gov. Soludo had banned such illegal demands.
The brooms, soaps and toilet tissues which are the biggest market size are allegedly sold to ready buyers and proceeds shared among the teachers.
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Education