The state Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Mr. Patrick Ukah, in a statement in Asaba, stated that the state government has zero tolerance for illegal levies, reiterating that any principal or school head caught in the act would be made to face the full wrath of the law.
He disclosed that some of them are presently been investigated on allegations of collection of illegal levies, adding that those found culpable will face appropriate disciplinary actions.
The Commissioner listed the approved levies for public primary schools to include school badge for primary one to primary six, N50.00 every 3 years, report cards for primary one and transfer pupils, N250.00 every 6 years, consumables for primary one to primary six, N100.00 per term.
“For students in public post primary schools, all students are to pay N150.00 every session for school badge, N200.00 every 3 years for students identity card, N200.00 termly for consumables, and SS 1 to SS 3, N300.00 termly for sports/NSSF levy.
“All students, including transfer students, will pay N250.00 termly for customized online result, while JS 1 to SS 1 and transfer students are to pay N150.00 for student’s file every three years, adding that all the payments are normally made into the school accounts”, the statement added.
The government vowed to descend heavily on Principals and School Heads who indulge in the collection of illegal levies in public primary and post primary schools in the state.
He said that parents and guardians who pay such illegal levies are encouraging the Principals and School Heads to do what they are doing and charged them to resist it and report such erring Principal or School Head to the appropriate authority for necessary action.
Mr. Ukah cautioned Principals and School Heads involved in the ignoble act to retrace their steps and turn a new leaf as any of them that collects a kobo more than the approved levies would be sanctioned appropriately.
Mr. Ukah stated that even if the Parents’ Teachers’ Associations (PTAs) of schools are to do any intervention in any school, such decision must be taken during a general meeting of the body where the members will agree on a particular amount to be paid and approval given by the Commissioner for the collection to be legal.
The Basic and Secondary Education Commissioner clarified that the money collected should be paid into the account of the PTA whose executive officers are expected to disburse the funds to meet the objective for which the levy was agreed on.
