Amaechi Orders Principals To Refund Illegal Fees

Rivers State Governor Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi presenting a trophy to Oromineke Girls Secondary School, winner of the Independence Day march parade in Port Harcourt, Monday

Rivers State Governor, Rt Hon Chibuike Amaechi has
reiterated that government will not compromise its free education policy, as he
directed school principals who have collected fees from parents to refund them
latest Monday next week or face sanctions.

The governor gave the directive during an unscheduled visit
to some schools yesterday in Port Harcourt and Obio/Akpor local government
areas.

Amaechi expressed displeasure at a situation where some
school principals collected fees from parents in the name of registration
saying,” there is no column in our policy that allows principals to collect
education fees. So what we have directed is that between now and Monday these
principals must refund the students all their monies…So, all school teachers
who are collecting money from students must refund to the parents.

He described the fees as illegal since the free education
introduced by government does not allow for any tuition, nor registration fee
as being collected by the school principals, adding that, government has
provided for all expenses.

Investigations carried out by The Tide show that various
fees are being charged by some of the school heads thereby defrauding parents
whose children and wards study in these public schools.

The Tide gathered that there is no receipt covering the fees
as a ploy to cover the fraud. The explanation by the authorities is that the
N15,000 covers schools uniform and sport wears.

In most public schools in Etche Local Government Area and
other remote areas of the state, various forms of illegal fees are being paid
by parents.

Against this backdrop, Governor Amaechi disclosed plans by
his administration to beef up inspection in schools, hinting that already, a
bill has been sent to the state House of Assembly in that regard.

In the same vein, Governor Amaechi has directed the
Commissioner for Education to expand structures in the premises of Community
Comprehensive Secondary School, Rumukrushi in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area.

While carrying out an unscheduled to the school yesterday,
the governor frowned at the dilapidated structures and congestion in the
school.

He said that government will build new classroom blocks to
accommodate the huge students population in the school.