Rivers State Government has suspended the Principal of Government Secondary school, Borikiri, Mr. Ella Ewoh for collecting money from 61 external students in place of the bonifade  students, thereby denying the legitimate students the opportunity to write their examinations.
Speaking to newsmen during monitoring of the on going Senior Secondus School Examination in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State Commissioner for Education, Prof Chinedu Mmom added that the suspension would serve as deterrent to others.
He explained that the Rivers State Government, under the administration of Governor Nyesom Wike, has paid all WAEC fees for students both indigenes and non-indigenes, adding that any Principal caught collecting money in any form will face the full wrath of the law.
“Information reaching me is that some schools, the Principals and some of the staff forced the students to pay certain money for what I do not know, this is illegal and we frown at that. Any principal, any supervisor,  any invigilator, any teacher that is caught will be shown the way out.
“I want to re-emphasise that students are not to pay any money to be admitted into any examination hall. The examination hall has been paid for by the Rivers State Government, so, we are sending our people to monitor this examination across the State on daily basis, so, any person or group of persons that are culprits will be handed over to security agencies, so they are disciplined according to the law,” Mmom said.
The commissioner while encouraging students to remain focused and committed to their studies, and work hard said, there is no short cut to success.
“I started the way you are today, but today, I am a Professor and the commissioner for Education and I am sure some of you want to be Commissioner in the state as time goes on, but know that there is no short cut, so all that is expected of you is to work very hard. I encourage you to study very assiduously, do your assignments and read your books.”
The Tide reports that the schools visited included Government Girls Secondary School, Rumueme, Community Secondary School, Oroworukwo and Model Secondary School, G.R.A., Port Harcourt.

By: Susan Serekara-Nwikhana