By Magnus Emuji
The Delta State Government has decried the unwholesome attitudes of some principals in the state public secondary schools who yield to the temptation of collecting illegal levies from parents.
In a statement by the state Commissioner for Secondary Education, Mrs Rose Ezewu, signed by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, Mr Augustine Ede Oghoro, said such act was unhealthy to the growth and development of the education sector in the state.
Mr Oghoro said that the only approved levies for new students who seek admission into public secondary schools in the state is ₦1, 250 while old and returning students would pay the sum of ₦1, 050 for registration unpon resumption.
The statement added that rather than adhere to such approved levies, many principals have resorted to collecting between ₦15, 000 and ₦25,000 from parents and guardians of students.
The PS also advised principals not to compel the students to buy uniforms from the start and provide buckets, mobs, soap, among other items, stressing that parents could sew school uniforms for their children in open market.
He, however, advised parents not to be intimidated and succumb to such outrageous levies but report the erring principals to the state Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, adding that those found culpable would be punished in accordance with the extant Rules and Regulations.
Mr. Oghoro disclosed that the officials of the Ministry have gone round the state to ascertain the levies that were being collected from new and returning students.
