COVID-19: Abia to sanction private schools that collect over 30% school fees
Governor Ikpeazu
By UCHE NWOSU
Dr Kanelechi Nwangwa, Abia State Commissioner for Education, has warned heads of Private Schools in the state against flouting the state government’s approved guideline which is the collection of 30 percent school fees from their pupils and students in the current 2019/2020 academic calendar.
He insisted on Sunday in Umuahia that any school that fails to comply with the directive will receive adequate sanction from the government. The Abia State Commissioner for Education expressed worry that some of the schools he visited on Friday to ascertain the level of compliance to the government’s directive were playing ignorant of the rule.
The commissioner therefore encouraged parents to report any private school flouting the order to the Ministry or Area Inspectorate Department in their locality, adding that because of the devastating effects of the COVD-19, the government came out with the policy as a way of easing its debilitate ugly effects on parents.
He observed that State Executive Council through the electronic and print media announced measures to be followed by head teachers of private schools and that based on that the government will not hesitate to sanction such school for financial violation.
It will be recalled that the government, after its executive council (EXCO) on Thursday, September 24, 2020 announced the immediate reopening of all primary and post primary schools in the state on Monday, September 28.
The government added in the statement that the private schools’ proprietors were expected to take their 2019/2020 third term examinations before the commencement of their 2020/20/21 academic year.
He however stated that the first term for the 2020/2021 academic session will commence on October 23, 2020, pointing out examinations for the yet-to-be concluded 2019/2020 third term examinations suspended because COVID-19 outbreak should start from October 5, 2020.
He expressed shock that some private school heads, after the reopening of schools, drove away pupils and students in their schools over nonpayment of complete school fees, describing it as “unacceptable” (Sunday Independent)
