ASABA/Nigeria: Delta State’s Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Mrs. Rose Ezewu, has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to delivering on its democratic promises, as outlined in the PDP election manifesto.
Mrs. Ezewu made this declaration on Monday, September 18, 2023, during an enlarged meeting involving top management personnel from the ministry, Chief Inspectors of Education (CIEs), and secondary school principals spanning across the Delta Central and South Senatorial Districts.
The commissioner used the occasion to address the ongoing rumuors circulating in the media, alleging that certain school principals were engaging in unauthorized collections of substantial sums from parents seeking admission for their children into basic and secondary schools within the state.
Expressing her deep concern over this matter, Mrs. Ezewu emphasized that despite the state government’s relentless efforts to ensure universal access to basic and secondary education for all Deltans, some principals were undermining these plans by levying fees far in excess of state-approved guidelines. She sternly warned that any principal found culpable would face demotion and legal consequences, along with the Chief Inspector of Education in their respective local government areas.
Ezewu also highlighted the insensitivity of such unauthorized collections during the current economic hardships faced by citizens across the nation.
On his part, Mr. Anthony Eda, the coordinator of the education monitoring team, revealed during his briefing that the team was taken aback when they discovered that some teachers had transformed school premises into trading hubs.
According to Mr. Eda, teachers and principals in certain schools were involved in selling food items, school supplies, and sewing uniforms for students at exorbitant prices, a clear violation of their professional responsibilities.
Mr. Eda firmly stated that his team would not hesitate to report such individuals to the Ministry of Education if they did not promptly cease their unethical behaviour. He emphasised that teachers were expected to serve as role models for their students and the broader society and expressed concern that they had deviated from their primary educational duties. He called upon the Chief Inspectors of Education to cooperate in curbing this disturbing trend.
