Ondo govt probes collection of illegal fees claim in public schools

By Boye Oyeyemi

The Ondo State Government says it has begun an investigation into allegations of illegal fee collections in public schools across the state.

This was disclosed by the Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Bekele Ajibefun, during a stakeholders’ meeting held on Thursday at Fiwasaye Girls’ School in Akure.

Ajibefun said the ministry had directed area education officers in all local government areas to submit detailed records of school fee collections for verification.

He also urged individuals who have complaints about the alleged illegal charges to present credible evidence in otder to assist the investigation, assuring that anyone found culpable would face the full wrath of the law.

The commissioner further warned school principals and head teachers against imposing unnecessary financial burdens on parents and guardian, while calling on the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools to advise its members to moderate their fees in order to ease pressure on parents.

Ajibefun stressed that stakeholders must collaborate to improve the education sector, noting that the government alone can not shoulder the responsibility of funding education.