The Ondo State Government has disciplined two secondary school principals for allegedly collecting unauthorized fees and items from students in public schools.
The Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Prof. Igbekele Ajibefun, revealed this in Akure on Tuesday during an interview with journalists.
While withholding the names of the principals and their schools, Ajibefun said they were implicated in the unlawful collection of charges beyond approved levies.
He explained that some parents had lodged complaints with the ministry, alleging that certain principals demanded unapproved payments and items from students. The commissioner expressed concern that some headteachers and principals persist in imposing levies not sanctioned by the government.
“We have sanctioned two principals in the last few days.
“The two principals were collecting illegal money from students. Even before the resumption for the new term, they’ve started collecting money from the students.
“We summoned them to the ministry and they confessed because we’ve received credible information from parents, and when we confronted them with the allegations, they couldn’t deny.
“They have been queried and the punishment will follow.
“It is to let them know that we are serious about what we are saying, and to let them know that this era is different,” Ajibefun said.