The Abia State government has issued a warning to headteachers and principals in public schools who are charging unauthorized fees from students, stating that they will face disciplinary action if found guilty.
The warning came from Okey Kanu, the state’s Information Commissioner, during a press briefing at the Government House in Umuahia, following Monday’s State Executive Council meeting.
Kanu highlighted that these actions are in violation of the state’s free and compulsory education policy for public primary and junior secondary schools.
The commissioner explained that the government had introduced a funding mechanism to support school operations, making the collection of unauthorized fees unjustifiable.
He said, “The state government will not tolerate such dishonest actions. Those found guilty will face strict legal consequences, including possible dismissal.”
Kanu also provided an update on the ongoing teacher recruitment process.
From March 31 to April 4, the final stage of the recruitment, which included certificate verification and oral interviews, was completed. Around 7,000 applicants, including 180 people with disabilities, who scored 45% and above have been shortlisted.
Those who scored between 40% and 44% will be placed on a reserve list to fill vacancies if needed.
This initiative, Kanu noted, will also help the government establish a comprehensive database of qualified teachers to meet the future staffing demands as more students enroll due to the free education initiative.
He further mentioned that a second round of recruitment would be held for those who missed the first phase.
To improve the quality of education, the state government has partnered with the Education Reformation and Innovation Team to train 2,200 teachers statewide.
This large-scale training, aimed at enhancing teaching effectiveness and improving learning outcomes, will take place from April 10 to 19 across three centers in Aba, Umuahia, and Ohafia.
Goodluck Ubochi, the Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, clarified that while the free education policy applies to primary and junior secondary school students, Senior Secondary School students will be charged a small tuition fee of N3,300.
He added that the recruitment drive aims to address the increasing need for teachers, particularly in technical and vocational subjects, where there is a significant shortage of qualified educators.