The Deputy Chief of Staff, Government House Abakaliki, Chief Okechukwu Nwapku yesterday, directed for the immediate suspension and demotion of the principals of Community Junior High School, Eka-Awoke and Nsuba Okpuitumo, for their alleged involvement in the illegal collection of fees from the students, even as the principal of Community Junior High School Igweledoha, was sacked over alleged negligence to duty.
Nwakpu, directed that the Principals be removed while monitoring compliance of effective teaching and learning in both primary and secondary schools in Ebonyi State as directed by Governor David Umahi.
He said the principals of Community Junior High School, Eka-Awoke and Nsuba Okpuitumo, allegedly collected money from the students which ranged from N1500-N4500 as registration fee for JSS1 as against the directive of the state government.
He said, “The State Government before now ordered that no child in Ebonyi state should pay any money to any teacher or principal in the name of anything apart from the approved N800 for security, sports and badge fees”.
“But the two Principals connived with some teachers and were illegally collecting money from the students. As directed by the Governor, this is an act of fraud which will be investigated further and adequate punishment melted to the perpetrators to serve as warning to others that may want to indulge in such illegal act”.
Nwakpu thereafter directed that they be suspended and transferred to Community Secondary School, Echialike and Community Secondary School Ndegu Echara, respectively as class room teachers where they will be properly monitored.
He said that the state government has continued to urge parents to desist from paying any fee to anyone emphasizing that Education in Ebonyi state has remained free.
At Community Junior High School Igweledoha, the Deputy Chief of Staff Government House Abakaliki, disclosed that the Junior Principal was removed from office over alleged negligence, nonchalant attitude and acts inconsistent with the educational policy of the state government.
He said the Principal at about 11am allowed students to roam the community while they were expected to be in their different classes, adding that aside those roaming the community, the Principal also failed to ensure that teachers go into their different classrooms to teach the students.
He said many of the teachers despite being in school by 8am, were all in school till 11am as at the time of visit but were seen in the staff room discussing.
Nwakpu directed the immediate removal of the principal while the second in rank was asked to take over as the Acting Principal till further directives.
The team who monitored schools within Ikwo local government area of the state said that the exercise was part of the state government commitment in making sure that teachers carry out their duties and to checkmate the incessant cases of extortion of parents.
Some of the schools monitored include; Community Junior High School Eka-Awoke, Community Junior High School Igweledoha and Community Junior High School Nsuba Okpuitumo respectively.
He further said that the State Governor directed that all the public schools in the state be monitored and supervised every single day to ensure that the activities of both the workers in Development Centres, students in public schools and teachers are well checkmated.