DELTA PRINCIPAL TO REFUND N11m ILLEGALLY COLLECTED FROM STUDENTS

The Delta state government has sanctioned 15 persons involved in the collection of unauthorized levies from students in public primary and secondary schools in the state.

A statement by the state Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Chief Patrick Ukah, in Asaba on Wednesday, disclosed that the sanctions followed the findings of a Board of Enquiry set up by the ministry whose reports have been approved by the state Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa.

According to the statement, Mr. Ishmael Omolade, has been removed as the Principal of Ogor Technical College, Otor-Ogor, and is to refund the sum of N11,124,800.00 he illegally collected from students in the 2017/2018 and 2018/2019 academic sessions.

Mr Omolade has been posted to the headquarters of the Technical and Vocational Education Board in Asaba, while normal disciplinary procedures would be initiated for his early exit from the service.

Also, the Principals of the 5 other Technical Colleges in the state are to be issued letters of warning for engaging in illegal collection of levies from students and to forestall future occurrence.

They are to refund the amounts illegally collected from students and examination candidates to them.

The Chief Inspector of Education in Sapele local Government Area, Mrs. Patience Ishegbe, is to be recalled back to Headquarters and queried, just as the Chief Inspector of Education in the Ministry of Education Oshimili North field office, Mrs. Marian Oju, and that of Isoko North field office of the Ministry, Mr. Fidelis Ogbotobo, have been recalled to the Headquarters of the Ministry.

Furthermore, Mrs Veronica Igbigwe has been removed as Head Teacher, demoted by one grade level and posted out of Okotie Eboh Primary School 1, Sapele, while the exact amount of unauthorized levy collected is to be determined for her to refund.

The Chairman and Secretary of the Association of Primary School Heads(AOPSHON), Sapele Local Government chapter, Mr. Obukohwo Victor Iguele and Mr. Akpore Umuhurhu, were demoted by one salary grade level and posted out of their present schools.

They have also been barred from heading any school for the next two academic sessions.

The Head of Personnel Management (HPM), Sapele Local Education Authority, Mrs. Irene Egberi, was demoted by one grade level and posted to SUBEB Headquarters, Mr. Monday Edoki, who at the time of the committee’s investigation was a political appointee, is to be sanctioned upon his return to his official place of work.

The Acting Head of Okotie Eboh Primary School 1, Sapele, Mr. Julius Bovi Mereti, was reverted back to his position as classroom teacher and posted out of the school.

The ministry revealed that the measure was the outcome of the first phase of investigations carried out by the Board of Enquiry, adding that in due course more names would be released to serve as a deterrent to Heads of public primary and secondary schools in the state and Chief Inspectors of Education in various field offices of the ministry.

It warned that the state government will no longer condone the collection of unauthorized levies in public schools in the state.

The Board of Enquiry was set up by the ministry following public outcry over rampant reports of collection of unauthorized levies in public primary and secondary schools in the state.