The Ondo State Government has warned teachers in the state, particularly, secondary school principals to desist from any form of extortion of parents and guardians under the guise of collecting fees for textbooks and uniforms.
The Commissioner for Education, Laolu Akindolire, during a programme organised by the state Commissioner for Information, Wale Akinlosotu at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Press Centre in Akure, for state government officials to give stewardship of their offices.
The Commissioner reaffirmed that the state government will not tolerate any action of indiscipline from any school principal who indulge in collecting unauthorized fee from parents and pupils of the new intakes.
In preparatory for resumption, he said instructional learning materials, science, mathematics and laboratory equipment are being provided to schools in order to enhance effective teaching and learning in our public schools.
He said the Ministry has issued a clear directive to public schools, emphasising that principals should provide samples of school uniforms for parents to sew for their children.
On textbooks, he explained that the state government has approved a list of textbooks for use in all public schools in the state, adding that the Ministry has warned principals not to sell textbooks to students and that textbooks should be sourced from bookshops.
Regarding the new federal education policy setting an age limit of 18 for candidates sitting the WASSCE and NECO examinations, the Commissioner said it is a national issue on which the state government and stakeholders will engage to reach a decision.
He also mentioned that the process of recruiting teachers into public schools in the state is almost complete, as the state has zero tolerance for examination malpractices.
He appealed to anyone with evidence of public schools in the state collecting illegal tuition fees from students to come forward.
