The Chairman of the Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board, Nureni Adeniran, on Thursday, warned teachers in the state against the collection of illegal levies in public schools, saying any errant staff caught would be punished.
This is coming on the heels of reports that some errant teachers compelled pupils to pay for the ongoing second term unified promotion examination for public primary schools.
Adeniran, who gave this warning while monitoring the examination exercise in Ibadan, the state capital, said the present administration has been responsible for the printing of question-and-answer sheets for its unified examination exercise since inception of the current government.
He explained that the government had ensured the examination timetable was adhered to by all schools in the state.
The chairman said, “The government cancelled the payment of fees by pupils and students in public, because it discovered that some errant staff imposed illegal fees in some areas. I, therefore, want to advice parents and guardians to report any case of collection of illegal fees to the board.
“Let me begin by apologising to parents and guardians whose pupils were forced to bring money for examinations. This is not from the board, and I will appeal to such parents to report the teachers to the board. The government has ensured that all necessary arrangements are put in place for a hitch free examination exercise. We paid for the printing and delivery of question and answer sheets.
“We are committed to the free and compulsory universal basic education, hence, no school or head teacher found imposing or collecting any levy not approved by government, will go unpunished.”
Adeniran said Governor Seyi Makinde had been regular in the payment of the state counterpart fund with the Universal Basic Education Commission, adding that the board access its funds and use them to develop infrastructure and capacity of personnel.
He also commended the smooth conduct of examination in the centres visited.
The Schools visited on Tuesday were, Community Basic School 1&2, Olorunsogo; Community Primary School, Olosunde; Atolu Model School 1-4, Oremeji; among others, while the schools visited today (Thursday) include, UAMC School, Eleja, Odo-Ona; AUD Primary School; UMC Basic School, Oke-Ado; Abiola Jacobs Schools 1,2,3; and Army Children School, Iwo-road.
END.