The Chairman of the Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board, Nureni Adeniran, issued a stern warning to teachers in the state regarding the collection of illegal levies in public schools. He emphasized that any staff caught engaging in such activities would face consequences.
Reports had surfaced that some teachers were forcing pupils to pay for the ongoing second term unified promotion examination in public primary schools. Adeniran, while overseeing the examination exercise in Ibadan, the state capital, highlighted that the current administration had taken responsibility for printing the question-and-answer sheets for the unified examination since its inception.
He stressed that the government had meticulously planned the examination timetable to ensure compliance from all schools in the state. Adeniran disclosed, “The government abolished the payment of fees by pupils and students in public schools due to the discovery of illegal fees imposed by some staff in certain areas. I urge parents and guardians to report any instances of illegal fee collection to the board.”
Apologizing to affected parents and guardians, Adeniran urged them to report any teachers who demanded money for examinations to the board. He reassured the public that the government had made all necessary arrangements for a seamless examination process, covering the costs of printing and delivering question and answer sheets.
Adeniran affirmed the government’s commitment to free and compulsory universal basic education, emphasizing that any school or head teacher found imposing or collecting unauthorized levies would face repercussions. He praised Governor Seyi Makinde for consistently meeting the state counterpart fund obligations with the Universal Basic Education Commission, enabling the board to access funds for infrastructure development and staff capacity enhancement.
He also commended the smooth conduct of the examination at the various visited centers, including Community Basic School 1&2, Olorunsogo; Community Primary School, Olosunde; Atolu Model School 1-4, Oremeji; 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.
