The Ogun State Government has pledged to sanction any principal who collects fees exceeding the approved N19,500 for secondary school students and West Africa Examination Council (WAEC) examinations. This decision, aimed at eliminating extortion, forms part of the government’s ongoing reform agenda to improve education quality without imposing hardship on parents.
Evang. Olalekan Ifede, chairman of the Ogun State Teaching Service Commission, announced the policy to journalists amid allegations and protests by secondary school students. He emphasized that no student should pay more than N19,500 for the May/June 2023 WAEC Secondary School Certificate Examination and warned that the government will not tolerate any additional charges beyond those approved by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology. Ifede also called on school principals to support Governor Prince Dapo Abiodun’s administration, which he described as fully committed to the welfare of teachers and citizens.
Students from Olorunkole Grammar School in Kajola, Owode Obafemi Local Government, claimed that the school’s principal, Mrs. Olusola Odunmbaku, demanded N29,000 as WAEC fees, contrary to the government‑approved amount of N19,500. Interviewed students, who wished to remain anonymous, said the principal forced them to pay the extra charge, leading many parents to consider withdrawing their children from the school. The students appealed to the state government for immediate intervention, noting that some parents had to borrow money to meet the demand and describing the practice as gross misconduct and contrary to government directives.
Mrs. Olusola Odunmbaku responded that the N29,000 figure was the official amount directed by the state government and that all students were expected to pay it. She stated, “I have nothing to say about the amount to be collected by the school from the students, but if you need further information and clarification, you are free to approach the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology or, better still, you can go to the Tescom boss to ask.”
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