The Rivers State Government has suspended the Principal of Community Secondary School, Borikiri in Port Harcourt, over allegations of extortion. The Principal, Ella Ewos, was accused of illegally enlisting external candidates for West African Examination Council (WAEC) and denying regular students the opportunity to partake in the ongoing examination.
Reports indicate that the students and their parents who were affected by the development aired their grievances by protesting at the school premises. They claimed that about 62 students were excluded from the examination after they had paid their fees. The protesters carried placards with inscriptions calling on Governor Wike and the Education Commissioner to intervene.
Reacting to the allegation, the state Commissioner for Education, Prof Chinedu Mmom, confirmed that the principal has been arrested and detained after confessing to the allegations made against her. He added that the concerned parents and students’ protest drew his attention to the issue, leading him to order her arrest and detention.
Mmom revealed that the embattled principal had been handed over to the police and would be charged to court. He stated that she had been suspended with immediate effect.
Notably, one of the parents within the school, Iyaye Sunday, claimed that he had physically seen the external candidates in the examination hall, while his children and others were crying outside. Another parent, Leya Jeremiah, disclosed that the principal allegedly excluded her son from the WAEC list, while Sunny Brown revealed that his son had also informed him of the main issue.
In summary, the Rivers State Government has taken a necessary measure to arrest and suspend an erring principal who took advantage of students. This action is commendable since it would serve as a deterrent to those who may be considering such illicit acts, ultimately restoring confidence in the educational system. Actions like these show that the government indeed means business when it comes to eliminating corrupt practices in the education sector.
