Anambra State Governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo has stepped down four schools’ principals for non-compliance with the Solution Free Education policy of the Anambra State Government.
The announcement was made on Tuesday by the State Commissioner for Education Prof. Ngozi Chuma-Udeh, in a chat with TNC correspondent in Awka.
Recall that Governor Soludo had during his visits to Premier Primary School Odume, Obosi in Idemili North Council Area and Ado Girls Secondary School Onitsha, announced that in line with the Solution Free Education policy, no child from Early Childhood Education and Development up to Junior Secondary School (JSS 3), is required to pay any fee whatsoever.
The governor had also directed that no student in the Senior Secondary should pay anything more than N5,000) Five Thousand Naira only.
The policy was further amplified by Mr. Governor in a meeting he had with Principals and Head teachers at the International Conference Center Awka on Saturday 23rd September, 2023.
But the State Ministry of Education is alleging that the principals were said to have acted in contravention of the Solution Policy on Free Education in the state.
According to the State Education Commissioner; “Principals of Washington Memorial Grammar School Onitsha, Nkem Nkechi; Kenneth Dike Secondary School Awka, Onwurah Catherine; New Era Secondary School Onitsha, Dr. Cordelia Okonkwo; and, Amaka Ubaka of Prince Memorial High School Onitsha were alleged to have acted in contravention of the Solution policy on Free Education in the State.”
Prof Chuma-Udeh said the stepping down of the Principals was to enable government do the needful in finding out what actually happened.
The Education Commissioner stated that a committee has been constituted to investigate the activities of the affected principals.
“If found culpable, the Principals would be made to refund the amount collected.
“It is surprising that after series of announcements on the Solution Free Education policy by Mr Governor, the Principals could still be alleged to have flouted the policy,” she said.
TNC investigations reveal that most principals of schools across the state have consistently ripped the students off, collecting all manner of fees and levies from them, even when successive governments have claimed they were running free education policy.
The announcement by Governor Soludo last week, was equally received by the principals as a usual rant but many have commended the governor for matching his words with action bu stepping down the principals, pending when the investigations are concluded.
