The Chairman, Ekiti State Universal Basic Education Board(SUBEB), Prof. Francisca Aladejana has warned Head teachers of public primary schools in the state against collection of illegal fees from pupils, threatening to sanction any teacher caught sending pupils away from school on account of non-payment of fees.
The Chairman, who gave the warning during an interactive meeting between the SUBEB Management and Head teachers of Public Primary Schools in all the 16 Local Government areas of the State said, by virtue of Governor Fayemi’s Executive Order 1 of 2018 and the State Universal Basic Education Act, basic education is free and compulsory for all children of school age in the state reminding them of the mandate of the Governor to the SUBEB management that no child was sent out of school on account of non-payment of fees.
According to Professor Aladejana, “It is a gross violation of the Universal Basic Education Act for pupils to be charged fees under whatever guise.”
Aladejana, who expressed how assiduous the Governor Kayode Fayemi-led administration was towards providing a conducive teaching and learning environment in schools in the state promised to attend to condition of schools with infrastructural problems as many of them are currently undergoing renovation.
She said efforts were in top gear to provide schools across the state with pupils and teachers’ furniture, toilet facilities, perimeter fencing and new buildings amongst several others already in the pipeline that would give basic education a boost in the state.
While urging the teachers to redouble their efforts in the task of providing qualitative basic education to pupils, the SUBEB Chairman noted that apart from prioritizing the welfare of teachers, Governor Fayemi recently approved the release of running grants of the whole academic calendar of the 2018/ 2019 academic session to all public schools in the State.
Aladejana enjoined teachers to key into various on-going reforms in the basic education sector in the state including training and retraining, introduction of child friendly initiatives and modern teaching techniques.
While soliciting the support of all stakeholders in the sector, particularly in the administration’s quest to return the State to its pride of place in education, Professor Aladejana reiterated that education remained one of the pillars of Dr. Fayemi-led administration.
She warned the staff of the Local Government Education Authorities, Head Teachers and other relevant stakeholders against demanding for gratification from contractors handling school projects adding that the present administration in the state had zero tolerance for all forms of corruption and sharp practices.
Responding, on behalf of the Head teachers, Mr. Femi Ojo, who appreciated the Board Chairman for meeting with them promised to update their staff on the policies and plans of government for basic education sub-sector.
According to him, “no reasonable individual would want to circumvent what Ekiti State Government is doing in basic education.”
Also addressing the head teachers in Ilejemeje, Moba, Oye, Ido/Osi, Ijero and Efon Local Government Areas, Barrister Kayode Adeoye, who is the Commissioner II at the Board urged teachers to shun absenteeism, lateness to duties , partisan politics and other vices that could hinder productivity.
Barrister Adeoye appealed that the Head teachers assist government in monitoring the on-going renovation and construction works in their respective schools adding that as stakeholders and end users of the facilities, they should ensure that the contractors strictly comply with contractual agreements before certifying the projects for payment.
The SUBEB Permanent Secretary, Mr. Olusesan Fabamise, who addressed the teachers and other stakeholders in Gbonyin, Ikole, Ekiti East, Ikere, Emure and Ise/Orun Local Government areas, stressed the importance of primary school teachers as critical stakeholders in the sector emphasizing that the present Fayemi-led administration in the state was committing a lot of resources into both the welfare of teachers and provision of conducive teaching and learning environment
in schools in the state.
The Permanent Secretary, who noted the ban placed on the use of school fields for social activities during week days by the leadership of the Education Ministry was consequent upon various complaints from the general public that social activities distract teaching and learning activities in schools, directed Education Secretaries and Head-teachers to ensure strict compliance with the directive.
Packaged by Emmanuel Adeniran
