The Imo state Ministry of Education through the office of the Executive Secretary Secondary Education Management Board (SEMB) Dr (Mrs) Adaugo T. Nwanedo has reiterated her earlier warning to school mangers and Principals to desist from all forms of illegal levies or extortions of students or their parents.
She warned that anyone caught in the act which runs contrary to the good intentions and policy of the government on education, will be drastically dealt with.
In a recent warning circular to school principals in the state, the Executive Secretary directed that in view of the new order, all registrations in secondary schools attached to any text book is cancelled and school principals should direct parents to buy their books in markets of their choice as it is necessary for students to study with their books.
She laid emphasis on the model schools, repeating that any principal caught will surely suffer the consequence as she will not sit back to see anyone rubbish the good intentions of the governor as contained in his lofty education policy.
Meanwhile,some parents of students of Akwakuma Girls Secondary School and other model schools have cried out loud about how teachers and Principals of the school have turned all their classrooms into market squares alleging that both teachers and principals are in competitive market sales of books, uniforms, snacks, brooms, tissue, papers socks, soft drinks and sachet water.
These parents allege that teachers coerce the students to purchase the books from them at prizes far above market prices and those who do not purchase from the teachers do not have their examination answer papers marked or are given low grade.
However the Executive secretary has said she is investigating the complaints by parents on Akwakuma girls and other schools and will deal decisively with anyone found culpable, adding that parents should provide necessary and basic items for their children academic pursuit and not to blame government for their inability to do so.
