Nasarawa State government at the weekend denied reintroducing schools fees in public schools in the state stating that it is illegal for school principals and headteachers to demand for school fees and other levies, maintaining that the state still runs, “free and compulsory education.”
The State Commissioner of Education, Hajiya Ramatu Ajuji Abubakar, stated this in Lafia, the state capital, while reacting to an online reports that some public schools in the state still collect school fees and other levies despite the state’s free education policy.
“The report that some public schools are collecting school fees from parents is the imagination of the reporter, we are running a complete free education policy in the state, therefore collecting school fees or other levies in Nasarawa State is illegal.”
She maintained that the policy was still in force and as far as the ministry was concerned, it had not received any formal report or complaint from any parent regarding the issue.
She said: “For someone to embark on such publication is pure mischief. I find it extremely difficult to believe what were said, I called on my directors and confirmed there was no any report to the effect that principals and headteachers are collecting school fees.”
The commissioner, who also warned that the ministry would deal decisively with anyone caught collecting fees, adviced parents and guardians to report any school demanding for payment to the ministry.
“We like to advice parents and even the students to reports any principal that demand for tuition fees to the ministry, our doors are wide open,” she added.
