Oyo moves to sanction teachers over illegal fees collection

The Chairman of the Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board, Nureni Adeniran, has pledged to take action against teachers who collect unauthorized fees in public schools.

Adeniran issued this warning during an examination monitoring session in Ibadan, cautioning teachers to refrain from such practices or face consequences for their actions.

Report says, the warning follows reports of some teachers forcing students to pay for the ongoing second-term unified promotion examination in public primary schools.

Adeniran emphasized that the current administration has been responsible for producing examination materials since its inception and has ensured compliance with the examination timetable across all schools in the state.

“The government cancelled the payment of fees by pupils and students in public, because it discovered that some errant staff imposed illegal fees in some areas.

“I, therefore, want to advice parents and guardians to report any case of collection of illegal fees to the board.

“Let me begin by apologising to parents and guardians whose pupils were forced to bring money for examinations. This is not from the board, and I will appeal to such parents to report the teachers to the board. The government has ensured that all necessary arrangements are put in place for a hitch free examination exercise. We paid for the printing and delivery of question and answer sheets.

“We are committed to the free and compulsory universal basic education, hence, no school or head teacher found imposing or collecting any levy not approved by government, will go unpunished,” the chairman said

Adeniran explained that Governor Seyi Makinde had been regular in the payment of the state counterpart fund with the Universal Basic Education Commission, stating that the board access its funds and use them to develop infrastructure and capacity of personnel.

He equally lauded the smooth conduct of examination in the centres visited.

The Schools visited on Tuesday were, Community Basic School 1&2, Olorunsogo; Community Primary School, Olosunde; Atolu Model School 1-4, Oremeji; among others, while the schools visited today (Thursday) include, UAMC School, Eleja, Odo-Ona; AUD Primary School; UMC Basic School, Oke-Ado; Abiola Jacobs Schools 1,2,3; and Army Children School, Iwo-road.