The Abia State Government has issued a stern warning to principals and head teachers in public schools against the illegal collection of school fees and levies, describing the act as a clear violation of the state’s free and compulsory education policy for public primary and junior secondary schools.
Commissioner for Information, Okey Kanu, made this known while briefing journalists on Monday at the Government House, Umuahia, following the State Executive Council meeting. He stressed that the government has already provided operational funds to schools, making any unauthorised levies unjustifiable.
“The state government will no longer tolerate this dishonest behaviour. Offenders will face the full consequences of the law, including the possibility of dismissal,” Kanu warned.
The policy aims to ensure all children in Abia State, regardless of background, have access to quality education without financial barriers. The illegal collection of fees undermines this effort, the commissioner noted.
Ongoing Teacher Recruitment and Training
Kanu also provided updates on the state’s ongoing education reform initiatives. He revealed that the final stage of the current teacher recruitment exercise — including certificate verification and oral interviews — took place from March 31 to April 4. About 7,000 candidates who scored 45 percent and above, including 180 persons with disabilities, have been shortlisted.
Candidates who scored between 40 and 44 percent were placed on a reserve list to fill potential vacancies arising from absenteeism or disqualification. The government has also approved a second phase of the recruitment to accommodate those who missed the initial round.
According to Kanu, this recruitment drive will help address the increasing demand for qualified teachers as school enrollment rises under the free education initiative. A teacher database is also being developed to meet future staffing needs.
Focus on Teacher Quality and Specialised Subjects
In addition to recruitment, the Abia Government is also prioritising capacity building. Kanu announced a partnership with the Education Reformation and Innovation Team to train 2,200 teachers across the state. The large-scale training exercise, aimed at improving teaching quality and learning outcomes, will run from April 10 to 19 across three regional centres: Aba (Abia South), Umuahia (Abia Central), and Ohafia (Abia North).
Clarification on Senior Secondary Education
Meanwhile, Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Goodluck Ubochi, clarified that the free education policy currently applies only to public primary and junior secondary schools. Students in government-owned senior secondary schools will be required to pay a minimal tuition fee of N3,300.
Ubochi also emphasized that the recruitment initiative would prioritize technical and vocational subjects, where the shortage of qualified teachers is most critical. “What the government is trying to do is to explore every possibility to address the shortage of teachers in our schools,” he said.
As the Abia Government intensifies efforts to strengthen its public education system, it has reiterated its zero-tolerance stance on corruption and inefficiency in schools, while committing to long-term investments in human capital development.