The Cross River State Universal Basic Education Board (CR-SUBEB) has banned primary school officials from charging pupils fees it had not authorised.
In a statement signed by CR-SUBEB chairman, Stephen Odey, the board noted that such levies were not in congruence with provisions of the Compulsory, Free Universal Basic Education Act of 2004.
It, therefore challenged stakeholders to report such instances of violation to its offices.
Read the statement below
By the dictates of the Compulsory Free Universal Basic Education Act, 2004 and the Cross River State Universal Basic Education Law, 2006 basic education in the entire country is free. In line with this, no fee is expected to be charged by any person or group of persons.
It is however, observed that contrary to this, several illegal levies are being collected in primary schools across the State, making the essence of the free education policy unaccomplished.
In view of this, and after due consultation with the Hon. Commissioner of Education, I hereby announce that henceforth no form of levy, fee, or charge shall be collected in any primary school across the State unless with a written approval signed by the Hon. Commissioner for Education.
In a related development, it has also been brought to the attention of the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) that some persons are fraudulently collecting money from primary school teachers in the guise of processing teachers’ promotion. The collection of money for the processing of teachers promotion or any other charge is illegal and unethical, hence, cannot be condoned.
Consequently, The Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) in all Local Governments are please enjoined to be alert and report any Person(s) found to be behind this fraudulent act to the Board without delay for appropriate action.
Teachers are advised to always make enquiries from the Board on all matters of levies and collections to authenticate the source before embarking on any payment.
Signed
Dr (Barr.) Stephen Odey
Executive Chairman CR-SUBEB
