NEWS
Abia State Govt Cracks Down on Illegal Graduation Fees, Warns Schools Against Extorting Parents
The Abia State Government has reiterated its ban on the collection of graduation levies and fees from pupils and students in non-terminal classes, warning that any public or private school that violates the directive will face sanctions in accordance with the law.
The directive, issued through the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, emphasizes that graduation ceremonies are officially recognized only for pupils in Primary 6 and students in Senior Secondary School Three (SS3), as they are the terminal classes in the Basic and Senior Secondary Education cycles.
The government stressed that any graduation ceremony organized for pupils or students in non-terminal classes that requires compulsory payment is illegal and must stop immediately.
According to the Ministry, no public or private school in the state is permitted to collect graduation levies or graduation fees from pupils or students in any class other than Primary 6 and SS3.
The renewed warning follows reports received by the Ministry indicating that some schools across the state have continued to impose unauthorized graduation fees on pupils and students in classes that are not due for graduation.
To ensure strict compliance, the Abia State Government has directed the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education to immediately begin monitoring and enforcement exercises across all public and private schools in the state.
The government warned that any school found flouting the directive would be sanctioned in line with the provisions of the law.
Parents, guardians, school proprietors and other stakeholders have also been urged to comply fully with the directive and support efforts to eliminate unauthorized charges imposed on families.
The Ministry further encouraged members of the public to report any case of non-compliance for prompt investigation and necessary action.
Reports can be made through the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education on 08142978338.
The statement was signed by Duru Marvellous, Public Relations Officer, Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, Abia State, for the Honourable Commissioner for Basic and S
econdary Education.