Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, has said disciplinary measures would be taken against any primary and post-primary school head or teacher, who is found to be collecting fees in any form from students.
According to the Governor, a taskforce has been established to monitor activities of teachers in the state to ensure that the free education programme of his administration was effective, asserting that education is free in primary and post -primary schools in the state.
The Governor, who stated this at the weekend during the 26th year anniversary celebration of Word of Life Bible Church, Warri, warned that anyone found wanting would be made to face the full weight of the law.
“This state lays a lot of emphasis on education that is why we instituted a free education policy but our efforts are being sabotaged,” Uduaghan said adding: “Some teachers and school heads are still collecting fees illegally despite the fact that government pays all fees for students, including fees for external examinations.
“We have a taskforce that is going round and any teacher or school head caught would be disciplined and if you are not caught, God is watching you and will punish you”, he added.
While congratulating the Word of Life Bible Church on its anniversary, Uduaghan commended the church for awarding scholarships to 40 indigent students, asserting that an educated society is that which can grow positively.
He admonished the recipients of the scholarship to be good ambassadors of the church by avoiding any unholy activity while in school, stating that the students will also benefit from the state government bursary programme if they meet the required grade points.
Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor on the occasion said the scholarship was a way the church encouraged the growth of education in the society, stating, “it is better to have many unemployed graduates than to have a society with uneducated people.
“I believe we are coming to a time when graduates will be proud to work in every sector of the society,” the president of Christian Association of Nigeria said.
Earlier, Prof. Gabriel Yomere, who conducted interviews for the recipients of the scholarship, said it was established that parents of the students cannot sponsor the scholarship recipients to school.
