Lagos warns against illegal fees in public schools
By Farotimi Oluwole
LAGOS State has reiterated its resolve to continue in providing free qualitative education for its residents and so warned against any illegal collection of fees in its public schools.
The state Education Commissioner, Dr. Leke Pitan, also warned all its teachers and school managers to desist from collection of illegal fees from the students.
He gave the warning at a press briefing in Alausa, Ikeja at the weekend.
Pitan said the state government frowned at illegal collection of fees in the guise of lesson fees and others in the state public schools except where otherwise stated. Where such fees were collected, it should be stopped with immediate effect, he said.
He further stated that the funding of all programmes and activities of Parents Teachers Association (PTA) in all public schools in the state should be strictly voluntary.
Pitan, therefore, called on all PTA executives to see the association as a non-governmental organisation like Rotary International, Rotaract and others who are partners with the government in the development of education. He stressed that the machinery of government must not be used in the collection of illegal fees.
He also warned that any one caught would be dealt with severely because the name of the state government must not be used in the collection of illegal fees.
Pitan, however, gave the exception of those in the boarding houses. The system, he said, was different but stressed that fees collected in the name of levies should be returned immediately.
Pitan also called on parents and guardians to monitor their children and wards to checkmate their excesses.
