The Kogi government has vowed to penalise any principal or head teacher of public schools found collecting fees from pupils and students.

The Commissioner for Education, Wemi Jones, gave the warning on Friday in Lokoja while reacting to reports that some school administrators were demanding fees from students.

“Government will sanction any principal or school administrator caught collecting money from students and pupils,” Mr Jones warned.

Mr Jones reiterated that education remained free in public schools at primary and secondary levels, according to the Kogi State Education Law 2024.

He said the state government’s law provided free education, including free examination registration for Kogi public primary and secondary school students.

The commissioner said the state government had spent N1.2 billion on payment for public school students’ external and internal examinations in the 2024/2025 academic session.

He, therefore, vowed that the ministry would crack down on any school administrator trying to sabotage the system to ensure every child’s right to free education without exceptions.

“Governor Ododo has declared a state of emergency in education in Kogi State, and it is imperative that every child has access to quality education without the hindrance of financial barriers.

“Principals who continue to collect fees are not only doing a disservice to the state but also attempting to sabotage the government’s initiative,” Mr Jones said.

He emphasised the significance of the governor’s decision to relieve parents of the burden of fee payment, given the current economic challenges facing the country.

The commissioner urged parents and students to report any instances of fee collection to the appropriate authorities to ensure accountability and transparency in the education system.

In October 2024, the state government released over N661.3 million for the payment of 2024/2025 West African Examination Council (WAEC) fees for students in public schools.

The governor had also, on Tuesday, approved N542 million for payment of fees for the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UMTE), Common Entrance Examinations (CEE), and Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) for students and pupils in public schools.

(NAN)