The Anambra State Universal Basic Education Board (ASUBEB) has demoted six head teachers for illegally collecting fees from pupils, a direct violation of the state’s free education policy. The Executive Secretary of ASUBEB, Dr. Vera Nwadinobi, announced this disciplinary action during a press briefing in Awka.
The affected head teachers are Mrs. Uju Okoye (Awada Primary School 1), Mrs. Eunice Nwanneka (Awada Primary School 2), Mrs. Patience Obioma (Awada Primary School 3), Mrs. Elizabeth Ekene (Awada Primary School 4), Mrs. Gloria Nkolika (Awada Primary School 5), and Mrs. Chinwe Muluako (Awada Primary School 6). They have been directed to refund all collected monies and hand over to the next-ranking teacher.
Dr. Nwadinobi reiterated the state government’s commitment to providing free education from nursery to junior secondary levels, recently extending this policy to senior secondary schools. She warned that any head teacher found guilty of similar misconduct in the future would face dismissal.
To support the policy, the state government has increased the monthly imprest for school operations to ₦50,000, provides teaching aids such as markers and whiteboards, and allocates ₦1,500 per pupil to cover all levies. Dr. Nwadinobi stressed that these measures ensure schools have no justification to impose fees on pupils.
Additionally, she clarified that public primary schools in the state close at 2:10 p.m., while lower primary classes end at 1:10 p.m., urging compliance with these schedules.
The sanctions reinforce Anambra State’s efforts to uphold its compulsory free education policy, ensuring equitable access to quality education for all children.
