Abia Harmonises School Fees
Governor
Theodore Orji of Abia state, eastern Nigeria has introduced new fees in primary
and secondary schools in the state, which is called the development levy.
The new policy had attracted criticisms from
those who view it as a re-introduction of schools fees, by a government which
claims to be providing free education.
The government has explained that it does not
intend to abolish its free education programme but, the recent introduction of
development fees, was to end illegal levies imposed on students and pupils.
Mr Joshua Ogbonna, a special adviser to the
governor explained that the levy was being introduced to provide revenues for
infrastructural development and was also meant to eradicate illegal levies in
schools.
According to the government, levies charged
by schools includes P.T.A, which range from N3000 to N5000 per year, exam fees,
which range from N5OO to N1000 per exam period while students were also asked to
purchase items such as toilet tissues, soaps, detergents and disinfectant.
NP/Pushe/Yinka
