The Ondo State government has banned ‘cash payments’ in public schools across the state as part of the measures to curb extortion and illegal levies imposed on pupils and students by authorities.

Prof. Igbekele Ajibefun, Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology in the State, announced this at a meeting with the executives of the Association of Bursars of Secondary Schools held at his office in Akure.

Ajibefun, who frowned at the illegal and unauthorised collection of fees by some school authorities in the state, revealed that the government has now introduced a ‘digital payment gateway’ for financial transactions in the schools.

“To this end, we have put heads together to come up with a payment gateway and fom now on, every payment will have to pass through the gateway, and we have placed a ban on cash payments,” he said.

According to Ajibefun, the initiative was aimed at strengthening transparency and also preventing school authorities from exploiting parents through unauthorised collections or levies.

He disclosed that the digital payment will begin from the new academic session, warning principals and other officials against collecting money directly from parents and students.

The Commissioner said the Ministry has engaged all the school principals across the state to sensitise them on the new digital payment platform.

“From the next session, we will not give room for anyone to deny any collection of illegal fees,” Ajibefun added.

He stated that introduction of the digital payment followed complaints by parents during the last academic session about illegal and unauthorised collections in some public schools in the state.

Moved by the complaints, Ajibefun said he embarked on a verification visit to the schools and confirmed that unauthorised collections were taking place which were orchestrated by school authorities.

The Commissioner further disclosed that the findings inspired his ministry to work with stakeholders and technical team to develop the digital payment gateway that would make every financial transaction traceable and properly documented.

Revealing that the initiative has been approved by Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, Ajibefun said the funds paid through the digital platform would be remitted to the appropriate school accounts.

He assured the school authorities that the system was designed primarily to eliminate financial irregularities, urging the school bursars to cooperate with the partner handling the system.

“So, the initiative would address existing abnormalities in the management of school finances,” Ajibefun further noted.

The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Dr. Akindele Ige, called on all the school bursars to engage other stakeholders at ensuring they understood the new digital payment platform.

Remarking, Chairman of the Association of Bursars of Secondary Schools, Fisayo Fapounda described the initiative as a positive step at improving transparency in school financial management.

Fapounda urged the payment gateway partner to engage with the membership of the association to ensure that they are properly orientated in order to prevent misinformation about the new system. (The Nation)