Four secondary school principals in Edo State Teaching Service have been suspended indefinitely for indulging in the collection of illegal levies.

Edo State Commissioner for Education, Dr. Christopher Adesotu, who made this known at a news briefing in Benin City, referred the affected principals to the Post Primary Education Board for further disciplinary action.

Dr. Adesotu expressed concern that despite several warnings and circular issued by the State Government on the stoppage of collection of illegal levies, some principals still indulge in the unwholesome acts.

He said in the course of his interaction with some students of the school visited, it was discovered that some students paid N11,000, N16,000, and N20,000 for school uniforms as against government approved rate of N3,000 for junior secondary school and N4,000 for senior secondary school.

The Commissioner also expressed dismay over the nonchalant attitude of Chief Inspectors of Education in the discharge of their duties.

News Express was told of how shocked students of the affected schools watched as policemen stormed their schools and took their principals away.

In his remarks, Chairman, Edo State Post Primary Education Board, Mr. Gabriel Oiboh, assured the Education Commissioner that the board will ensure necessary disciplinary action is taken after thorough investigation.

The suspended principals are Glory Omorodion, Oka Junior Secondary School; Mrs. Victoria Okuonghae, Principal, Niger College Junior School; Mrs. Cecilia Isibor, Idogbo Junior Secondary School; and Mr. Bright Omorogie, Principal, Idogbo Senior Secondary School.

One teacher sought to defend his colleagues’ insistence on illegal levies on students. Speaking on the condition of anonymity, the teacher accused the Edo State Government of underfunding secondary schools in the state, arguing that teachers have been using their own money to buy chalks, dusters and other learning facilities. “The government doesn’t provide subventions for us to aid our work as teachers. We can’t continue to use our money to provide for teaching facilities,” the teacher told News Express.