PARENT’S DECRY EXTORTION OF THEIR CHILDREN/WARDS IN SCHOOLS
ERIC ADAH
It is still a challenge in Nigeria to make children pass through the Basic Primary Education which is supposed to be free. Akperen (who?) in a chat with The Transmitter expressed displeasure about the high level of extortion by Head Teachers and Principals of Junior Secondary Schools (UBE level) in Benue State, especially in Makurdi the State Capital. He said other than free, he paid the sum of ₦10,500.00 for his child’s enrollment into JSS 1 at the Universal Basic Education (UBE) in Kanshio area and terminal school levy of ₦3,500.00.
The child, Msuur Dorothy was given a pair of uniform without reading materials. He said, in spite of the state government’s pronouncement that public primary schools and junior secondary schools (UBE) are tuition free, the aim is defeated as head teachers refuse to comply with the directives.
Akperan said this has put the poor parents in a dilemma trying to send their children and wards to school. He however called on the relevant authorities to set up an investigative team to go round schools and check the activities of school heads, who are manipulating the situation to their benefits.
Another parent, Mrs. Iorhyagh said she spent ₦33,000.00 to enroll her two daughters in the UBE programme at NKST Gaadi Makurdi and ₦3,800.00 per child as school levy. According to her, they are informed that the money so collected is a directive by the state government through SUBEB to enable them carry out some school projects that are lacking since the government could not provide money for all their needs in public schools. She said many times her children are sent back home when they fail to pay their school fees. She also appealed to the government through the relevant agencies to address the situation. With the current situation, she said the underprivileged children are denied access to basic education.
A Philanthropist Amos Uzua said he sent 5 indigent children to LGEA primary school Adeke where he paid the sum of ₦5,500.00 per child for enrollment. He however, expressed displeasure with the situation when the stakeholders in the educational sector benefitted from these opportunities. Gbagyo, however called on the government to expose and sanction the people behind this act so that the number of out of school children will be reduced to a bearable number. Benue State is one of the states that witnessed the invasion of herdsmen militia. As a result, many children are roaming about streets without hope for a better tomorrow.
The sad truth is that money is paid by parents to schools meant to be free under the Universal Basic Education. In the schools visited, the heads advanced different reasons for this collection which include: sewing of uniforms, building of toilets, and payment of temporal teachers for basic subjects and provision of furniture. However one of the head teachers who spoke on the condition of anonymity said the educational secretaries are aware of the monies paid as part is being sent to the relevant authorities.
However, all attempts by The Transmitter to speak to the Executive Chairman, State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) Benue State, Emmanuel Apev failed.
In February, 2020, Oyo State government suspended thirty primary school head teachers and their counterpart in UBE who were caught in such dubious act of extortion.
Karen Iber, an educationist appealed to the Benue State government to investigate this issue and help the under-privileged children to attain formal education. This will reduce the number of children hawking during school hours and also prevent the children getting trafficked for labour exploitation and ritual.
