No Plan to Re-introduce School Fees in Delta, Says Commissioner

From Ochei Matthew, Asaba

The Delta State Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Hon. Chiedu Ebie, has said that the state has no plan to re-introduce fees for the 2015/2016 academic session.

The commissioner, who disclosed this while briefing journalists in his office in Asaba, said “main reason for inviting you here today is to address the rumour that has been steadily making the rounds that the state government has reintroduced tuition fees”

Hon. Ebie asked Deltans to discard the rumour as he noted that the claim was totally false and baseless, saying at no time was reintroduced tuition fees discussed or even contemplated.

He noted that “one of the key areas of focus of this administration is education and in doing so, our sole mission is the gradual and steady recovery of the standard of education in the state,” which he said was in line with the S.M.A.R.T agenda of the government.

While the commissioner said that the state was working assiduously to reduce over-populated schools in the state such as schools in Asaba, Agbor and Ugheli to a ratio of 1- 40 per class, he warned principals to desist from illegal collection of levies in school.

Hon. Ebie disclosed that in spite of dwindling allocations, the state would continue to pay WAEC and NECO examination fees for the students in Delta.
He said that Delta State has over 230,000 students in secondary school and 313,000 pupils in primary school with 25,000 teachers in 430 secondary schools and 1,293 primary schools respectively.

He stressed that adequate guideline has been put in place to improve oversight function in the areas of monitoring and supervision of private and public schools to maintain standard.

He said that the state government has taken a holistic approach in revamping and refurbishment of three out of the six technical colleges spread across the three zones.