Free Education: Soludo kicks 4 principals for sabotage

Tony Okafor,Awka

Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo has suspended four principals for sabotaging the state's free education policy.

A statement by the Public Relations Officer, Ministry of Education, Nnaemeka Egwuonwu, said the sanction was announced by the Commissioner for Education Prof. Ngozi Chuma-Udeh.

He said the principals were alleged to have acted in contravention of the Solution policy on free education in the State

He listed the affected persons to include:

Principals of Washington Memorial Grammar School Onitsha, Nkem Nkechi; Kenneth Dike Secondary School Awka, Onwurah Catherine; New Era Secondary School Onitsha, Dr. Cordelia Okonkwo; and, Amaka Ubaka of Prince Memorial High School Onitsha

According to Egwuonwu, the Commissioner constituted a committee to investigate the activities of the affected principals.

“She warned that if found culpable, the principals would be made to refund the amount collected.

“It is surprising that after series of announcements on the Solution Free Education policy by Mr Governor, the Principals could still be alleged to have flouted the policy.

“It would be recalled that Governor Soludo had during his visits to Premier Primary School Odume Obosi and Ado Girls Secondary School Onitsha, announced that in line with the Solution Free Education policy, no child from Early Childhood Education and Development up to Junior Secondary School (JSS 3), is required to pay any fee whatsoever.

“No student in the Senior Secondary should pay anything more than N5,000 only. The policy was further amplified by Mr. Governor in a meeting he had with Principals and Head teachers at the International Conference Center Awka on Saturday 23rd September, 2023,” the statement added.