By Charles Okogene
The last is yet to be heard of the rot going on in Delta State schools, which was triggered off by ‘Blessing dem go flog taya’ saga, as the principal of Ogor Technical College, Otor-Ogor, Mr Ishmael Omolade, has been removed as the principal of the school and ordered to refund the sum of N11,124,800.00 being monies illegally collected from students in 2017/2018 and 2018/2019 academic sessions.
The state government has also sanctioned 15 persons involved in the racket of collecting unauthorized levies from students in public primary and secondary schools in the state.
A statement from the office of the newly appointed Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Chief Patrick Ukah, in Asaba, disclosed that the sanctions were in line with the findings of a board of inquiry set up by the ministry and that the of the committee reports have been approved by the state governor, Senator (Dr.) Ifeanyi Okowa.
The statement said that Mr.Omolade has been posted to the headquarters of Technical and Vocational Education Board in Asaba, adding that normal disciplinary procedures would be initiated for his early exit from the service.
Also, the Principals of five other technical colleges in the state are to be issued with letters of warning for engaging in illegal collection of levies from students and to refund the amount illegally collected to forestall future occurrence.
The Chief Inspector of Education in Sapele Local Government Area, Mrs Patience Ishegbe, is to be recalled to the headquarters and queried, just as the Chief Inspector of Education in the Ministry of Education Oshimili North field office, Mrs Marian Oju, and that of Isoko North field office of the Ministry, Mr Fidelis Ogbotobo, have been recalled to the headquarters of the ministry.
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The statement said that Mrs Veronica Igbigwe has been removed as head teacher, demoted by one grade level and posted out of Okotie Eboh Primary School 1, Sapele, and also the exact amount of unauthorized levy collected should be determined and be made to refund the amount.
The Chairman and Secretary of Association of Primary School Heads (AOPSHON), Sapele Local Government Chapter, Mr Obukohwo Victor Iguele and Mr Akpore Umuhurhu, respectively, were demoted by one rank/salary grade level and posted out of their present schools and are barred from heading any school for the next two academic sessions.
Head of Personnel Management (HPM), Sapele Local Education Authority, Mrs Irene Egberi, was demoted by one grade level and posted to SUBEB Headquarters while Mr Monday Edoki, who as at the time of the committee;s report was a political appointee, should be disciplined and sanctioned on his return to his MDA
The Acting Head of Okotie Eboh Primary School 1, Sapele, Mr Julius Bovi Mereti, has been reverted to his position as classroom teacher and posted out of the school.
The statement said that the sanctions were the outcome of first phase of the investigations carried out by the board of inquiry and with time more names will be released, adding that this was to serve as a warning to the heads of public primary and secondary schools in the state and Chief Inspectors of Education in various field offices of the ministry that the state government will not condone the collection of unauthorized levies in public schools in the state.
The board of inquiry was set up by the ministry following public outcry over rampant reports of collection of unauthorized levies in public primary and secondary schools in the state.
