• We Have Communicated Ministry of Education – Principal
Some parents of the final year students of St. Helen’s Unity Secondary School, Ondo, Ondo State, have kicked against an alleged illegal collection of N17,000 from each of the over 120 final year students of the college.
Dr. Alaba Akinwotu, who spoke on behalf of the parents, said few parents had already paid full school fees before schools were forced to close down in march due to COVID-19 Pandemic, noting that in August when the final year students were asked to resume for their School Certificate Exams, other parents were made to pay the full fees of the children.
He explained, “When the lockdown was announced, schools were already preparing for the second term exam. So students remained at home till early August when the final year students were asked to resume for their School Certificate Exams. Parents were asked to pay the full details of the fees which include the cost of feeding and other utility bills.
“Our children returned home having spent 41 days in school to write their WAEC-SSCE. The students are expected to return to school on Monday, October 5, 2020 to start their NECO-SSCE. It’s shocking that the school is asking us to pay the sum of N17,000 each for feeding. For us, this is illegal considering the fact that we had earlier paid for the full school fees.”
He said the parents have decided not to pay the additional fee as it remain illegal.
When the Principal of the school, Mrs. Olorunyomi, was contacted, she said the decision to collect extra fees was taken with the leadership of the PTA and a few members of the association that could be reached.
Mrs. Olorunyomi, who noted that she had communicated the decision to the State Ministry of Education, said after a second review of their expenses, the N17,000 has been reduced to N13,500.
She explained that the extra charges became necessary to accommodate the shortfall in their food stuff that got spoilt during the Covid-19 pandemic lockdown, and to buy diesel for power generating set, petrol for school bus, and pay for the services a driver, additional two nurses, cleaners, two security personnel, and three additional cooks as the government provided for just one cook for the school.
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