Governor of Anambra State, Chukwuma Soludo has suspended four principals for noncompliance with his Free Education Policy in the State.
A statement by the public relations officer of the Ministry of Education, Nnaemeka Egwuonwu, said the suspension of the principals 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 heads of schools 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 has constituted a committee to investigate the activities of the affected principals.
The statement said,
“She warned that if found culpable, the principals would be made to refund the amount collected.
“It is surprising that after a 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.”