The West African Secondary School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) finally commenced on the 18th of August 2020 with Mathematics after several postponements occasioned by COVID-19 in all the states in Nigeria including the Federal Capital Territory.
Here in River State a teacher started his own on a bad note as he was caught for alleged collection of illegal fees and examination racketeering despite all the warnings by Rivers State Government.
Nabbed by the Commissioner for Education, Prof. Kaniye Ebeku, the culprit, Mr Emeka Ricky, was seen in possession of over N440,000 (four hundred and forty thousand naira), allegedly collected from students for malpractice.
Ricky who is a teacher in Community Secondary School, Ogbogoro, Obio Akpor Local Government Area stashed some of the said sum in a drawer inside his office.
When interrogated, the culprit claimed the monies were collected for Stockings, Badge and for assistance.
The Education Commissioner whose visit to the school was prompted by reports by parents over the illegal collection of N4000 from each student in the guise of clearance fees ensured that the monies recovered were refunded to all the students who had paid.
It would be recalled that the Ministry of Education reiterated that all forms of charges have since been outlawed in all public schools in the state by His Excellency Governor Nyesom Wike, and such collections by any Principal is unauthorised, illegal and criminal.
He had also charged Parents and Students to resist such payments and immediately report any such demands to the Ministry of Education through WhatsApp, text message or call to this number: 07030967868.
Principals of public schools were also told that immediate disciplinary actions would be taken against any erring Principals.
