The Anambra State Government has announced plans to introduce a unified payment system for private schools as part of efforts to eliminate multiple taxation, promote transparency and protect school proprietors from unauthorised financial demands.
The Commissioner for Education, Dr. Ekene Ogugua, disclosed this on November 3 during a meeting with heads of private school associations at the State Secretariat Complex in Awka.
Ogugua explained that the proposed system would provide a clear breakdown of approved payments and identify authorised government agencies responsible for collecting them.
He urged private school proprietors to report any financial demands outside officially recognised charges, stressing the government’s commitment to ending arbitrary levies and ensuring accountability in the education sector.
The commissioner said the meeting was organised to strengthen collaboration between the government and private school operators in building a progressive and inclusive education system, in line with Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo’s educational development agenda.
Ogugua also reiterated the state government’s ban on graduation ceremonies in schools, warning that institutions found violating the directive would face appropriate disciplinary measures.
According to him, the policy was introduced to reduce the financial burden on parents and prevent children from feeling disadvantaged because of their families’ economic circumstances.
On examination malpractice, the commissioner warned that, beginning next year, schools, administrators, teachers and invigilators found facilitating examination fraud would face legal consequences, including possible closure of affected institutions.
Expressing concern over the growing cases of examination malpractice in the state, he urged private school associations to comply with government regulations and submit lists of unregistered schools operating under their respective associations.
Also speaking, the Director of Schools, Mrs. Oyibor Alor, cautioned against individuals impersonating government agents to extort money from unregistered schools.
She advised school proprietors to seek clarification directly from the Ministry of Education rather than making payments to unauthorised individuals.
Earlier, the Head of AFAD, Mr. Ochuko Uzochukwu, appealed to the state government to intervene in the issue of multiple taxation affecting private schools.
A representative of the private school associations also pledged the operators’ cooperation with the Soludo administration’s vision of promoting equitable, progressive and accessible education across Anambra State.
The proposed unified payment system is expected to strengthen financial accountability in the private education sector while improving the relationship between school operators and the state government.
Written by Enitan Mudashiru
