Stakeholders in Cross River kick over frivolous levy in schools

Some stakeholders in the education sector in Cross River have frowned at the duplication of levies by the Ministry of Education as well as pegging of tenure for principals of secondary schools. among other vexing issues.

Speaking to newsmen in an exclusive interview in Calabar, a parent of three children in public primary and secondary schools said though Government claim education is free at primary school level, but pupils are made to pay almost five thousand Naira (N5,000) under various sub-heads whereas in the secondary school, students are forced to pay levies ranging from young farmers levy, CASS, WAEC continuous assessment score sheet, computerization, biometric and image capturing which also amounts to four thousand five hundred Naira (N4500) per student every school session from Junior secondary-Jss1 to Senior Secondary School-SS3 examination classes.

While fielding questions from newsmen in Calabar on Saturday, March 23, 2024, Mr. Greg Itami called on the State Governor, Senator Prince Bassey Otu to compel the State Commissioner for Education, Senator (Dr.) Stephen Odey to constitute Boards in the Ministry’s parastatals to fore-stall anarchy in administration of education in the State. He however commended the Governor for fulfilling his promise of paying the West African Examination Council Secondary School Certificate fees which has relieved financial burden on parents of indigent students.

Effort to get reaction from officials in the Ministry of Education on the matter was naught as at the time of filing this report.

By: Archibong Emmanuel
(Snr. Reporter)