By Agency Reporter
Senator Stephen Odey, Cross River State Commissioner for Education paid an unscheduled visit to Government Secondary School State Housing Estate Calabar Municipality, and West African People’s Institute (WAPI) Calabar.
The visit was due to the incessant complaints from parents and guardians about the schools’ illegal levies collection.
The Commissioner discovered upon his arrival at Government Secondary School, State Housing Calabar, that the School Principal was found wanting in the collection of illegal and unapproved levies, a parent who was in the school to pay the levies further confirmed by saying how much she paid contrary to the Ministry of Education approval. In further confirmation, the Commissioner went into JSS 3, JSS 1, and SS 2 classes and discovered how much they have been paying as illegal levies.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner has ordered the suspension of Mr. Esang Usang, the Principal of GSS State Housing, pending further investigation into the matter, and the Vice Principal Administration, Mrs. Effiom Uduak Orok, was immediately directed to take over as the Acting Principal.
In a related Development, the Principal of the West African People’s Institute (WAPI), Mr. Owoh Effiong was also suspended following the evidence/records of illegal levies he had been collecting which he admitted himself. Records available on comparison, show clearly that the Principal was faulty.
Similarly, the Vice Principal Administration, Mrs. Emem A. Ijang has been directed to take over as the Acting Principal following an interview conducted on the spot by the Commissioner among the school’s three Vice Principals, pending further investigation by the Ministry of Education.
The Commissioner further warned other school Principals to stick only to government-approved levies to avoid sanctions as he also urged parents not to hesitate to report any School Principal acting outside the Ministry of Education directives.