The Sokoto State Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education has ordered an immediate halt to the collection of fees in all public secondary schools.
Commissioner of the ministry, Prof. Ladan Ala, gave the directive to school principals across the state, stressing that the move is to allow a review of issues raised by parents and stakeholders on charges imposed by schools. A special committee has been set up by the ministry to handle the review, and the suspension of fees will stay in effect until the committee concludes its work and submits a report.
In a statement issued by the ministry’s Public Relations Officer, Ibrahim Mohammad Iya, the commissioner cautioned that principals who flout the directive would face “immediate administrative action.”
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He emphasized that principals must not, under any condition, request payments for Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) levy, admission fee, testimonial fee, statement of results, or the Muslim Students Society (MSS) fee.
The suspension also covers charges for the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) statement of result and certificate, answer sheets, screening forms, as well as Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (SSCE) related fees, including certificate charges for NECO, NABTEB, and NBAIS.