The Ondo State Government has sanctioned two secondary school principals over the collection of illegal charges and items from students in public schools.
The Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Prof. Igbekele Ajibefun, made this known in Akure, the state capital, on Tuesday, September 23, 2025.
Ajibefun, who declined to mention the names and schools of the affected principals, said they were fingered in the alleged illegal collection of fees.
Ajibefun disclosed that some parents reported to the ministry that some principals were charging above the approved levies and also collecting items that were not approved from their students.
The commissioner lamented that some head teachers and principals were in the habit of collecting levies not approved by the government from the students.
He said: “We have sanctioned two principals in the last few days.
“The two principals were collecting illegal money from students. Even before the resumption for the new term, they’ve started collecting money from the students.
“We summoned them to the ministry and they confessed because we’ve received credible information from parents, and when we confronted them with the allegations, they couldn’t deny.
“They have been queried, and the punishment will follow.
“It is to let them know that we are serious about what we are saying, and to let them know that this era is different.”
On illegal schools, Ajibefun warned operators of private schools without approval from the Ministry of Education to desist, directing them to register with the government immediately.
Ajibefun stressed that the administration of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa would not fold its arms and allow anybody to sabotage the ongoing reforms in the education sector in Ondo State.