There are all indications that Ogun State Government have lifted the suspension placed on the payment of Parents/Teachers Association (PTA) levies in all public primary and secondary schools as well as technical colleges in the state.
The state government though said any PTA in any school or college must get the approval of the Ogun State Ministry of Education, Science and Technology before embarking on the collection of such levy.
Government also ordered that “learners must not be discriminated against on account of non-payment” of the levy, which it termed “donation”, by their parents.
Ogun state governor, Dapo Abiodun on September 21, won the hearts of parents when he ordered the suspension of a controversial N3,700 ‘donation’ reportedly introduced by the PTA for payment by pupils in all the state’s public secondary schools and technical colleges.
The Ministry of Education had earlier issued a circular that Gov Abiodun had approved the payment of the N3,700 by pupils in public secondary schools and technical colleges in the state as requested by the PTA, for the 2019/2020 academic session contrary to Abiodun’s campaign promise to make education free in all public schools in Ogun.
But in a recent circular from the Ogun State Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Department of Planning, Research and Statistics, Okemosan, Abeokuta Monday said, “Notwithstanding the above (free education policy), Parents/Teachers Association in our public schools, in line with its constitution is at liberty to donate in support of the government, to provide or rehabilitate infrastructural facilities, employ and support PTA teachers, guards, develop sports, etc.”
The circular with reference number EDU 666/25, was signed by Adeotan S. O. for the Permanent Secretary and addressed to all headteachers of public primary schools, all principals of public secondary schools, all principals of government science and technical colleges and all Zonal Education Officers in Ogun state.
According to the circular, “all other payments on revenue items into government accounts under the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology have now been restored.”
Government also said it has reduced the cost of transfer form, both inter and intra, for public primary and secondary schools to N5,000 flat rate, which used to be N10,000 for inter transfer and N20,000 for intra transfer.
“The officer also clarified that the cost of special placement form and relocation form as it applies to transition from primary to secondary schools has been fixed at N2,500 flat rate”
While reiterating the Gov Abiodun’s promise to make education free in all public schools in the state, the Ministry warned that “any public officer caught flouting its regulations “will be strictly sanctioned” as no levy must be demanded from pupils, until the PTA seeks and gets the approval of the state government.