Osun Public Schools Accused Of Charging Up To ₦24,000 Per Student Despite Approved ₦500 Levy

An investigation by OSUN DEFENDER has raised concerns over alleged unauthorised charges in public secondary schools across Osun State, with some principals reportedly collecting between ₦12,000 and ₦24,000 per student per term despite the state government’s approval of a ₦500 Education Trust Levy (ETL).

The report alleged that the charges vary from one school to another, while some parents and guardians are also reportedly required to provide items such as laundry baskets, dustpans, brooms, markers, canes, disinfectants and tissue paper.

According to the investigation, Osogbo Grammar School allegedly collects ₦24,000 per student without issuing receipts, while Saint Francis Grammar School in Modakeke reportedly charges ₦22,000 for JSS 1 students, in addition to ₦500 for report sheets.

At Fakunle Unity Grammar School in the Stadium Area of Osogbo, students are allegedly required to pay ₦16,000 per term. The report also alleged that Surajudeen Primary School collects ₦13,000 from each student as school fees.

The investigation further reported that parents at Laro Grammar School, Oke-Fia, Osogbo, were given a list of 18 compulsory items to provide for their children. Parents were also allegedly compelled to purchase textbooks within the school premises at prices ranging from ₦4,800 to ₦5,800 per copy.

A guardian sponsoring six children at Saint Francis Grammar School, Modakeke, expressed concern over the financial burden, disclosing that he paid ₦132,000 in the previous term, excluding the cost of books.

“They collected ₦22,000 per child, that is ₦132,000 for six children, excluding books. Where do they expect poor parents to get such money in a government school?” the guardian, who requested anonymity, was quoted as saying.

The allegations have raised questions about the implementation of the state government’s free education policy and the extent to which parents are being asked to pay additional charges in public schools.

Reacting to the report, the Osun State Chairman of the Parent Teachers Association (PTA), Comrade Fadare Moshood, said the association’s leadership was not aware of the alleged collections.

However, he suggested that the charges might have resulted from arrangements made by principals of public secondary schools under the All Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS).

The President of ANCOPSS in Osun State, Comrade Muyiwa Oladipo, declined to comment directly on the allegations, directing the newspaper to the state Ministry of Education for an official response.

“I’m not in the position to respond to your questions; you rather contact Ministry of Education for any response on the issues mentioned in your questions,” Oladipo said.

Meanwhile, the Osun State Commissioner for Education, Hon. Dipo Eluwole, maintained that the government-approved Education Trust Levy remained ₦500 per term.

He added that students in mega schools pay an additional ₦2,000 for school maintenance, explaining that the approved ₦500 levy is returned to schools as a running grant to support maintenance expenses.

According to the commissioner, other collections are determined by individual PTAs rather than the government or school principals.

He argued that different schools have different needs, which could account for variations in the amounts parents are asked to pay.

“It is very difficult for the government to regularise it, because the needs of different schools differ from each other. PTA of Fakunle may decide to buy new school bus for the benefit of their children while Osogram may decide to repair their old school bus because of the cost of the new one. With the above, the two schools will not charge the same amount,” Eluwole said.

However, the commissioner’s explanation appeared to conflict with the position of the state PTA chairman, who said the association was unaware of the alleged charges.

The report also stated that the commissioner did not clarify whether the affected schools had been queried over the allegations or whether any disciplinary action would be taken against principals found to have collected unauthorised fees.

A follow-up enquiry was reportedly sent to the commissioner seeking clarification on whether queries had been issued to the management of Osogbo Grammar School, Laro Grammar School and Fakunle Unity Grammar School. No response had been received as of the time the report was published.

Some parents, guardians and education stakeholders have appealed to Governor Ademola Adeleke to intervene and ensure that school heads found culpable are appropriately sanctioned.

They also called for action against any unauthorised collection of fees, compulsory provision of materials and alleged sales of instructional materials in state-owned primary and secondary schools.

A civil society stakeholder, Citizen Lola Wey, said the alleged practice contravenes Section 13 of the Osun Child Rights Law 2013, which guarantees free and compulsory basic education for children.

Wey called for a ban on unauthorised compulsory materials and urged the governor to reissue the government’s circular on free education in public schools.

She said she had taken up the matter in her capacity as a Child Rights Ambassador and pledged to continue efforts to address the issue through advocacy and public enlightenment programmes across the state.

The allegations have placed renewed attention on the implementation of free education in Osun State, with parents seeking clarity on which charges are officially approved and what measures the government will take if schools are found to be collecting unauthorised payments.