Schools Resumption: KWSG warns principals, head teachers against illegal charges

By Damilola Alamu

As first term academic session for primary and secondary schools in
Kwara State resume today (Monday), principals and head teachers have
been warned against extortion of parents and guardians.
All principals and head teachers as well as  education stakeholders
have been directed to ensure the immediate commencement of academic
activities in line with the set standard and the state benchmarks in
education.
A statement signed by the Press Secretary of the state Ministry of
Education and Human Capital Development, Yakub Aliagan, and made
available to Pilot Education, at the weekend, said the directive was
given by the Permanent Secretary, Hajia Mariam Ayodeji Garuba.
Hajia Garuba at the official declaration of the proposed Kwara State
School Calendar for 2019/2020 Academic Session held at the Conference
hall of the Ministry, last Thursday, enjoined parents and guardians to
ensure that their children and wards resume immediately as academic
activities will commence on resumption day.
According to the statement, the Permanent Secretary revealed that the
state government has approved ‘Kwara State School Calendar’ for the
year 2019/2020 academic session.
It said, the first term will commence on 16th September, 2019 and end
on 13th December, 2019, while the 2nd term will start from 6th
January, 2020 and end on 9th April, 2020.
The third term, it said, will begin from 4th May, 2020 and end on 24th
July, 2020.
The statement added that Garuba warned principals and head teachers
against charging illegal fees, urging them to adhere strictly to the
approved PTA charges in schools across the state.
It further said the Permanent Secretary stressed that anybody found
wanting would face severe sanction in accordance with civil service
rules and regulations.

…parents, guardians decry school fees increment, cost of textbooks

By Nasirudeen Ahmad and Oguntimehin Sunita

As Kwara State schools resume for the 2019/2020 academic session,
parents and guardians at the weekend in Ilorin, lamented increment in
school fees and cost of textbooks.
Our reporters observed that proprietors of private schools have
increased their charges compared to what was obtained last academic
session.
A parent and resident of Ita-Alamu, Ilorin, the state capital, Adedapo
Joshua whose child attends Ita Alamu Secondary School said that
government is not ready to help the masses due to the rising cost of
education.
He said, “Nowadays, parents develop high BP due to the increase in
school fees. Some of us take loans to pay for children’s school fees
while the government officials enrol their children abroad.”
Speaking further, Adedapo who is an engineer said many parents have
changed schools of their wards due to recurring school fees increment,
a practice he described as counter-productive.
“Changing of school doesn’t give the child stable knowledge as he/she
will have to adapt to new teaching system and environment.”
On her part, Mrs. Aworinde Oluwatosin a hairdresser with two children
at Mission to Success Nursery and Primary School, Ilorin, lamented the
increment of the tuition of her first child from N6,000 to N8,000.
“Due to the sudden increase, I have already changed the school of my
children. I have also discovered that the prices of books and other
stationeries have increased. I can only hope that the school
management will revisit the increment. Government can also help our
situation by controlling the prices of stationeries and other items,”
she said.
In the same vein, another parent, Fausat Imran, who is a trader and
has a child enrolled at Al-Mudeef Islamic Primary School said, “I
don’t understand why the school heads are not being considerate when
it comes to payment of either school fees or party fee.”
She added that due to the current economic situation and low
patronage, it will be difficult to meet up with payment of school fees
in the third week.
Also speaking, Mrs Risikat Muritala, who is a civil servant whose
children attend Banwo International Basic Science School, Ilorin said
it’s not been easy preparing for the new academic session.
“I was at the market earlier today (Friday) to purchase a school bag
and lunch box but  found out that the price has increased from what it
used to be in the past. Instead of purchasing two bags, I was
restricted to one due to the increase in price.
“When I left home, I also had plans to buy socks, food flask and other
things but I may have to do that next week as things stand,” she
stated.
Speaking further, she said, “Why would I even force myself to pay my
children school fees in the first week when the government itself has
failed to pay our outstanding salaries. I can only pay if God
provides.”