By Ushang Ewa
A coalition of journalists, activists, legal practitioners and well-meaning Cross Riverians represented by Barr. Baba Isa have written to the Cross River House of Assembly over the extortion of pupils in public primary and junior secondary schools in the State.
The coalition is alleging that the ministry under the current commissioner, Amanke Ebunshua, has infringed on the fundamental rights of pupils and the relevant laws that promote free and compulsory basic education.
The coalition said it has watched with dismay, “the ongoing mindless extortion of pupils in the basic education sub sector of the State despite the subsisting free basic education policy of the State and the federal governments.”
It said school staff within the different structures of the ministry are engaged in the act and pupils are often sent home if they fail to pay these sums that are usually over NGN1,300 per term.
The coalition said its position is backed by the Compulsory, Free Universal Basic Education Act of 2004 and Section 15 of the Child Rights Act of 2003.
It therefore called on the Assembly to, “invite the Commissioner for Education and the ministry’s management team to explain to the people and in a manner that Cross Riverians can see and understand this illegality.”
The letter follows CrossRiverWatch’s investigation which uncovered the corruption in the education sector and the subsequent actions by the leadership of the education sector in the State.
The recent clamor followed the release of videos showing pupils sent home for failing to pay fees, a situation that Mr. Castro Ezama, the Special Adviser, Education to Governor Ben Ayade said was an anomaly.
And, to prove its position, the coalition attached copies of a circular on approved fees for junior secondary schools; a query to a school head on the non remittance of the extorted sums; a letter approving sums for a school based club and the commissioners’ response to the clamor of the coalition on Facebook.
See the petition below…
