By: Felix Ikpotor
It seems that the free education initiated by the previous administration of Chibuike Amaechi may have been abolished by the Chief Nyesom Wike led government in the state as pupils of model primary schools in the state are now required to pay for the cleaning of their school premises and general sanitation.
This is even as the Rivers State government has given owners of unregistered private schools in the state twenty one days to register them or stop operation.
The state commissioner for education, Prof. Kaniye Ebeku stated this when he met with owners of private schools in the state.
Ebeku said already the governor, Nyesom Wike has given approval for the imposition of the fees.
“The governor has graciously approved that sanitation fees be paid in model schools”, he said.
Ebeku said that the overgrown weeds in most of the model schools has become a source of concern for the government, hence the need to impose the fees.
The state education boss said the fees would be collected by headteachers of the various schools.
On the private schools, Ebeku said if they fail to heed the government advice of twenty one days the schools would be closed down.
It would be recalled that during the administration of Chibuike Amaechi as governor of the state, pupils of primary schools were given not required to pay a dime including uniforms and books were provided for them by the government.
