Nigeria (Blank NEWS Online) – 

             Poised to curb the unwholesome proliferation of ramshackle school buildings and quackery in the education sub-sector, the Delta State government has reviewed its policy on fees payable by private schools’ operators in the state.
 
Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Mr. Chiedu Ebie disclosed this during an interactive meeting with the Association of Private School Owners (APSON) and National Association of Private School Owners (NAPS) at the French Language Centre, Asaba.
 
Mr. Ebie, accompanied by the Permanent Secretary, Mr. David Onokpe and other management staff of the Ministry, stated that following wide consultations, several review meetings, and comparison with neighbouring states’ policies on education, the need for upward review of fees payable by private schools has become necessary. 
 
He pointed out that the reviewed fees which took effect from February 1, 2016, was not a punitive measure, but as part of the Ministry’s oversight function to regulate and bring sanity into the system, saying that the ability to provide quality education should be taken seriously for the development of the country, as well as avoid growth stagnation.
 
The Commissioner, who described the role of genuine private schools operators and other stakeholders as partners in bridging the gap in the provision of quality education to Deltans, called for their cooperation, stating that government alone cannot bear the cost of funding the education sub-sector.
 
He further disclosegtd that the reviewed payable fees on registration, license and renewal by private school operators has been grouped into three categories based on rural, urban location, and school fees charged per session.  For nursery/primary, category A include those with schools fees that range from N500,000 and above per session: the new rate for registration fee is N100,000; license fee, 500,000; and renewal fee, N250,000.  Category B includes schools in the urban areas outside the above mentioned category – the new registration fee is N100,000; license fee is N200,000; and renewal fee, N100,000. Category C are schools in the rural areas, and registration fee is N50,000; license fee is N100,000 and renewal fee, N50,000.
 
Similarly, in the secondary school group, category A include those with school fees that range from N500,000 and above per session. For this category, the new registration fee is N150,000.00; license fee is N500,000 and renewal fee is N250,000.  Category B is for Schools in urban areas outside the above mentioned category, registration fee is N100,000; license fee N200,000 and renewal fee is N150,000.  While schools in rural areas category C:- registration fee is N50,000; license fee N150,000; and renewal fee is N100,000.  Payment should be made in bank draft in favour of Delta State Government, and submitted to the Ministry for clearance.
 
            In another development, the Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Mr. Chiedu Ebie in a meeting with the Forum of Chief Inspectors of Education in Asaba, revealed that government has given approval for Governor’s Cup Competition for secondary schools to be organized, and finals of the competition will be held around April at the Ozoro Township Stadium to coincide with the commissioning of the stadium.    
                                
Mr. Ebie also said that the state government has approved an increase of the chargeable rate for the use of all public secondary and primary schools in the state from N20,000 to N40,000 (forty thousand naira), saying that application for use should be addressed to the Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education. 
 
He added that permission for use of such public schools was only for weekends and holidays, and payment should be in bank draft and in favour of Delta State Government.

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