Anambra State Suspends Four Principals for Defying Governor Soludo’s Free Education Policy

In a bold move aimed at upholding his administration’s commitment to free education, Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State has suspended four Principals of secondary schools in the state. This action comes as a response to their alleged violation of the newly implemented education policy that abolished levies in primary and junior secondary schools across the region.

The Principals facing suspension hail from Washington Memorial Grammar School in Onitsha, Kenneth Dike Secondary School in Awka, New Era Secondary School in Onitsha, and Prince Memorial High School in Onitsha.

The announcement of these suspensions was made through a statement released by Nnaemeka Egwuonwu, the Public Relations Officer of the state Ministry of Education, and subsequently endorsed by Commissioner for Education, Prof. Ngozi Chuma-Udeh.

According to Egwuonwu, the Principals have been accused of acting in defiance of the Soludo Solution policy on free education in the state. In response to these allegations, the Commissioner has initiated the formation of a committee to thoroughly investigate the activities of the suspended Principals. It has been made clear that if the investigation finds them guilty, they will be obligated to reimburse the collected fees.

“The Principals’ alleged flouting of the Solution Free Education policy, despite repeated announcements by Governor Soludo, is quite surprising,” remarked Commissioner Chuma-Udeh.

Governor Soludo had previously reiterated his commitment to the Solution Free Education policy during his recent visits to schools in the state. As part of this policy, no fees are to be charged to any student from early childhood education through Junior Secondary School (up to JSS 3). Furthermore, the governor stipulated that students in Senior Secondary should not incur more than N5,000 for running costs, with the stipulation that these funds should not be paid into government coffers. These directives were further emphasized during a meeting with Principals and Head teachers in Awka on September 23rd, 2023.