BY VICTOR NWEGEDE 
Dr Sunday Nwangele, Honourable Commissioner for Education in Ebonyi State.
The Honourable Commissioner for Education in Ebonyi State, Dr Sunday Nwangele on Friday, said that his Ministry would not go back in implementing the Executive Order number 6, urging all the school principals and headteachers to consider it as a pointer in advancing the educational system of the state.
Nwangele who stated this after his meeting with the members of the education board and Principals of all the Senior Secondary schools in the state, also expressed optimism that their cooperation would help to restore quality education in Ebonyi, making public schools a priority of choice in the state.
He charge them more committed in discharging their duties, warning them against loitering about, leaving the children unguided, both academically and morally.
Nwangele said that over 200 principals were in attendance during the meeting and however, commended them for accepting to work together with his office.
"Teachers should go to school, stay in there, and have registers of the children.
"When any student is not in school, the teacher has to act like the parent of that child, by making all necessary enquiries. We tried this in first term and in this second term, and it was hundred percent compliance.
"This implies that every school in Ebonyi State use one school year calendar. I also presented to them what we call Executive Order Number Six (6) in Ebonyi State, this shows that our governor is educational friendly. He has approved normal things that should be collected in schools especially the public schools.
"The principals have been guided to never collect anything that is not contained in the Executive Order. If you do, it is an offence, and without conviction, you are liable to pay N500,000 fine or you face one year term of imprisonment. And they've all agreed.
"The other thing to do is to collect N100 for the registration of new students entering JSS1, SS1 and anybody coming new in the school shouldn't exceed N100.
"For examination fee, we prescribed only N500 per term. For the termly examination to support the school developmental levies and the other is to pay N100 to support the board utility bills. This is because education is free in Ebonyi State," Nwangele said.
He said that the state government has directed for the activation of the Parents, Teachers Association (PTA) in every school, urging the members of the asssociation to partner with the Ministry of education in developing schools.
"We talked about reactivation of PTA. The PTA members shall be Chairmen of all the collectables and I have consented to them that the PTA should be having projects in their various schools without the principals' interference. We warn them to be agents of government, partners in progress, and also to watch out for the safety of the school, and for the commitment of the teachers, because we want every school to be progressing," he added.
He unveiled the ministry's plan to commission the governor's projects alongside the inauguration of the PTA members in various schools of the state.
Emphasizing on particular fees to be paid for external exams, Nwangele said that he has presented to the principals the clear note on the 2022 registration fees for WAEC and NECO, saying that the state government warned that nobody should add anything on what was collected last year.
"We are standing on the executive approval of our dear governor on WAEC and NECO registration fees with the body in charge. Whatever we spent last year, that's what we are collecting this year. No increment, and nothing payable to the ministry of education," he said.
The commissioner announced that there would be
multiple supervisions of schools, warning the school teachers and students to comply to the state government directives to avoid falling victims.
He urged teachers to have quality lesson notes in accordance with the curriculum, shun truancy and promoting school environmental cleanliness, stressing that the monitors during the supervision would not leave any of them found faulty in those areas.
He said the ministry would liaise with the state governors to embark on grassroot sports development, organize school quizzes, debates and other social activities before the term elapses.
The Education Commissioner stated that his Ministry has stopped approval of sub-standard schools and however, discouraged the operators from running such schools as they would not be allowed to participate in any extenal exam.
"We have stopped indiscriminate approval of private schools. I believe that school shouldn't be turned a profit making venture. You can establish school where there are no existing public school and for the interest of the masses that there's no school here. The Ministry can't approve any sub-standard school. Any school close to the public school, we can't approve and I discourage people from establishing shaties because the regulating body is out to do the needful, and now it's clear that all unapproved schools can't write First Leaving exams, Common Entrance, and other exams, and even WAEC."
