Taraba Gov suspend 7 school principals over alleged sabotage of free education policy

Seven secondary school principals have been suspended by the Taraba State government following their alleged involvement in the sabotage of the free education programme by the governor.

The governor had, on assumption of office, announced free education in both government primary and secondary schools spread across the state.

Apart from the declaration, West African Examination Council, WAEC, and National Examination Council, NECO, fees for all prospective candidates, were also paid by the government.

The suspended teachers were alleged to have continued to extort money from their students.

Announcing their suspension on Tuesday in Jalingo, the Commissioner of Education, Augustina Yahaya, said all the suspended principals were sabotaging the freedom education policy of the current state government.

Schools whose principals have been suspended are Government Day Secondary Schools Kofai, Government Day Secondary Salihu Dogo in Jalingo; GDSS Kununi in Lau, GDSS Jouro Yinu in Ardo-Kola, GDSS Kakulu in Zing, GSS Takum, and GDSS Yakassai in Wukari.

While the Principal of Government Day Secondary School, Jauro Yino, was said to have been suspended for collecting money from students for NECO, the principal of Yakasali in Wukari local government council, according to the commissioner, suspended for collecting money and selling slots of WAEC to external students.

She also announced that the principal of GDSS Kakulu in Zing local government, was suspended for negligence, for not monitoring properly while denying 105 final year students from registering their exams.

The ministry, in collaboration with the state government, according to her, will leave no stone unturned to bring to book those working round the clock to make the policy a nightmare.