Anambra Takes Action As Primary School Charges Pupils N5,000 For Prefect Nomination Fee

• Blossom Fount School, Awka, has been sanctioned for charging pupils N5,000 to contest for the position of head prefect
• Anambra state government sanctioned the school for a period of one month pending the conclusion of an ongoing investigation
• The state Commissioner for Education, Prof. Ngozi Chuma-Udeh, said the school's action is "an act of selling the psyche of the children to the highest bidder from the cradle"

Legit.ng journalist Adekunle Dada has over 8 years of experience covering basic and tertiary education in Nigeria and worldwide

Awka, Anambra state - Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo-led Anambra state government has sanctioned Blossom Fount School, Awka, for charging pupils N5,000 to contest for the position of head prefect.

The school was slammed with a one-month sanction for monetising student leadership.

The state Commissioner for Education, Prof. Ngozi Chuma-Udeh, said the school imposed the controversial fee on pupils in its primary section vying for leadership roles.

As reported by The Punch, Chuma-Udeh announced the sanction on Saturday, May 10, 2025

The commissioner described the school’s action as an attempt to commercialise student leadership and exploit the ambitions of young children.

“Investigation is going on to know how the school is being run. It is an act of selling the psyche of the children to the highest bidder from the cradle, and it is not acceptable to this government.”

“The act of commercialising student leadership and exploiting children’s ambitions for financial gain is despicable. It amounts to selling the psyche of the children to the highest bidder from the cradle, and it is strongly condemned,”

Reliable sources disclosed that the ministry’s investigation is still ongoing, and further sanctions may be imposed depending on the outcome.

The goal, officials say, is to ensure accountability and deter similar actions in schools across the state.

Chuma-Udeh stated that such practices will not be tolerated under Governor Soludo’s administration.

She stressed that Soludo’s administration remains committed to upholding integrity and fairness within the education system.

Anambra bans secondary students from using phone

Recall that secondary school students were banned from using mobile phones across the 21 local government area LGAs of Anambra state.

Principals and teachers are authorised to seize mobile phones from students who come to school with them.

The Chairman of the Post Primary Schools Service Commission explained the reason for the new measure.

Anambra declares free education for senior secondary schools

Meanwhile, Legit.ng reported that Anambra state government declared free education for public secondary school students in the state.

Governor Chukwuma Soludo made this declaration on Thursday during a meeting with principals and head teachers in public primary and secondary schools in the state.

The former CBN governor also gladdened the hearts of workers in the state as he gave an update on the payment of the N70,000 new minimum wage.

Source: Legit.ng