The Cross River State Government on Wednesday, January 12, condemned the collection of fees from pupils in state-owned primary schools by school administrators, calling it illegal.

The Special Adviser to the Governor on Education, Mr. Castro Ezama, while reacting to complaints laid by parents about pupils being sent home for not paying some money, said education in public primary schools is free and compulsory in the state.

This comes after reports emerged that public schools administrators in the state resorted to collecting fees from pupils due to the unavailability of chalks, diaries, registries, and other teaching materials which the government had failed to provide.

Ezama maintained that teachings aides are always provided by the government on demand, and it was unlawful for anyone to send pupils home from public primary schools for nonpayment of school fees in Cross River.