Four school principals have been dismissed by the Governor of Anambra State, Prof Chukwuma Soludo, for defying the state’s “free education policy” and refusing to follow it.

Nnaemeka Egwuonwu, the state Public Relations Officer for the Ministry of Education, revealed this in a press release on Tuesday.

According to Egwuonwu, Prof Ngozi Chuma-Udeh, the Commissioner for Education, announced the penalty for their actions.

“Soludo has stepped down four schools’ Principals for non-compliance to the solution-free education policy of the Anambra State Government,” the press release read in part.

It named the principals of Washington Memorial Grammar School, Onitsha, Nkem Nkechi; Kenneth Dike Secondary School, Awka, Onwurah Catherine; New Era Secondary School, Onitsha, Dr Cordelia Okonkwo; and Prince Memorial High School, Onitsha, Amaka Ubaka, as those who were accused to have violated the state’s free education policy by acting in a way that was against it.

“The stepping down of the principals was announced by the Commissioner for Education Prof. Ngozi Chuma-Udeh.

“The Commissioner stated that a committee has been constituted to investigate the activities of the affected principals. She further stated that if found culpable, the Principals would be made to refund the amount collected.

“It is surprising that after a series of announcements on the Solution free education policy by Mr. Governor, the Principals could still be alleged to have flouted the policy,” the statement said.

During his trips to Premier Primary School Odume Obosi and Ado Girls Secondary School Onitsha, Soludo declared that no child from early childhood education and development up to junior secondary school is required to pay any fees at all, as it is in accordance with the solution-free education policy.

Also, no Senior Secondary student should have to pay more than N5,000, but the governor expanded on this regulation when he met with principals and headteachers on Saturday at the International Conference Centre in Awka.