By Ayodele Oni
Following a ban on cash payment for all forms of levies in public schools in Ondo State, the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology has introduced a digital payment gateway for financial transactions.
Government, explained that the actiin was part of measures to curb illegal collections and strengthen accountability in the education sector.
The initiative, which takes effect from the new academic session, was disclosed during a meeting between the Ministry and executives of the Association of Bursars of Secondary Schools in Ondo State.
Speaking at the meeting, the Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Prof Igbekele Ajibefun, said the Ministry has already engaged principals across the state to sensitise them on the new payment system and ensure smooth implementation.
The Commissioner said the decision followed widespread complaints received during the last academic session about illegal and unauthorised collections in schools.
Ajibefun explained that, following the complaints, he personally embarked on verification visits to some schools, where he confirmed that certain forms of unauthorised collections were taking place.
According to him, the findings prompted the Ministry to work with relevant stakeholders and its technical team to develop a payment gateway that would make every financial transaction in schools traceable and properly documented.
“To this end, we have put heads together to come up with a payment gateway. From now on, every payment will have to pass through the gateway, and we have placed a ban on cash payments.
“From the next session, we will not give room for anyone to deny any collection of illegal fees.”
The Commissioner stressed that the payment gateway was not introduced to take over funds belonging to schools, but to ensure transparency, accountability and proper monitoring of collections.
He explained that funds paid through the platform would be remitted to the appropriate school accounts, assuring school authorities that the system was designed primarily to eliminate financial irregularities.
He further disclosed that the payment gateway has been approved by the State Governor several months ago, stressing that its implementation was a policy decision that was not open to negotiation.
The Commissioner urged school bursars to cooperate with the partner handling the system, noting that the initiative would address existing abnormalities in the management of school finances.
Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr. Akindele Ige, said the new payment system would promote efficiency, transparency and accountability in school financial administration.
He urged the bursars to adequately engage other stakeholders and ensure that they understood the new system, stressing that their cooperation would be crucial to its successful implementation.
In his response, the Chairman of the Association of Bursars of Secondary Schools, Mr Fisayo Fapounda appreciated the Ministry for the initiative, describing it as a positive step towards improving transparency in school financial management.
He, however, called on the partner to engage with the wider membership of the association to ensure that all bursars were properly informed and to prevent misinformation about the new system.
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