The Ondo State Government has banned cash payments for financial transactions in all public schools across the state, introducing a digital payment gateway designed to curb illegal collections and strengthen transparency and accountability in school financial administration.

The new policy, being implemented by the Ondo State Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, will take effect from the beginning of the new academic session.

The ministry announced the policy during a meeting with executives of the Association of Bursars of Secondary Schools in Ondo State.

The development is part of efforts by the state government to address complaints of illegal and unauthorised collections in public schools and ensure that financial transactions within the schools are properly documented and traceable.

According to the ministry, principals across the state have already been sensitised to the new policy to facilitate its smooth implementation.

Commissioner: We Confirmed Illegal Collections

The Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology explained that the decision followed widespread complaints received during the last academic session concerning illegal and unauthorised collections in some public schools.

The Commissioner said he personally visited some of the schools to verify the complaints and confirmed that unauthorised collections were indeed taking place.

Following the findings, the ministry, working with relevant stakeholders and its technical team, developed a digital payment gateway through which transactions involving public schools can be traced and properly documented.

The Commissioner said the system would eliminate the possibility of financial transactions being concealed or denied.

“From now on, every payment will have to pass through the gateway, and we have placed a ban on cash payments,” the Commissioner said.

He explained that the new system would make it easier for the government to monitor financial transactions and identify unauthorised collections.

Payments to Be Remitted to School Accounts

The Commissioner clarified that the digital payment platform was not established to take over funds belonging to public schools.

Rather, he said, the initiative was designed to promote transparency, accountability and effective monitoring of school finances.

According to him, payments made through the gateway will be remitted to the appropriate school accounts.

He also disclosed that the payment gateway had received the approval of the state governor several months ago.

The Commissioner stressed that its implementation was a government policy and was therefore not open to negotiation.

He urged school bursars to cooperate with the technical partner responsible for handling the digital payment platform to ensure a successful rollout.

Permanent Secretary Backs Digital System

Also speaking at the meeting, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Dr Akindele Ige, expressed support for the initiative.

Dr Ige said the digital payment system would improve efficiency, transparency and accountability in the financial administration of public schools across Ondo State.

He noted that the move would strengthen financial monitoring and provide a more accountable system for handling payments in schools.

Bursars’ Association Commends Initiative

The Chairman of the Association of Bursars of Secondary Schools in Ondo State, Mr Fisayo Fapounda, commended the government for introducing the digital payment gateway.

Fapounda described the initiative as a positive step towards improving transparency in the management of school finances.

However, he urged the technical partner handling the platform to engage more extensively with school bursars.

According to him, broader engagement with bursars would help ensure that the system is properly understood and prevent misinformation surrounding its implementation.

The Ondo State Government is expected to commence full implementation of the cashless payment policy with the start of the new academic session, with every payment in public schools required to go through the approved digital gateway.