Anti-corruption commission has issued a stern warning to principals of secondary schools in Freetown who are often associated with soliciting advantage from parents and school pupils, an act it described as corruption.

ACC's head of public education unit Desmond Johnson told school authorities at the Rokel secondary school on Tower Hill that there was the likelihood of principals falling short of probity in the discharge of their duties.

Johnson reminded principals about the extent of harm corruption has caused to the country's educational system.

"We should maintain charges as mandated by the education ministry. Any attempt to levy extra charges will be a chargeable offence," he said.

He warned teachers against admitting students without the knowledge of the principal.

"It is only the principal that has the right to admit students".

Desmond Johnson said the commission summoned the principals in the interest of the nation and to remind them about adverse effects of corruption on education.

Prosecution and investigation officer at ACC Alhassan Kargbo said the new anti-corruption commission act has 27 offences.

"One of them is the corrupt acquisition of wealth and the ACC law demands investigation of such wealth."

A representative from the ministry of education, youth and sports Claudius Wilson said his ministry recently embarked on a nationwide survey to know the exact number of teachers in the country.

"All principals must ensure that teachers are present at schools every day and on time," he urged.

Patrick Brown, principal of Government Model Secondary School expressed dissatisfaction with the manner in which the ministry of education was handling the perennial problem of backlog salaries for teachers.