Nigeria
Ogun students demand reversal of recently increased school fees, expressing their dissatisfaction and concerns
Ogun State students have demanded that Ogun State’s postsecondary institutions withdraw their plans to raise tuition within the next four days.
Under the banner of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Ogun State students bemoaned that certain universities’ increase in tuition was an effort to make life intolerable for those who couldn’t afford it.
Following the tuition hike from N65,000 to around N240,000 on Tuesday, there was a protest at the Tai Solarin University of Education (TASUED), Ijagun, according to OBASANJO NEWS24.
Since then, all students have been ordered to leave by the university’s management due to the protest.
Speaking to reporters in Abeokuta on Thursday, Francis Adeyanju, the chairman of NANS, criticised what he called the “abnormal increment” in tuition rates for all state-owned postsecondary educational institutions.
Adayanju warned that if the government did not step in and reverse the increased fees within the next four days, there would be a widespread demonstration that would shut down the state.
Adeyanju, who was accompanied by Kehinde Mathew, National President of the National Association of Ogun State kids (NAOSS), bemoaned the fact that the increase in school fees is an effort to keep impoverished and vulnerable kids in the State from being able to obtain an inexpensive and high-quality education.
He was offended by the administrators of the impacted schools’ “insensitivity” to the needs of the pupils and the advancement of education in the State.
Returning students at Tai Solarin University of Education (TASUED) now pay N180,000 instead of N76,500 per session, and new students pay up to N230,000.
The science students’ school fees at Moshood Abiola Polytechnic (MAPOLY) have increased from N62,000 to N120,000, while the non-science students’ costs have been reduced from N55,000 to between N150,000 and N155,000.
He stated, “The school fees for Ogun State Polytechnic of Health and Allied Sciences were increased from N67,000 to N109,000 for indigenous students, while non-indigenous students now have to pay N124,000 as opposed to N77,400.”
According to Adeyanju, postsecondary education should be viewed as a means of preparing young people to assume leadership roles in the future rather than as a way to make money.
The student leader stated, “We will mobilise our students across the State and shut down the State in a mass protest until our demands are met if nothing is done at the expiration of the four-day ultimatum.”