By Adeboye Ado, Akure
Following the recent increase in the fees of Federal Government Colleges otherwise known as Unity Schools, stakeholders have berated upward review of the school fees.
The Federal Government through the Federal Ministry of Education has increased the school fees of new students into Federal Colleges to ₦100,000.
“The latest fees/charge increment will affect virtually all aspects and activities of the school, including tuition and boarding fees, uniform, text books, deposit, exercise books, prospectus, caution fee, ID card, stationery, clubs and societies, sports, extra lesson, insurance, et al”, the government said in a statement yesterday.
Speaking with Prompt News correspondent on Saturday, a retired Principal, Femi Afolabi, described the increment as an effort to outrightly make education unaffordable for the middle class in the country.
Afolabi who argued that if the government was sincere with its firm stance to reducing the level of illiteracy to the barest minimum, it won’t unnecessarily hike school fess.
On his part, Mr Shedu Ikumuyite, the Chairman of Adougbo Grammar School, Afin Akoko, decried the hike in schools fees, saying parents are still grappling with the hardship occasioned by the removal of fuel subsidy.
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“Very sad that when all and sundry are struggling to eke out living, our government who supposed to quickly cushion the effects of the removal of fuel subsidy has increased fees of Unity schools.
“Many may later drop out or even join another school of low standards, then how has the government been helpful to the citizens”, Shedu said.
Similarly, a retired Education Officer, Alhaji Yaya Ipinloju, said the increment was ill-timed in view of the seeming multifaceted challenges been faced by Nigerians.
Ipinloju, however, urged government at all levels to allocate large chunk of money to fund the education sector, adding that education is the bedrock to a sustainable society.
