Parents protest FG increment of Unity Schools fees
Mon Aug 08, 2016 03:14:pm Education
3.8K By Buchi Obichie
The recent Federal Government increment of fees of Unity Schools, has been protested against by the National Parents and Teachers Association of the Federal Government Colleges.
The association has described the development as a "commercialisation of education," and warned that if not reversed, parents would be forced to withdraw their children from unity colleges.
In a communiqué read to journalists by its National President, Dr. Gabriel Nnaji, at the end of its National Executive Council meeting, the association said the increment from N20,000 to N75,000 by the Government was untimely and insensitive.
According to him, the fee was increased on June 1.
The communiqué partly read, "The increase of school fees from about N20,000 to about N75,000 in unity colleges is most untimely and insensitive. An average Nigerian worker whose minimum wage is N18,000 and who has one or two children in the unity colleges will be unable to keep his or her child or children in the unity colleges.
"The recent increase is a negation of the policy or principle that established unity colleges which is to make basic and secondary education affordable and accessible to an average Nigerian student."
The association therefore appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari and the members of the National Assembly to compel the Federal Ministry of Education to revert to the old fee regime "as the education of Nigerian children is a right and not a privilege."
"The association will continue to partner the Federal Ministry of Education by complementing the efforts of the ministry in the provision of basic facilities in the unity colleges," Nnaji said.
The association has described the development as a "commercialisation of education," and warned that if not reversed, parents would be forced to withdraw their children from unity colleges.
In a communiqué read to journalists by its National President, Dr. Gabriel Nnaji, at the end of its National Executive Council meeting, the association said the increment from N20,000 to N75,000 by the Government was untimely and insensitive.
According to him, the fee was increased on June 1.
The communiqué partly read, "The increase of school fees from about N20,000 to about N75,000 in unity colleges is most untimely and insensitive. An average Nigerian worker whose minimum wage is N18,000 and who has one or two children in the unity colleges will be unable to keep his or her child or children in the unity colleges.
"The recent increase is a negation of the policy or principle that established unity colleges which is to make basic and secondary education affordable and accessible to an average Nigerian student."
The association therefore appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari and the members of the National Assembly to compel the Federal Ministry of Education to revert to the old fee regime "as the education of Nigerian children is a right and not a privilege."
"The association will continue to partner the Federal Ministry of Education by complementing the efforts of the ministry in the provision of basic facilities in the unity colleges," Nnaji said.
Related News
Leave a comment...