The rate at which youths are dropping out of school calls for national urgent attention. The reasons are already in the public domain and we cannot afford to allow the problems to continue because the society is not safe. There are many pupils whose parents cannot afford to pay their school fees and until our leaders stop pretending and take a bull by the horns by declaring a state of emergency on education the problem of nuisance and insecurity in the country will be difficult to tackle.
We have many youths with good dreams and visions, but our leaders are not helping them to realize their noble ambitions. I canvass for free education from primary to tertiary institutions in all our public schools. I am not comfortable with the way some State Governments charge high fees in their state owned universities. A case of Lagos State that increased school fees of the Lagos State University under the immediate past administration is a good example. Despite the hues and cries of both parents and students, the then Government went ahead to implement the new fees with an ultimatum for payment. This of course sent many of the students of the university back to the streets. We thank God that there was a reversal of the fees in the year of the country’s general election – whether it was so reviewed downward for political reason as some still believe, the joy is that there is a relief on the part of the parents and guardians.
There is no doubt that there are not enough schools for the growing population seeking admission to tertiary institutions every year. Many students with good results in the Senior School Certificate keep writing University matriculation examination every year without being offered admission because of the limited vacancies in few tertiary institutions in the country, therefore many students opt out for part-time study. Ironically the part students are being discriminated against instead of being encouraged.
Private owned universities are not for the children of the poor. Proprietors of private universities capitalize on the huge number of anxious youths seeking admission to increase their school fees, leaving parents and guardians helpless. Parents and guardians now pay through the nose as they have no choice.
What we observe now is that the management of many institutions hike fees each time renovations are carried out in the schools. That means the management want to recover immediately every kobo spent. It is unfortunate that the intention of renovating classroom and administrative blocks is to increase fees. Some of these increases are reflected in the hostel accommodation and other sundry expenses.
I call on the governments at all levels to intervene knowing that the peace of any nation hinges on the mass literacy. Government should reduce school fees in all tertiary institutions including Polytechnics and Colleges of Education. Good hostel facilities should be put in place to accommodate students with moderate fees. I advise that no students should live off-campus for proper control and discipline. Indeed funding education should be a priority of the Government.
Aminat Adesope is one of our Staff Writers.
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