September 15, 2024
By Samuel Ogunsona
Parents of students in Lagos State-owned model colleges are protesting a over 180% increase in boarding fees, vowing to disrupt the upcoming academic session’s resumption.
In a demonstration at Eva Adelaja Girls Secondary School, Bariga, on Sunday, protesters carried placards reading “We Say No to this increment” and “No reversal, No resumption”.
They demanded the State Government reverse the decision, which affects over 10 model colleges with boarding facilities.
If their demands are not met, the protesters have threatened to prevent staff and students from resuming classes for the 2024/2025 academic session.
However, the scheduled resumption of students for a new session on Sunday (today) is under threat as protesting parents vow to prevent it until the government revokes the recent fee hike.
The Lagos State Government had earlier announced the increment in a memo to school principals from the state’s education ministry, signed by Director of Basic Education Services, Olufemi Asaolu.
The memo revealed a significant increase in boarding fees from N35,000 to N100,000, citing approval from the state government as the reason for the directive.
“I have the directive of the Honourable Commissioner to inform all public boarding house schools in Lagos State that the state government has approved the review of the boarding fee payable in all public boarding house schools in Lagos State,” part of the letter reads.
