Parents of students attending Lagos Model Colleges have demanded the reversal of a recent 200 percent increase in boarding fees.
The Chairman of the Parents’ Forum of Lagos Model Colleges, Surv. Dapo Dawodu raised the alarm on Saturday during the Forum’s meeting in Lagos and threatened to keep their children at home until the fee hike is reversed.
In a letter dated 14th September, titled “Re: Increment in Fees”, the forum said:“In the last 24 hours, we have witnessed an avalanche of disdain, anguish, and frustration at the mindless and provocative 200% increase in boarding fees for our children, imposed by the corrupt officers of the Lagos State Ministry of Education!
“It is unfortunate that the unbridled greed of these enemies of the good people of Lagos State (you, the parents) was facilitated by the ministry’s leadership.
“To put it clearly, the fee of N100,000 per term, when paid in a school of 1,000 students, translates to N100 million for the school principal to feed the children for just three months!
“Previously, the same exercise was carried out by the same principal for less than N35 million.
“In a school of 500 students, a principal now wants to spend N50 million for an exercise that used to cost below N17.5 million, paid by parents. If our Honourable Commissioner is not scandalised by this, we parents find it exceedingly offensive!”
The Forum also reminded the Lagos Ministry of Education to review their proposed school feeding and welfare initiative for implementation.
The letter continued: “In February 2024, we proposed a solid scheme for the feeding and welfare of our children in these schools, which the ministry has not been able to fault to date.
“Lagos State prides itself on a free education policy, which should not exclude the boarding programme.
“Parents of boarding students have shown understanding with past governments when the state’s finances were strained many years ago.
“However, with the current government receiving over 350 per cent more funding, boosted by the removal of subsidies—which has drastically reduced parents’ spending power by over 600%—we find it unacceptable that parents are now subjected to further hardship through this unnecessary fee hike.”
Umoru Faruk Salifu
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