The publisher of the Policy and lawmakers magazine Prince Bolarin Friday Ogungbemi has appealed to Kogi State Government to review downward the astronomical increase in the tuition fees of state owned tertiary institutions.
Prince Ogungnemi made the appeal in Lokoja Thursday while reacting to the increment in tuition fees by heads of tertiary institutions in the state
He said , the current astronomical increase of over 100 per cent in the tuition fees of students in Kogi-owned tertiary institutions is another straw that breaks the Camel’s back and elicits serious concerns.
“The students were paying less than #100,000 before the recent increment where students now pay over #200,000 depending on the course offered. Medical students now paid close to #500,000 as tuition fees. It is condemnable ” he stated
The astronomical increases in tuition fees, he said will make life difficult and unbearable for the students from less privilege homes, stressing that many students will have no any option than to drop out of school.
“This development, will not only amount to denying them their fundamental rights to education but dash their hope for a brighter tomorrow.
“Therefore , there is urgent need for concerned citizens to call on the Kogi state government to intervene by run viewing downward the new tuition fees in view of the current economic reality.
The publisher who also bemoaned the poor standard of education across the nation due to inadequate funding of the sector, appealed to Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo of Kogi state to recruit more teachers for both primary and secondary schools in the state.
“Kogi state educational system requires urgent intervention, innovative and practical reform to bring it in line with international best practices, and relevance” Prince Ogungbemi said.
