By Elizabeth Chimobi
The Lagos State Government has responded to protests held by parents of students in its model colleges over the recent increase in boarding school fees.
On Sunday, parents gathered at Eva Adelaja Secondary School, expressing their displeasure through solidarity songs and placards.
They warned that they may disrupt the school’s resumption if the government does not reverse the fee hike.
The protest was one of several taking place across the state’s more than 10 model colleges, which are managed by the Lagos State Government.
The parents expressed their frustration at the lack of notice, stating that they were informed of the fee increase just two days before the scheduled resumption.
They also complained about not being involved in the decision-making process.
One of the parents, Segun Bashorun, said that the communication channels for feedback were closed immediately after the announcement.
“The usual procedure is for the school to communicate with us, and we respond. However, after announcing the fee increment on Friday evening, they shut down all platforms, allowing only the administrators to speak,” he said.
In response, the spokesperson for the Lagos State Ministry of Education, Ganiu Lawal, acknowledged the concerns of the parents.
He explained that while the decision to raise fees was difficult, it was necessary to ensure the continued welfare of the students.
“The need to enhance the wellbeing of our model college students made the fee increase unavoidable,” Lawal said in a phone interview according to Premium Times.
He emphasized that the state provides free education in its 1,021 primary schools, 369 junior secondary schools, and 329 senior secondary schools, which include 32 model colleges.
However, he noted that the boarding fees, set at N35,000 since 2021, were no longer sufficient in 2024.
“No parent can realistically expect to feed a child aged 12 to 18 for N35,000 over three months. Proper nutrition is essential for both physical development and mental alertness. We don’t want our students looking undernourished or unable to think critically,” Lawal added.
He called on the parents to cooperate with the government, emphasizing that the state remains committed to the health and wellbeing of students in boarding schools.
“The government is fully responsible for the students’ wellbeing while they are in school, and to do this effectively, we need the cooperation of all stakeholders. We ask for understanding from parents, in the best interest of the children,” he said.