- Parents expressed outrage over the 200% fee increase, accused the Lagos State Ministry of Education of greed
- Lagos State defended the fee hikes as necessary for improving student welfare, citing increased costs
- Femi Falana criticised the new school fee hikes by Federal and Lagos State Governments, called it illegal
Femi Falana, SAN, a prominent Human Rights Lawyer, has criticised the recent rise in school fees imposed by the Federal and Lagos State Governments, calling it “illegal.”
In his response, Falana condemned the fee increases as a violation of the Child’s Rights Law. He lamented that, given the new fees surpassing the Minimum Wage of N70,000, a worker is no longer able to fund even a single child’s education in Unity School or any secondary school in Lagos State.
Falana has promised to challenge the decision by taking the matter to the High Court.
Fee hikes put education out of reach, Falana claims
He said, “The Federal Government has increased fee payable in all unity schools from N45, 000 to N100, 000 per term. Thus, the fee payable per annum is N300,000 per student.
“Similarly, the Lagos State Government has fixed fees payable in all secondary schools at N100,000 per term or N300,000 per annum by every student.
“At N70,000 minimum wage, the salary of a worker per term of four months is N28,000. The implication is that a worker can no longer sponsor even one child either in the unity school or any secondary school in Lagos State.
“However, under the Child’s Rights Act and Lagos State Child’s Rights Law, every child is entitled to free and compulsory education from primary to junior secondary school.
Falana labels school fees hike illegal
“To that extent, the imposition of N100,000 fees on students in junior secondary schools in Unity Schools and Secondary schools in Lagos is illegal.
“In view of the clear provisions of the Child’s Rights Laws applicable in all the states of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, the illegal imposition of prohibitive fees on junior secondary school students will be challenged in the appropriate High Court.
“Meanwhile, on July 10, 2024, the Executive Secretary of the Universal Basic Education Commission, (UBEC), Dr. Hamid Bobboyi, revealed that over N45. 7 billion matching grant to the state government for the implementation of Universal Basic Education, UBE, between 2020 and 2023 has not been accessed by many state governments.”
Parents slam 200% school `fee hike as “Greedy” and “Corrupt”
Recall that the Federal Government's fee hike in July 2023 raised Unity School costs from N45,000 to N100,000 per term, a surge of over 120 per cent. In parallel, the Lagos State Government recently announced that the new fee for state-owned boarding schools will be N100,000, a high increase from the former N35,000.
The Chairman of the Parents’ Forum of Lagos Model Colleges, Surveyor Dapo Dawodu, criticised the hike as “greed” in a statement made at the weekend.
“We have witnessed, in the last 24 hours, an avalanche of outpouring of extreme disdain, anguish and deep frustration at the mindless and provocative 200% increment of boarding fees for our children, by the mindlessly corrupt officers of the Lagos State Ministry of Education!
Parents highlight discrepancies in budget allocation for student welfare
“And it was most unfortunate that the unbridled greed of these enemies of the good people of Lagos State (vide you the parents), were given their leeway by the headship of the ministry.
“To be clear, the fee of N100,000 per term, when paid in a school of 1000 students, translates to N100 million in the purse of the school principal to feed the children within just 3 months!
“Recall that for this same exercise, the same principal had carried same out for less than N35 million previously! Downscaling in a school of 500 students, a principal wants to spend N50 million for an exercise that they had achieved previously below N17.5 million paid by parents!
“If our Commissioner is not scandalized at this, we parents find it exceedingly odious! In order to improve the feeding and welfare of our children in these schools, we proposed a good scheme of the Feeding and Welfare Analysis in February 2024 to the ministry, which they have not been able to fault to date!
Parents demand reversal, criticise fee hike as unfair and oppressive
“Taking another view of the whole educational programme, Lagos State boasts of a free education policy, to which the boarding programme ought not to have been excluded.
“But parents of boarding students seemed to have shown understanding with then past governments when the cash crunch was heavily against the State many, many years ago!
“But presently, all tiers of government are now receiving over 350% better funding, occasioned by the removal of subsidy which same exercise excessively depleted parents’ spending power by 600% and more!”
The parents’ forum further said, “we find it very unacceptable for parents to be put through another round of oppression through this mindless increment!”
“Having taken due cognisance of your yearnings, we quite agree that for us parents not to swallow this wicked bait from the government in the face of threats from some principals not to let our children into the boarding houses without the payment of N100,000 effected, we are left with no option but to ask that parents retain their children/wards at home tomorrow until the obnoxious decision of the ministry is fully reversed.!”
Lagos defends boarding fee increase, cites necessity for improved student welfare
The State Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education addressed the situation by noting that the Ministry is aware of the objections from some parents regarding the unavoidable increase in boarding fees at model colleges. The decision was not made lightly, but the welfare of the children remains a top priority for both the Ministry and the State.
“Lagos State Government provides free education in 1,021 Primary schools, 369 Junior Secondary and 329 Senior Secondary Schools which include 32 model Colleges across the State.
“The issue of ensuring a better welfare for our model college students necessitated the increase in boarding fees.
“The N35,000 boarding fees being paid since 2021 is not realistic in 2024. Ideally none of the parents will testify to the reasonability of feeding a child of 12 to 18 years with N35,000 for three months.
“Nutritious food is not just for physical growth but also for mental alertness. We certainly don’t want our students in boarding schools to look gaunt and lack the skill of critical thinking.
“The government takes responsibility for the health and well-being of the students while in school. To do this will require the full cooperation of all stakeholders. Our parents should show understanding for the sake of the children.”
University of Ibadan closed for 3 weeks following students’ protest against tuition fees hike
Meanwhile, TheRadar earlier reported that the management of the University of Ibadan announced a three-week closure of the institution in response to escalating protests by students over recent tuition fee increases.
The university's management expressed regret over the disruption caused by the closure which had sparked mixed reactions among students and the broader university community.