By Ndidiamaka Ede
The recent increment in school fees by some federal universities in Nigeria has continued to generate condemnation and protests in some of the universities.
Nigerians, particularly students and parents, have condemned the recent development, describing it as wicked and thoughtless, considering the economic challenges facing virtually everybody in Nigeria today. Their position was informed by the fact that whenever there is an increase in school fees, the shock is not only felt by students, especially those sponsoring themselves, but also parents who are responsible for over 90 percent of the students’ welfare and well-being.
The protests by the students have only revealed the problem in the Nigeria education system. Speaking on the development, the president of the Mass Communication Students’ Association, (MACSA), UNILAG, Samson Soremekun, said: “The reason for the protests is obvious. Many students attend federal universities not just for the quality but also because the fees are moderate and within the reach of average parents. Today, most parents can’t afford the fees. So, students believe and hope that peaceful protests would draw attention to their plight.”
However, institutions like the UNIJOS, the UNILAG, the UNN, and others, including private universities cite insufficient budgetary allocations and economic hardships as reasons for the increments in school fees.
Implications of exorbitant fee
The students explained that the negative effects of the sudden hike in school fees by some of the federal universities extend beyond students to parents, families, and even the society, and that the effects range from psychological distress, to reduced academic focus, low performance, increased dropouts, shattered dreams, depression, and even suicides. For parents, it equally leads to stress and high blood pressure which could also result in death.
They explained further that in society, it could lead to civil unrest and increased crime rates. According to the MACSA president in UNILAG, a 2022 UNESCO report noted that about 20 million Nigerians were out of school, mainly due to poverty. “If more students drop out due to fee hikes, the idea that the youths are tomorrow’s leaders might never be realized. Education is a critical investment for the common man, and its neglect could lead to societal problems,” he explained.
In his contribution, the Director of Welfare, UNN Students’ Union Government (SUG), Lucky Odi lamented that the government had lost interest in funding federal institutions, even as he expressed fear that the fee hike would force many students to drop out.
He noted that while the UNN management had decided to allow students to pay school fees by installments to lessen the burden on them, the amount being paid today is frustrating, especially for those sponsoring themselves.
The Director of Academics, Department of Combined Social Sciences, UNN, Chijioke Ogenyi, noted that increment was in response to the harsh economy which the university is not insulated from but urged the school authorities to be considerate because without the students, there won’t be teachers just as there won’t be students without teachers. He asked: “How can there be quality education for students who cannot afford the fees? There’s no teacher without students, and there will also be no students without teachers; they work hand in hand. Our institutions should be considerate because without students, they wouldn’t exist. You pay school fees of N25, 000 today, and next semester, you’re asked to pay ₦100,000. An idle mind is said to be the devil’s workshop, and individuals who drop out may resort to illegal means to make a living, creating more problems in society.
“Obviously, the dreams of those who drop out of school exist only in their imagination, filled with regrets and frustration, as they can’t pursue professions like law or medicine that require certification because of high school fees. Their parents’ hopes for a better life are dashed, as they often struggle to invest in their children’s education for a brighter future,” he stated.
Still on the implication of the latest hike in school fees, he said: “One of the implications of high school fees is a corresponding high dropout rate. For instance, the trending issue among young people is cybercrime (yahoo yahoo), which damages Nigeria’s reputation internationally. Other social vices like prostitution, child trafficking, armed robbery, kidnapping, and banditry will continue to increase if the current increments in school in these federal universities are not properly addressed. Keeping students in classrooms will keep them occupied and away from criminal activities, which can affect the country’s progress. Any serious nation must prioritize its future generation and education is paramount in achieving that.
“That Nigeria becomes a world leader in science and technology is dependent on education. Improving our healthcare system hinges on education. Education brings numerous benefits to society. Therefore, let the Nigerian government, under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu, show compassion and take a critical look at the constant fee increments in the federal universities.”
Decrying the development, a Lagos resident, Mr. Christian Ugwueze, whose two children are currently studying in the UNN, said: “We, parents, are likely to suffer from hypertension or depression when we see our children unable to achieve their dreams due to our inability to afford their school fees. We are not even notified before the increment, and the percentage is usually too much to behold. Many of us couldn’t attend higher institutions ourselves, and that’s why our prayers are always for our children to succeed and achieve what we couldn’t due to some circumstances during our younger days. When our children fail, we start seeing ourselves as failures again, and it could lead to over-thinking.”
Students’ Loan Act as option
Although constant increment in school fees by federal universities has been there, they became more prevalent a few months after the Students’ Loan Act was signed into law by President Tinubu on June 12, 2023. The law stipulates that students can fund their education through the loan and repay within two years after completing their National Youths Service Corps (NYSC) programme.
As students continued to react, noting that the loan would not work due to the high unemployment rate in the country, tertiary institutions have continued to increase the school fees. They do that in the firm belief that with the students’ loans, no student would drop out of school, since they can always access the loan to be able to pay their school fees. But, students are saying that even if they would be able to repay the loans after school, accessing the loans is very tasking.
A student from the Department of English and Literary Studies, Kenneth James, said; “It is not that the conditions for loan approval are unbearable; it is that the process is overly rigid. If one manages to obtain the loan and then struggles to finish, finding a job within the stipulated time will always be a big problem. Depending on loans as a student could mean graduating not just with a degree but also with a debt certificate. In addition to this particular loan, many students take out loans just to access education, leaving them with both degrees and debts.
“So, both the government and the school authorities should recognize the fact that these approaches are ineffective. Nigeria has not yet reached that level. I’ve heard that UNILAG has reduced its school fees. I urge other institutions to follow suit. If the government truly wants this country to progress, they should prioritize education.