20th January, 2012
Parents and guardians of pupils of a Catholic school, St. Peters Primary and Secondary School Ejigbo, Lagos State, southwest Nigeria have protested the sudden increase in school fees.
It was not certain if the increase was a response to the recent increase in the prices of petroleum products by the federal government, but the parents said the hike was unacceptable.
The parents, P.M.NEWS gathered, were shocked when they took their children to the school in the morning and discovered on the notice board that there was more than 200 percent increase in school fees.
They protested in the school compound and went to the church premises to see the parish priest, Reverend Gabriel Iheanacho to complain about the increase, but were not allowed to see him.
P.M.NEWS gathered further that the management of the school increased the fees without any formal notice to the parents and this has caused disaffection between the management and the parents.
Investigations revealed that nursery and primary school pupils in the school were paying between N6,000 and N8,000 per term. But it was increased to between N20, 000 and N30,000 while JSS and SSS students who were paying between N21, 000 and N24, 000 are now to pay between N44, 000 and N52, 000.
A source told P.M.NEWS that the management increased the fees to raise the standard of the school after it was approved by the Lagos State government.
“We also intend to reduce the number of students so that it will enable us manage the school effectively,” he added.
— Cyriacus Izuekwe