Ogun students commend govt.’s for school fees reduction

Ogun students have expressed joy following announcement on Tuesday by the state government that school fees in state-owned tertiary institutions had been cut.

Some students of Tai Solarin University of Education (TASUED) in Ijebu-Ode and Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Ago-Iwoye, in interviews with NAN on Wednesday at their institutions commended the government gesture.

The students noted that the announcement made at a news conference by the Ogun Commissioner for Education, Mr Segun Odubela, would help in achieving their educational objectives.

Sola Awolalu, a 300-level student of TASUED College of Science and Management Studies, said that the cut was long over-due as the students had earlier clamoured for reduction in fees without getting any response.

“Students criticised the previous hike in the tuition fees at different occasions with no response from the authorities of the affected institutions.

“The response by the state government coming now couldn’t have arrived at a better time considering the harsh economic situation.

“I would like to appeal to the governor to consider prompt disbursement of our bursary allocations which he also promised to do this August,” Awolalu said.

Another student, Dayo Ogunsolu, urged the state government to further reduce the fees if possible.

“The importance of affordable education cannot be overemphasized.”

Ogunsolu, a 200-level economics student, said noted that by reducing tuition fees, the number of drop-outs would decrease drastically in the state.

Seun Fatoki, a 200-level Mass Communication student of OOU, advised government to always implement policies that would favour students and the citizens.

She said more should now be done in equipping tertiary institutions with modern
facilities that would aid learning.

“The state government has done massively well with the reduction in fees; however, to compete with the best, they must now assist us with the best equipment,” Fatoki urged.

A 400-level student of Anatomy at OOU, Idris Jaji, also urged the state government not to relent in its effort to revamp the education sector, saying Ogun must continue to set the pace nationally.

“Quality education is the right of every child. It boosts self-confidence, builds self-esteem, and leads to self-actualisation and realisation of our national development goals,” Jaji said.

While commending the state government, a lecturer in the Department of Business Administration, TASUED, Mr Tolani Hassan, said that access to education would help reduce crime and social vices.

“Investment in education has a direct and sustained impact which helps to reduce some of society’s challenges, including the reduction in inequality, poverty alleviation and engendering of economic growth.”