Sanwo-Olu's Heartless Decision: LASG worsens masses hardship, hikes Model College fee by 300% to N100,000

Sanwo-Olu’s Heartless
Decision: LASG worsens masses hardship, hikes Model College fee by 300% to N100,000

*As Lagos parents demand insensitive hike reversals

In a move that has shocked parents and educators alike, the Lagos State government has raised boarding school fees from N35,000 to N100,000 per term, an increase of nearly 300 per cent.

This decision comes at a time when Nigerians are already grappling with skyrocketing costs of living, driven by fuel price hikes and inflation, which have pushed up the prices of food, transport, and basic household items.

Many parents are expressing frustration and disbelief at the sudden fee hike. Despite Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s efforts to introduce initiatives like the Onje Eko scheme, which provides discounted food prices across the state to ease the burden on residents, this new fee increase is seen as a contradiction to his promise of making life easier for Lagosians.

Mrs Olayiwonuola, a parent affected by the change, lamented the drastic increase, stating, “The government is making life difficult for the masses. I’ve already spent over N200,000 on school supplies for my children, and I had paid the previous N35,000 fee. Now they’re asking for N100,000, which is simply too much.”

Similarly, Mr. Bamidele, a father of three children attending Meiran Model College, voiced his concerns. “I cannot afford to pay N100,000 per child every term. That’s N300,000 just for school fees, not to mention uniforms and other essentials. This decision is unfair, especially since the government announced it just days before the school term begins.”

The decision to raise the fees was officially communicated through a circular issued by the Lagos State Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, signed by Olufemi Asaolu, Director of Basic Education Services, on behalf of the Permanent Secretary. The increase will take effect in the 2024/2025 academic session.

Parents’ groups, including the State Parents Forum for Model Colleges, have expressed strong opposition to the fee hike. In a letter signed by the Forum’s Chairman, Surv. Dapo Dawodu, the committee condemned the abrupt increase, calling it “insensitive, non-procedural, and impractical.”

Dawodu, also, criticized the Ministry of Education for failing to engage with parents before making this decision.

He pointed out that the previous fee of N35,000 was agreed upon after negotiations between parents and the Lagos State House of Assembly, with the understanding that the funds would be managed jointly by parents and school authorities through a Boarding School Management Committee. Despite this agreement, many school principals have reportedly refused to adhere to the directive.

In response to the hike, the Parents Forum has directed families to pay only the previously agreed N35,000 and to send their children to school as planned.

The Forum vowed to continue engaging with relevant authorities to resolve the issue.

As the new academic term approaches, the tension between the government and parents continues to grow, with many calling for a reversal of the fee increase to alleviate the financial burden on struggling families.