A recent 200% increase in boarding fees for Lagos Model Colleges has sparked outrage among parents, who are demanding a reversal of the hike and accusing the Lagos State Ministry of Education of corruption and insensitivity.
The Parents’ Forum of Lagos Model Colleges, led by Chairman Surv. Dapo Dawodu, has threatened to keep their children at home until the fee hike is reversed.
In a strongly-worded letter addressed to parents, dated September 14th, the forum expressed their dismay and frustration at the “mindless and provocative” increase, which they believe was facilitated by the ministry’s leadership and driven by “unbridled greed.”
The letter highlighted the significant profit that school principals would make from the new fees, citing examples of schools with 1,000 and 500 students.
The letter in part read;
“In the last 24 hours, we have witnessed an avalanche of disdain, anguish, and frustration at the mindless and provocative 200% increase in boarding fees for our children, imposed by the corrupt officers of the Lagos State Ministry of Education!”
“It is unfortunate that the unbridled greed of these enemies of the good people of Lagos State (you, the parents) was facilitated by the ministry’s leadership.”
“To put it clearly, the fee of N100,000 per term, when paid in a school of 1,000 students, translates to N100 million for the school principal to feed the children for just three months!”
“In February 2024, we proposed a solid scheme for the feeding and welfare of our children in these schools, which the ministry has not been able to fault to date.”
“Lagos State prides itself on a free education policy, which should not exclude the boarding program.”
“After considering your concerns, we agree that to avoid swallowing this unjust bait from the government—especially given that some principals have threatened not to allow our children into the boarding houses without the payment of N100,000—we have no option but to ask parents to keep their children at home tomorrow, Sunday 15th until this unreasonable decision by the ministry is FULLY REVERSED! NO REVERSAL, NO RESUMPTION!”
The forum reminded the Lagos Ministry of Education to review their proposed school feeding and welfare initiative, which was proposed in February 2024 but has yet to be implemented.
They argued that the state’s free education policy should include the boarding program and that parents have shown understanding in the past when the state’s finances were strained. However, with the current government receiving increased funding, they find it unacceptable that parents are now subjected to further hardship through this unnecessary fee hike.
The forum is urging parents to keep their children at home starting Sunday, September 15th, 2024, until the decision is fully reversed. They emphasized that some principals have threatened not to allow children into boarding houses without payment of the new fee, which they consider “unjust bait” from the government.
The Lagos State Government’s decision to increase boarding fees in all secondary schools from N35,000 to N100,000 per term was announced on Friday, September 13th, in a letter signed by the Director of Basic Education Services, Olufemi Asaolu.
