…As Parents Embark On Protest To Alausa Monday
Peaceful protests have rocked the model colleges in Lagos State over the insistence by the State Government that students must pay N100,000 per term as boarding fee.
This is as the Parents Forum of Model Colleges in Lagos have officially informed the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State of their intention to embark on a peaceful protest to the governor’s office in Alausa, Ikeja tomorrow, Monday.
When Ontimenewsng.com visited the Igbokuta Model College, Ikorodu, it was observed that the number of students that have resumed was low.
Besides the low turnout,the teachers assigned to each class refused to accept the students back to the school, insisting on the payment of the N100,000 boarding fee.
Attempts by the parents to persuade the teachers to accept their wards failed, a situation that most parents that accompanied their wards to the school were not comfortable with.
However, the Principal of Igbokuta Junior Model College, Mr. Raheem later intervened and instructed the teachers to register the students for resumption of school.
At this point, more students were allowed to come into the school to resume their academic activities.
Ontimenewsng.com observed that students in JSS1 and SSS1, who had initially paid the compulsory N70,000 were allowed into the school premises by the teachers.
Speaking on the issue, one of the concerned parents at Igbokuta Model College, Dr. Taofeek Ayinde, appealed to the Lagos State Government to rescind its decision on the hike on the boarding fee.
According to him, the government should listen to the plights of parents and guidance on the issue, stressing that the government did not show empathy with the parents especially at this time of economic doldrums.
“Looking at the state of the economy, the government must listen to the yearning of the people in order not to send our children and wards out of school.
“We have some parents with three or four children in the colleges at this moment. Where do you expect such parents to get N400,000 every term from? The government should revert this bogus fee.
“If at all, nothing can be done, the boarding fee should not be more than N50,000 per term, not this about 200 per cent increment by the government. This is a bitter pill for parents to swallow,” he said.
Another parent who also spoke to the online platform, John Adigun wondered where parents who already facing alot of hardship are expected to get the money to pay
He appealed to the state government to look into the matter immediately to enable their wards resume their academic activities.
” The economic situation in the country is choking parents to the extend that it is even difficult to feed these days,” Adigun lamented.
Also, at Agbowa Model College in Ikorodu, some of the parents were seen carrying placards of various inscriptions.
In solidarity, the parents chanted “We no go pay, we no go pay, N100,000 we no go pay, the money is too much for us , God deliver us from the hands of Lagos State governmen.”
They also appealed to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State to intervene in the matter.
Besides, a letter to the Police Commissioner of Lagos with the head: ‘Notice of Peaceful Protest (II), dated November 1, 2024, signed by Mr. Dapo Dawudu and Prince Adeyemi Sowemimo, the Chairman and Vice Chairman, Lagos State Parents Forum, respectively and obtained by Ontimenewsng.com, notified the police of the intending protest slated for Monday.
The group also sought police protection for parents, who might embark on the peaceful protest.
“The essence of this protest is to peacefully register our dismay and grievances over the unjust, criminal and satanic increment of hostel boarding fee from N35,000 to N100,000, which we find to be outrageous being well over 200 per cent.
“We wish to notify you, sir, that parents also wish to picket on Sunday, November 3, 2024 at each of our respective children’s school gates.
“We seek for your understanding and protection of our members from unnecessary intimidation and harassment,” the letter reads.
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