Parents of boarding students at Eva Adelaja Girls Grammar School in Bariga, Lagos State, took to the streets over the weekend to protest the shocking 186% increase in school fees from N35,000 to N100,000, few days to school resumption.
This drastic hike has sparked widespread outrage, with many questioning the government’s sensitivity to the plight of ordinary Nigerians.
Renowned Human Rights Lawyer, Femi Falana, SAN, has joined the chorus of dissent, condemning the recent increment in school fees by the Lagos State Government describing it as “illegal.”
This sudden hike has left many parents disgruntled, scrambling to figure out how to pay the new fee, which is almost triple the original amount. The timing they say is also inconvenient, with school resumption just around the corner.
Falana lamented that with N70,000 minimum wage, the salary of a worker per term of four months is N28,000. The implication is that a worker can no longer sponsor even one child either in the unity school or any secondary school in Lagos State.
Falana, however, vowed to challenge the decision in the appropriate High Court.
According to him, “The Federal and Lagos State government has increased the fee payable in all unity schools to N100, 000 per term. Thus, the fee payable per annum is N300,000 per student.
“However, under the Child’s Rights Act and Lagos State Child’s Rights Law, every child is entitled to free and compulsory education from primary to junior secondary school. To that extent, the imposition of N100,000 fees on students in junior secondary schools in Unity Schools and Secondary schools in Lagos is illegal.
“In view of the clear provisions of the Child’s Rights Laws applicable in all the states of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, the illegal imposition of prohibitive fees on junior secondary school students will be challenged in the appropriate High Court.
In reaction to the development, the Lagos State government noted that the increment was necessary for better welfare of the college students as N35,000 is no longer able to feed a child with the prive of thing.
“The N35,000 boarding fees being paid from 2021 is not realistic in 2024. Ideally none of the parents will testify to the reasonability of feeding a child of 12 to 18 years with N35,000 for three months.
“Nutritious food is not just for physical growth but also for mental alertness. We certainly don’t want our students in boarding schools to look gaunt and lack the skill of critical thinking.
“The government takes responsibility for the health and well-being of the students while in school. To do this will require the full cooperation of all stakeholders. Our parents should show understanding for the sake of the children.”
