Lagos Model Colleges: Parents threaten boycott over 200% hike in fees

Lagos Model College

Published By: Isa Isawade

Parents of students attending Lagos Model Colleges have demanded the reversal of a recent 200% increase in boarding fees.

Surv. Dapo Dawodu, Chairman of the Parents’ Forum of Lagos Model Colleges,  reportedly raised the alarm on Saturday during the Forum’s meeting in Lagos.

In a letter addressed to parents, a copy of which was obtained by PUNCH Online, the parents’ forum threatened to keep their children at home until the fee hike is reversed.

The letter, reportedly titled “Re: Increment in Fees”, allegedly indicated that the parents had experienced anguish and frustration since the announcement of the 200% increase in boarding fees for the children.

It accused the Lagos State Ministry of Education of insensitivity and corruption.

“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!

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“Previously, the same exercise was carried out by the same principal for less than N35 million.

“In a school of 500 students, a principal now wants to spend N50 million for an exercise that used to cost below N17.5 million, paid by parents.

“If our Honourable Commissioner is not scandalised by this, we parents find it exceedingly offensive,” the letter is quoted.

The forum, therefore, urged Lagos parents to keep their children at home beginning from Sunday, 15th September 2024.

On Friday, 13th September, the Lagos State Government increased boarding fees in all secondary schools from N35,000 to N100,000 per term.

A letter to all boarding school principals, signed by the Director of Basic Education Services at the Lagos State Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, Olufemi Asaolu, is quoted by the news medium to have read: “I have the directive of the Honourable Commissioner to inform all public boarding schools in Lagos State that the State Government has approved the review of the boarding fee payable in all public boarding schools. The newly approved fee is N100,000 only.”