Adekunle Ajasin University increases school fees from N25,000 to N180,000
- School fees payable by students of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko, Ondo state have been astronomically increased
- The fees have been increased from N25,000 to N120,000 for some students while some departments have been billed to pay N150,000 above
- Pro- chancellor of the institution, Dr Tunji Abayomi, however, appealed to students of the institution to take the increment in good faith
Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko, Ondo state, has increased students' school fees for 2017/2018 session by over 500 percent according to some students of the institution.
This, according to observers, is a way of fashioning the fees in the mold of Ondo State University of Science and Technology, Okitipupa, where students are made to pay an average of N180, 000 per session.
The sharp increment in the institutions' school fees affects both freshers and returning students, NAIJ.com can authoritatively report.
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The fees was increased from N25,000 to N120,000 for some students while some departments have been billed to pay N150,000 above. The returning students of Education Management are expected to pay N120,000 while the freshmen will be paying N150,000.
Returning students in the Departments of Accounting, Economics and Faculty of Law have been billed to pay 150,000 while freshers will pay N180,000 respectively.
Critics of the increment argued that Ondo state is dominantly a civil servant state, and a good portion of the students are children of workers who are being paid N18,000 minimum wage while another set are children of people who earn lesser than the government's minimum wage.
However, in a letter to the students, the pro- chancellor of the institution, Dr Tunji Abayomi, appealed to students of the institution to take the increment in good faith, stressing that it is for the overall good of the school and subtly threatening a further increase if the situation is not properly managed.
Dr Tunji Abayomi's letter to the students read in full:
"Mr Student Union President. Members of SUG Exco. Greetings to our ever dogged and resilient students. We finally reached a compromise that will sustain the operations of the AAUA and will, with a little sacrifice from parents make world class education possible.
"We must see the hard effort that reduced the initial high expectations of minimum N200,000 to N120,000 as an uncommon commitment to the education hopes of the students of AAUA. A student who is unable to pay once, can now pay twice allowing for time of saving to make 2nd payment. I Am concerned about the action or reaction of students .
"We were, for emphasis , able to secure the reasonable increase solely on the assurance that having gone through extensive consultation reason will prevail.
"As Plato once noted what is needed in a battle that cannot be won is care NOT confrontation which may ultimately increase the injury. I think on this issue we need to detour from the norm or the old order that has brought the students little benefits. I think reflection not reaction is what we need at this time.
"We have worked hard to get the least arrangement. So what I believe is sensible is to get the cooperation of the students.
"If we fail to peacefully manage the least increase, things may be out of our hands, then a further increase cannot be ruled out.
"Great caution and rationality are greatly demanded at this time from the Students of AAUA. With very best regards. Your Pro-Chancellor," Abayomi said.
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Meanwhile, NAIJ.com had reported that the average Nigerian would normally go to a federal university because of the affordability. However, even the federal universities are starting to hike their fees, leaving many scared about the future of education for the average man in Nigeria.
Applicants lament bitterly over JAMB registration hassles on NAIJ.com TV.
Source: Naija.ng