Parents protest over 200% increase in Lagos school boarding fees

Parents of students at Lagos Model Colleges are calling for the reversal of a recent 200% hike in boarding fees, accusing the Lagos State Ministry of Education of corruption and insensitivity.

Surv. Dapo Dawodu, Chairman of the Lagos Model Colleges Parents’ Forum, raised the concern at a meeting in Lagos on Saturday.

In a letter to parents, a copy of which was made available to journalists, the parents’ forum threatened to keep their children at home unless the fee increase is reversed.

The letter, dated 14th September, titled “Re: Increment in Fees”, partly 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!

“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 Forum also reminded the Lagos Ministry of Education to review their proposed school feeding and welfare initiative for implementation.

The letter continued: “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 programme.

“Parents of boarding students have shown understanding with past governments when the state’s finances were strained many years ago.

“However, with the current government receiving over 350% more funding, boosted by the removal of subsidies—which has drastically reduced parents’ spending power by over 600%—we find it unacceptable that parents are now subjected to further hardship through this unnecessary fee hike.”

The Forum is urging Lagos parents to keep their children at home starting Sunday, 15th September 2024.

The letter stated: “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!”

On September 13th, the Lagos State Government increased secondary school boarding fees from N35,000 to N100,000 for each term.

Olufemi Asaolu, Director of Basic Education Services at the Lagos State Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, wrote in a letter to all boarding school principals: “I have the Honourable Commissioner’s directive 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 only N100,000.”