…ASUU warns of potential increase in student dropouts

By Sodiq Adelakun

The recent surge in school fees, particularly in federal universities, has sparked outrage among Nigerians, particularly parents and students.

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has also expressed concern, cautioning that if this trend persists, it could result in a significant number of students dropping out within the next two years.

The exorbitant increase in school fees has become a pressing issue, raising questions about the accessibility of education in Nigeria.

Many parents, already burdened by economic challenges, are finding it increasingly difficult to afford the new fees.

This has led to widespread condemnation and calls for urgent action.

ASUU, representing the interests of university teachers, has joined the chorus of disapproval. Its president, Prof Emmanuel Osodeke, has warned that if the situation remains unaddressed, a staggering 40 to 50 percent of students will be forced to abandon their education within the next two years.

Such a mass exodus would have far-reaching consequences for the country’s educational system and the future prospects of these students. The implications of this crisis extend beyond the immediate financial strain on families.

Education is a fundamental right, and the escalating fees threaten to widen the gap between the privileged few and the majority who struggle to access quality education. This disparity could exacerbate existing social inequalities and hinder the nation’s progress.

Furthermore, the potential dropout rate highlighted by ASUU raises concerns about the long-term impact on the country’s workforce.

Nigeria, with its youthful population, relies heavily on a well-educated and skilled labor force to drive economic growth and development.

If a significant number of students are forced to abandon their studies, the nation risks losing its future leaders, innovators, and professionals.

The university don lamented that the people’s standard of living is at its lowest ebb following the high cost of living as a result of continued downward slope in the value of the naira against the dollar and other foreign currencies, and instead of finding a way to improve the living condition of the people, the university authorities are adding to the people’s pain and misery.

He said: “Today, universities are arbitrarily increasing tuition fees. Is that correct in an environment, where the minimum wage is N30,000 per month, and where they have to pay rent and pay heavily for transportation? And you are enforcing this thing on the students?

“As a result of this, I can assure you that if nothing is done about this heavy fee being introduced all over the country today, in the next two or three years, more than 40 to 50 per cent of the students who are in school will drop out.

“If you say school fees of N300,000, how can the children of somebody who earns N50,000 a month be able to pay such fee?”

A Nigerian education advocate has criticized the government’s approach to funding education while calling for a significant increase in the education budget.

He argued that allocating only 3.8 percent of the overall budget to education in 2022 is insufficient for the development of the sector.

He emphasised that a budget of around 15 percent is necessary to improve education in Nigeria and alleviate the financial burden on parents who are currently struggling to pay expensive fees.

In recent months, several public colleges and universities have raised tuition fees, citing the economic realities of the country. This has led to student protests against the fee hikes. For example, students at the University of Jos protested against a 300 percent increase in their school fees.

They expressed their dissatisfaction with the university’s decision to raise fees, especially considering that a previous agreement had been reached in 2017 to increase fees from N27,000 to N45,000.

The sudden and significant increase to N213,000 for 100 and 200-level students, and N160,000 for 300-level students, was seen as unfair and burdensome.

Similar protests have also occurred at the University of Nigeria Nsukka and the University of Lagos, where arbitrary fee increments were announced by the university authorities.

Meanwhile, there is a growing concern about the lack of adequate funding for education in Nigeria and the impact it has on students and their families. The call for a significant increase in the education budget aims to address these issues and promote the development of the country’s education system.

The University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), has recently faced backlash for increasing school fees for 100-level and 200-level students. Despite protests by students on December 1, 2022, when fees were raised by 100 percent for the 2021/2022 academic session, the university went ahead with the recent increment.

The new fees range from N85,000 to N95,000 for returning students, depending on their course and faculty, compared to the previous fee of N45,000.Following the students’ protest, there was a deduction of N10,000, bringing the fees down to between N74,000 and N75,000 for old students.

However, new students are now required to pay between N114,650 and N120,650. With the latest increment, returning students are expected to pay around N90,750, depending on their faculty and department.

The increase in school fees has raised concerns among parents and guardians, who may find it difficult to afford the new fees. Many believe that this recent increment is linked to the removal of subsidies in education and the introduction of the Students’ Loan Act.

According to those who hold this opinion, the constant increment in school fees by federal universities became more prevalent after the Students’ Loan Act was signed into law by President Tinubu on June 12, 2023.

However, the President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) does not believe that the students’ loan scheme will bring about positive change.

He expressed concerns that the scheme would fail and emphasised the need to examine the lending policy for it to be effective.

Many students, like Prof Osodeke, are skeptical about the effectiveness of the students’ loan scheme due to the high unemployment rate in the country.

They fear that even if they are able to repay the loans after graduation, accessing the loans is a challenging process. Despite these concerns, tertiary institutions remain unfazed and continue to raise school fees, believing that the students’ loans will prevent dropouts.