Students’ outrage grows as TASUED raises tuition fees, criticise management team for ‘inhumane decision’ 

…N65,000 a year can’t pay staff salaries or run on diesel 24 hours — TASUED Management

By Sodiq Adelakun

Tai Solarin University of Education in Ijebu Ode, Ogun State, was thrown into chaos on Monday as students gathered to protest against the recently announced tuition fee hike for the upcoming 2023-2024 session.

The protest was sparked by the school management’s decision to raise the tuition for new students enrolled in education courses from N76,500 to N230,000 and from N76,500 to N180,000 for returning students.

The school fees for fresh students studying pure courses were also increased from N80,500 and N90,500 to N240,000, and from N80,500 and N90,500 to 190,000 for returning students.

This development has raised concerns among students, leading to a large-scale protest.

The students, who took to the streets brandishing placards and leaf stems, congregated at various locations, including the Main Gate, the University Academic Building, and the Directorate of Students’ Affairs Building.

The students have strongly criticised the management team for their decision, labelling it as inhumane. They argue that the management team failed to take into account the current situation of the country and the potential consequences of their actions.

However, the situation has caused a disruption in the academic activities of the university, with some classes being cancelled due to the protest.

A statement released by the Students’ Union partly reads, “Our attention has been drawn to the university’s decision to increase our school fees on the portal. We firmly believe that this fee increment is unjust and places an unnecessary burden on students.

“Education is a right, and it should be accessible to all. We want to assure you that we are actively working to address this issue. We will engage in communication with the university management to express our concerns and negotiate for a fair and affordable education.

“Meanwhile, we encourage each one of you to stand together and say No to this fee increment. We must unite as a strong and collective voice to make our concerns heard.”

The Students’ Union President, Akinjetan Emmanuel, said the protest aims to send a strong message to the university management.

“We refuse to accept this burden on our shoulders. It is crucial that we continue to raise our voices and make our concerns heard. By participating in the protest, we are advocating for a fair and affordable education,” he said.

Reacting to the students’ plea, the management of Tai Solarin University of Education in Ogun State has responded to the students’ plea regarding the recent hike in school fees. 

The management explained that it was unable to help with the increase due to the current economic situation in the country.

The Students’ Union President, Hammed Akinjetan, stated that the Student Union Government will continue to advocate for the interests of the student body.

“We firmly believe that this fee increment is unjust and places an unnecessary burden on students,” he said.

He maintained that education is a right, and it should be accessible to all, assuring fellow students that “we are actively working to address this issue.”

However, the university has said the increment in tuition at a time like this, is a general thing across the nation.

TASUED Registrar, Chief Dapo Oke, confirmed the protest.

Oke said, “We had a peaceful students’ protest. They have brought their grievances to the university management and we have received their grievances. We have asked them to channel their complaints through the appropriate channel, that is through their union leaders. We are going to invite them for necessary consultation.

“In the entire South West, which state university is charging as low as N100,000? We have been collecting N65,000, when some secondary school students pay N100,000 per term and there are three terms in a year. But our university students are paying as low as N65,000 for a whole year. Is that enough to buy laboratory equipment, to pay staff salaries or to run on diesel 24 hours?

“These are issues that necessitated the increase, and before we made the increase, we discussed it with the Students Union Government, and we’ve made them realise it. But definitely, they would still make their complaints. We will listen to their complaints, we will inform the government. At the end of the day, we will conclude.”

The registrar maintained that TASUED cannot afford to run inferior academic programmes, compared to what obtains in other universities.

“So, we have to charge economic fees. What we have charged is the barest minimum in reality with the existing market forces,” he emphasised.

Oke commended the students for being peaceful in their demonstration, stating that the protest did not affect the ongoing examination.