By: Sonaike Peter

Envision a world devoid of education — a nation with an education sector in paralysis should shutter through your mind. The mere thought should conjure images of darkness, regression, underdevelopment, and crises, blooming over the country.

“Education is the most powerful weapon which can be used to change the world,” Nelson Mandela, the late former President of South Africa aptly stated. If true to its letters education is indeed the catalyst for societal transformation, what then shall be wielded to steer our country towards progress when education becomes financially inaccessible to the common man? First-world nations arguably continue to flourish due to the relentless empowerment and fortification of their educational systems.

Yet, the state of public education in Nigeria remains dire. Despite the constitutional mandate in Section 18 of the Federal Republic of Nigeria’s constitution for ‘free and compulsory education’, the cost of education has spiraled upward, and over the years, burdening.

There has been a significant surge in adjoining fees at the University of Ibadan. In this new academic session, (2023/2024), the University, among other public tertiary institutions, has shockingly increased its tuition fees by up to four hundred percent, sending shocks.

In the previous academic session, students were subjected to a queue of levies without corresponding services, raising questions about the utilization of all these generated funds, as well as the University management’s intentions. For instance, last session, students paid for studio fee without getting an actual service in return. Generally, exacerbating this situation, these fee hikes are not accompanied by substantive improvements.

It is no news that the University of Ibadan has imposed a new fee structure, demanding prompt payment within a strict time-frame of seven to nine weeks, despite students signifying inability to cope with these financial obligations.

Gauging the sentiments of students and their demands from the University Management, this article rather delves into their slides of concern.

Discontented Voices

Many students chose the University of Ibadan during their Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) registration for its reputation of relatively low fees, coupled with its acclaimed quality. The fee hike has however turned a new track, leaving many distressed.

Timilehin, a first-year Physics student, originally picked UI due to its affordability and educational standards. Timi, as he would shortly called, now grapple with the burden of paying exorbitant fees, with the strong hope for a significant reduction.

“Hike in school fees has been appalling. I had originally picked UI because of how the school fees were not too high. And the quality of education also high. Seeing the sudden hike in school fees, especially after a lot of us had already set our eyes here, is definitely troubling, and very taxing in these hard times,” Timilehin said.

(Reflecting hardly on Timi’s portal is a total fee of #278,500, out of which hall, technology and utility fees only have been paid).

Adedokun Adesewa, a new student in the Department of Archival and Information Science, had initially rejoiced at the prospect of beginning her academic journey at the premier University. Almost at another glance, the shock of seeing the inflated fees on her portal overshadowed her excitement.

“The thing is when I heard the school fees had been posted on the portal. I was kind of excited, you know, the typical fresher excitement. But immediately I opened the portal and saw the amount there, words couldn’t quantify how I felt at that moment,” she said.

Understanding her family’s financial constraints, she pleaded for the management’s review to avoid jeopardizing her education.

“I don’t want to lose this admission after so much stress of entering because of money. The school management should please reduce the amount. There are some of us out there with no money and we want to study,” she said.

For students like Taiwo, a Sociology major, the fee hike is perceived as an infringement on his right to education. Taiwo emphasizing the need for affordable education, expressed concern about its inaccessibility amidst the country’s economic challenges.

“The increment in our school fees is outrageous as such should be reversed. Education is a right and therefore should be made affordable to all,” Taiwo expressed.

William Ayodele, a 300-level student of Agricultural and Environmental Engineering, explained that continuing his education would be impossible if the fees did not decrease. He mentioned that his mother, a civil servant, has three other children attending different Universities. Ayodele shared the view that education is a right for Nigerian citizens and should be daresay-free.

”We are three that our parents sent to the University. My mother, as a civil servant, cannot afford the high fee. If the fee is not reduced, there is a likelihood of dropping out. Education is our right and I don’t think it is fair if we pay (more outrageously) for what is my right. The Government and University management must see to this issue because the knowledge that a person has is his life and if he stops schooling, that means he is going to die,” Ayodele said.

Is the Students’ Union on top of the situation or vice-versa?

Recognizing the gravity of the fee hike and its potential repercussions, the Students’ Union, led by President Aweda Bolaji through an official release had earlier directed all freshmen to hold off from paying the new regime of fees. However, efforts to prevent fee payments by freshers were met with mixed compliance.

Despite the resolutions made during a recent stakeholders’ meeting held on Wednesday, June 12, 2024, at the SRC Chamber, to fee hikes, skepticism becloud the University climate with regards to the effectiveness of the Union’s stance. Stakeholders at the June 12 meeting – supposedly a democracy day – had proposed an online campaign, and a setup of a fee review committee, among others, as its fightback measures.

Some students who reacted to the resolution showed pessimistic views of the Union’s standpoint. Many of the views flashed back to the past administration, which had also tried without any yield.

“The student stakeholders should spare us their dilly dally and they should not continue to insult our intelligence. Online campaign? Ad hoc committee? Critical review? Aren’t these the resolutions and moves of the previous administration? What has changed? Nothing. They can continue to pretend not to know what should be done or they can continue on their wild goose chase. It is up to them. We can’t continue to do the same passive thing and expect a change”, Mide Gbadegesin, a Postgraduate student said.

Loan – From funding to lending?

Criticism of the Federal Government’s student loan scheme continues to arise, hoisting questions on its short and long-term efficacy in addressing the fee issue be that as it may at hand.

Allocating funds to students in the form of loans, instead of investing directly in the education sector is deemed counterproductive, and may burden students in the long run.

Reacting, Sulaimon Afeez, a 300-level Law student, argued that the government could have opted to use the entire budget of the student loan scheme, which amounts to #50 billion, to fund education instead.

Afeez believes that the student loan scheme will have negative consequences for Nigerian students. He urged the federal government to make education as affordable and accessible as it was during their time.

”My stance on the student loan scheme is that it will do more harm than good for students. Decades ago, while they were in school, is this what the government introduced? The cost of living is today unbearable. Students are complaining about the current fees we are paying in UI, not to talk of saying they should pay #300,000. it will definitely not work. I am hereby urging the government to use the student loan funds to fund education” Afeez counseled.

As a new academic session commences, students eagerly await the resolution of their fate. Will fees be reduced, or will the status quo prevail? The answer remains terra incognito – ‘unknown’ to say the least.