Education
Parents Decry Hike In Primary School Fees
Parents of wards and pu
pils of Nursery and Primary Schools have expressed fears over the hike in the school fees for next session, and have called on the state Ministry of Education to intervene in order for children of low income earners to get formal education.
Speaking to The Tide at the weekend, Mrs Pauline Asimie, a pharmacist, said, “it is saddening how these schools increase their fees. You can’t imagine that school fees of N16,000 was suddenly increased to N40,000. I mean, the gap is too wide. From 16,000 to 20,000 or 25,000 is appreciable but not 40,000″.
Another parent, Mrs Ozioma Nwokeocha said, “I know that education is very important especially in today’s world. But do we have to kill ourselves for our children to attain it? Some of these schools are increasing their fees almost every year and who knows how it will be in this academic year. It has not been easy with those of with three to four children in the system”.
“I quite agree with the cry but then, I know that these schools are in categories. Parents should learn to go for the ones that they can afford. If they do, they will not have this funny experience because, afterall, education is not totally about the school but about the child”, said Thomas Fiberesima, a civil servant.
Also speaking, Pastor Prince Ndudi lamented the high rate of increase in the school fees of these children even by the mission schools stating that such act is not in accordance with the tenets of God’s vision in their mission to the world.
He said, “these mission schools are supposed to be considerate so as to attract these children and win them for Christ. Unfortunately, most times, their fees are higher than that of the secular schools.
When contacted, proprietresses of one of the Nursery/Primary operating in Port Harcourt and Iriebe respectively, who pleaded anonymity, said “the increment could be due largely to the demands of the time. Everything is going up and so is education. The educational materials are becoming more technical and expensive. Besides, to teach and cater for these children demands a lot. We plead that parents should understand and bear with us”.
Lady Godknows Ogbulu
The Acting Vice Chancellor of Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Port Harcourt, Prof. Okechuku Onuchuku, emphasised the need for students to go beyond academic achievements during the university’s 43rd Convocation ceremony.
The theme, “The University Culture In Practice, The IAUE Experience,” highlights the importance of embracing cherished traditions and intellectual values that define great universities.
Prof. Onuchuku encouraged the new graduates to work hard and persevere, noting that their convocation marks a new beginning in their careers and personal lives. He emphasised that they must prove themselves worthy of the certificates and prizes they have received.
According to him, out of 2,887 first-degree graduands, four made First Class, 403 secured Second Class Upper, 2,030 got Second Class Lower, and 450 graduated with Third Class. Additionally, 1,492 postgraduate students graduated, including 306 PhD holders.
The Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas (Rtd), praised the university’s commitment to academic excellence and institutional maturity. He commended the Acting Vice Chancellor for achieving full accreditation for 47 academic programmes and implementing the NUC’s Core Curriculum Minimum Academic Standards.
The administrator urged the new graduates to uphold the positive values instilled in them by the university and strive for continuous knowledge and improvement.
By: King Onunwor
The Niger Delta Students Union Government, Rivers State Chapter (NIDSUG), has suspended its planned protest against the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) state office in Port Harcourt. The suspension followed an intervention by the state Commissioner of Police, CP Olugbenga Adepoju.
The students had planned to protest on Thursday, citing alleged neglect by the NDDC, particularly in welfare and capacity-building programmes for students from the state. However, after the police intervention, the students agreed to participate in a roundtable discussion with the commission to address their concerns.
NIDSUG leader, Comrade Loveday Njoku, expressed dissatisfaction with the commission’s alleged exclusion of students from benefiting from its programmes. He presented a seven-point demand, including the reintroduction of scholarships for undergraduate and postgraduate students. Njoku emphasised that education is crucial for community development and urged the commission to invest in the future leaders of the state.
The students warned that if their demands are not met, they will resume the protest and occupy the state commission office until their demands are addressed. Despite previous attempts to reach out to the commission’s management team, the students claimed their efforts were unsuccessful.
By: Akujobi Amadi
As part of efforts to improve the welfare and overall quality of education for students in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, the Sole Administrator, Sir (Dr.) Clifford Ndu Walter DSSRS, FCAI, JP, paid an unscheduled visit to Universal Primary School, Rumukwurusi.
During the visit, Sir Walter expressed deep concern over the deplorable state of the school and its surrounding environment. He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to the development of the education sector, stressing its critical role in nation-building.
“I have visited the primary school in Ogbogoro, and now I’m here at the Universal Primary School, Rumukwurusi. I am not satisfied with what I’ve seen,” he stated, indicating that more surprise visits to schools would follow.
To address the issues, the Sole Administrator directed the Council Engineer to commence process for rehabilitation of the school.
The visit was part of a broader initiative aimed at conducting on-the-spot assessments of educational facilities to determine the level of intervention required by the local government council.
Dr. Walter also assured the teachers of his unwavering commitment to revamp the school and improve the learning environment for both staff and students.