- Refers to the news as untrue and a calculated attempt to cause disarray in the school
- Says report is a deliberate ploy by detractors to cause chaos in the reputable institution
The Management of the University of Calabar (UNICAL) has debunked claims of any increase in school charges.
The clarification made in a statement by office of the institution’s Registrar, Mr Gabriel Egbe, on Saturday came on the heels of a report online that the university had increased its charges.
Egbe referred to the news as untrue and a calculated attempt to cause disarray in the school.
“The report on some news platforms about increment in charges by the institution is false, misleading and malicious.
“It is a deliberate ploy by detractors to cause chaos in the reputable institution.
“Members of the public, as conveyed by the statement are enjoined to disregard the report as it did not emanate from the university,” he said.
Meanwhile, some parents in Lagos State have called on the government to provide more alternative strategies to cushion the effects of the economic difficulties, for them to manage the rising cost of education.
They made the call in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday, ahead of resumption of primary and secondary schools in the state for the 2023/2024 academic session on Monday.
The parents said that the economic situation in the country had led to an increase in school fees, uniforms, books and other educational items, impacting the level of preparation for their children’s resumption.
Mrs Ugochi Okeugo, a businesswoman, said the situation had driven her to take a loan to buy textbooks and pay the school fees, in order to meet up with the resumption date.
“The school has increased their fees, and to buy textbooks these days is something else. The ones I bought for N1,500 last year are now N2,500.
“It has not been easy. The ones I can afford, I’ll buy for them and if I can’t, they will manage the ones they have.
“Changing school now would not be easy, because that would attract more school fees and you don’t know the kind of school you are going to put them in,” she said.
Mrs Eucheria Onwudiwe, another parent, said she had to forfeit traveling to the village for the yearly August meeting, to save money to pay for school fees, and change her daughters’ uniform, bags, and books.
“I have three children in school and the fees of that school are so high that, when I collected their pay slip, I noticed an increase of more than N20,000.
“Also, their transport fare was N45,000 last session and now it’s N70,000. I don’t even know how I’ll take them to school this term and bring them back home because the transport fare is too high,” she said.
Mrs Jane Anizoba, on her part, said she was in a tight corner as the economic situation had affected everything from school fees to feeding and transport.
“As parents, we make a lot of sacrifices, by cutting down on most of our expenses.
“For instance, women, in particular, we like parties and want to have one or two new clothes, bags, and shoes to put in our wardrobes.
“But now, we have to drop them and focus on the children because they are the reason why we are fighting and struggling, so their own needs always come first,” she said.
She urged school owners to consider receiving payment in installments to reduce the financial burden on parents.