Buhari behind unity college fee hike, says education ministry
The Federal Ministry of Education has announced the review of the school fees regime for unity colleges, which was approved by the previous administration under President Muhammadu Buhari. The documents obtained from the Federal Ministry of Education in Abuja indicate that the new fees were approved by the immediate past Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu.
A source from the ministry, who preferred to remain anonymous, clarified that the fees were not only reviewed for JSS 1 students but across the board. The addition of a uniform fee was made to address the issue of parents purchasing adulterated uniforms for their children and to ensure uniformity in dressing.
The source explained that while tuition fees in government unity colleges remain free, students are expected to pay for other essentials such as textbooks, uniforms, and boarding fees for students staying on campus.
The news of a hike in school fees has been trending, but the source emphasized that the increase is insignificant compared to what has been projected in the media. He stated that the school system faces financial challenges, and the fees paid by students help to augment the overhead costs.
In 2020, the Federal Government charged N15,000 as boarding fees for new students, bringing the total fees to N50,500. However, in May, the boarding fee was reviewed to N30,000, making the total fees N100,000. For returning students, the total fees for boarding students were N48,500 in 2020 and increased slightly to N47,000 in 2023.
The Ministry clarified that despite the adjustments, the fees charged are still significantly lower than what would be required to cover the actual expenses of providing education and accommodation for the students.
