RUMBLES AT ABUAD AS PARENTS RESIST EXORBITANT TUITION INCREASE

By: Adémólá Òrúnbon

ADO-EKITI – Parents of the students at Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD) had described as fraudulent and exploitative, for the school to have admitted about 400 students and make them pay so much higher than others, when it could only graduate 100 students at the end of six years.

A concerned parent who claimed anonymity disclosed this to journalists, saying, “ABUAD admitted 400 students for the 1st year, with tuition of N4,000,000, knowing, only 100 could graduate, now, more than 75% of the students passed the exams and the only option they have is use tuition fees to drop some students.

“This children have been under stress and tension since day one. Even first semester result is not out at this time how can we be sure the process is purely based on merit. After collecting so much money already you now increase school fees to drive and WEED away students. Your institution has not done well in this regards. I don’t see integrity and uprightness in this actions” the parent lamented.

ABUAD has a quota from MDCAN of graduating 100 Medical students per annum, but they allegedly admitted 400 students. This means 300 students which is 75% will not graduate after six years.

According to Professor Ogundipe, the Provost of the College of Medicine and Health Sciences, the new fees are as follows: Fresh students (100 level) PRE-MEDICINE N4,557,500, 200 level FIRST YEAR MEDICINE, N5,586,000, 300 LEVEL SECOND YEAR MEDICINE, N5,586,000. CLINICAL students from 400 LEVEL N4,281,000.

The parent noted with displeasure that the school was too hasty with this announcement for the following reasons; “Parents are still awaiting the first session of their wards academic performances, which are in lag time, the reasons for increments are not defined nor discussed with other stakeholders and no prior notice of increment was given to parents for adjustment or better still make alternative arrangement for their wards.

“Your hostels are in a deplorable state, your lecture halls are overcrowded with dilapidated facilities, our children can barely afford food anymore because of the exorbitant prices of your canteens, I cannot visit my children and sit with them….even the lowest of boarding schools allow me to see my children, but in a university, I cannot see my children to discuss what is going on with them, they are treated like prisoners. Poor food, for sanitation, restricted visitation and many more. I recommend the school to urgently release the first and second semester results of our wards, to chat a course for further discussion”.