Lagos Insists on Reviewed Fees for Boarding Model Colleges

Lagos State Ministry of Education has appealed to some parents
of Model College students to accept the upward review of the
boarding fees, because it was in the overall interest of the
students.

Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Folasade Adefisayo made the
plea while addressing the concern of some parents on the review of
the fees for boarding students in the 32 Model Colleges across the
State from the 25,000 charged per term at N79.30k per meal for a
student in the past 18years. Many parents have shown understanding
in the matter.

The Ministry had meetings and engagements with the parents’ fora
of the model colleges and upgraded schools, where reasons for the
review were “clearly and unambiguously” stated.

It was agreed that the review of the fees became necessary due
to economic realities viz-a-viz the current cost of food stuff,
provision of energy, medical care and general school
maintenance.

The commissioner hinted that as at June 2021, the market cost of
commodities and school maintenance services analysis showed that
N125, 000 would be required to keep a student in a Model College
with 80% of the cost to be expended on meals.

The resolve to peg the boarding fees at N50,000 per term was
premised on the understanding that the state government would bear
N75,000 subsidy per child; while the School would receive
subventions per term to cater for the expected gaps.

According to the commissioner, feeding a child at N73.30k per
meal was not healthy for growth hence the government could not be
running a boarding system with same amount that has been in place
for over 18 years.

It is worthy of mention that the government runs a free
education policy, pays all public school students’ external
examinations fees, provides and maintains infrastructure while
parents of Model College students are only levied for the students’
feeding and maintenance.

Adefisayo, however, said the government would continue to
subsidise the boarding fees to improve the quality of education and
the purpose of the establishment of Model Colleges and Upgraded
Schools.

She spoke extensively on the major interventions and
infrastructure upgrade in public schools by the government, noting
that, not less than 1,097 projects have been executed in 970
schools; 87,000 units of dual composite furniture for 775 primary
and secondary schools and other facilities have been provided.

There were also rehabilitation and new classrooms and hostels,
security infrastructure, investment in technology for students,
institutionalisation of a maintenance plan for schools and increase
in school running cost, among others.

The commissioner, therefore, pleaded for understanding from
parents, stressing that government’s decision was to give the
students a better life while in school.

Her words: “We did not come up with this cost randomly, but it
took a lot of thinking, brainstorming and economic analyses, with
the aim of giving the children comfort.”

The commissioner concluded by stating that the government ran a
transparent policy in managing schools and had ensured that parents
were involved in the management through the school-based management
committee for better relationship and inclusive school governance
system.

According to her, the government recognised that Model Colleges
and Upgraded Schools served as a positive catalyst for the
restoration of quality education and would, therefore, continue to
support them with the provision of facilities.

Lagos State Ministry of Education has appealed to some parents
of Model College students to accept the upward review of the
boarding fees, because it was in the overall interest of the
students.

Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Folasade Adefisayo made the
plea while addressing the concern of some parents on the review of
the fees for boarding students in the 32 Model Colleges across the
State from the 25,000 charged per term at N79.30k per meal for a
student in the past 18years. Many parents have shown understanding
in the matter.

The Ministry had meetings and engagements with the parents’ fora
of the model colleges and upgraded schools, where reasons for the
review were “clearly and unambiguously” stated.

It was agreed that the review of the fees became necessary due
to economic realities viz-a-viz the current cost of food stuff,
provision of energy, medical care and general school
maintenance.

The commissioner hinted that as at June 2021, the market cost of
commodities and school maintenance services analysis showed that
N125, 000 would be required to keep a student in a Model College
with 80% of the cost to be expended on meals.

The resolve to peg the boarding fees at N50,000 per term was
premised on the understanding that the state government would bear
N75,000 subsidy per child; while the School would receive
subventions per term to cater for the expected gaps.

According to the commissioner, feeding a child at N73.30k per
meal was not healthy for growth hence the government could not be
running a boarding system with same amount that has been in place
for over 18 years.

It is worthy of mention that the government runs a free
education policy, pays all public school students’ external
examinations fees, provides and maintains infrastructure while
parents of Model College students are only levied for the students’
feeding and maintenance.

Adefisayo, however, said the government would continue to
subsidise the boarding fees to improve the quality of education and
the purpose of the establishment of Model Colleges and Upgraded
Schools.

She spoke extensively on the major interventions and
infrastructure upgrade in public schools by the government, noting
that, not less than 1,097 projects have been executed in 970
schools; 87,000 units of dual composite furniture for 775 primary
and secondary schools and other facilities have been provided.

There were also rehabilitation and new classrooms and hostels,
security infrastructure, investment in technology for students,
institutionalisation of a maintenance plan for schools and increase
in school running cost, among others.

The commissioner, therefore, pleaded for understanding from
parents, stressing that government’s decision was to give the
students a better life while in school.

Her words: “We did not come up with this cost randomly, but it
took a lot of thinking, brainstorming and economic analyses, with
the aim of giving the children comfort.”

The commissioner concluded by stating that the government ran a
transparent policy in managing schools and had ensured that parents
were involved in the management through the school-based management
committee for better relationship and inclusive school governance
system.

According to her, the government recognised that Model Colleges
and Upgraded Schools served as a positive catalyst for the
restoration of quality education and would, therefore, continue to
support them with the provision of facilities.