By Kelechi Ogbu

Nigerian students in federal universities have lived a fairytale since the beginning of time. It is believed that if an average Nigerian wants to further their education, the best and most affordable choices are federal universities. However, since the turn of 2022, the reverse has been the case.

It has been an unimaginable turn of events as federal universities’ fees have been hiked outrageously, up to and over 100 percent.

Dealing with over 100 percent fee increases has been a torture for Nigerian students, especially with the present economic hardship, coupled with the high cost of living.

Before 2023, schools like the University of Nigeria hiked their fees. However, in July, 2024 the University of Lagos announced a 600% fee increment for it fees ranging from as low as 19,000 naira to as high as 190,000 naira, citing economic reasons. Some, however, blamed the signing of the Student Loan Act on June 12th, 2023, by President Tinubu. This development led to protests that yielded no tangible results other than students being tear-gassed at the protest ground.

STARTLING STATISTICS

A 2022 UNESCO report noted that about 20 million Nigerians were out of school, mainly due to poverty.

Another report by Student Loans Company (SLC) reveals a concerning trend. Between August 2022 and August 2023, 41,914 undergraduate students dropped out of their courses, an alarming 5% increase from the previous year and the highest recorded figure since 2018-19.

STUDENTS REACT

Reactions from the students of the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN) campus on fee increments shows that there is indeed an impending danger.

Archibong Dunamis Udemeobong, a student in the department of Mass communication stated, “The school fees hike is obviously traumatic because some people are actually sponsoring themselves and they’re going through hard times now as a result of the hike.

Even with this hike, there is no improvement in anything. We still have small classrooms with large numbers of students, high cost of compulsory textbooks etc.

It’s really affecting lots of people as their parents and sponsors will also need money to take care of other things”.

Okanya Chiemerie from the department Veterinary Medicine noted that, “The effect of the hikes in tuition fees in Nigeria Federal institution since the turn of 2021 is quite exorbitant and it’s

actually a big challenge to students as some who cannot afford it dropout of school, some engage in illicit activities just to meet up, while others; of which I am a witness to carry over CBT courses because they could not complete the semester tuition fees after making half payments during the first semester and as if that was not enough instead of it to reduce as you progress to next section it’s increasing and this is actually a great challenge and problem for us.

“To be honest with you,those who have sponsors that are willing and ready to train them,will do that.

“But most of the students that pay school fees themselves and even the ones that do have parents but they are feeding from hand to mouth might be obliged to drop-out.

“Back then I usually thought federal universities were less expensive and that was one of the reasons I applied for UNN, but now the reverse is the case.”

Another student, Alung Glory Agabi of Mass communication department mentioned that, “With the high cost of living, most students will tend to drop-out and look for something more than school. Some might begin to steal to meet up with the high cost of schooling since they can’t meet up, girls will go into a high rate of prostitution to meet up with school demands which is very bad.”

DOOM IN MOTION

The negative effects of the hike in school fees by the federal universities extend beyond students to parents, families, and even the society.

The effects range from psychological distress, to reduced academic focus, low performance, increased dropouts, shattered dreams, depression, and even suicides. For parents, it could lead to stress and high blood pressure which may also result in death

Parents and Students have been suffering since the hike in order to meet up with the fee payment and to solve other basic needs as an individual or family.

Read more: https://crispng.com/nigerias-education-crisis-soaring-tuition-and-impending-rise-of-dropouts/