How fears of fee hikes, job losses fuel King’s College parents’ protest

Fears of school fee hikes, staff retrenchment and opaque contracts have triggered protests by parents of students at King’s College, Lagos, over the federal government’s plan to concession the management of the institution to its old boys’ association.

The proposed 35-year concession of King’s College sparked controversies, with stakeholders raising concerns over transparency, accountability and the affordability of education under the arrangement.

Penultimate Tuesday, parents of students of King’s College, Lagos, prevented the leaders of King’s College Old Boys’ Association (KCOBA) from gaining access to the school premises as they protested the proposed concession of the college to its old students.

The parents, who came out in their numbers, were seen shouting, “We say no to concession, go to Abuja, go, buy your land and build your own schools. Why are you destroying the system that made you?”

In the same vein, the next day, the workers of the Ministry of Education prevented Tunji Alausa and other top personnel of the ministry from entering their offices in protest over the planned concession.

The protesters in Abuja could be heard chanting, “Alausa must go,” while blocking access to the ministry’s premises.

BusinessDay engaged some of the workers and parents over the ongoing dispute. One of the parents said they were worried over the federal government’s plan to hand over the management of the school to its old students, for fear of a fee hike in future.

“We learnt that the old students have earmarked N100 billion to revamp the college; obviously, after investing such an amount, they would in future want to recover their funds by increasing the fees,” he said.

Jessica Osuere, a parent and educationist, said the proposed concession of King’s College, Lagos, to the old boys’ association raises important questions about public education, access and accountability.

“While the proposed N100 billion investment could significantly improve infrastructure, facilities and the overall quality of education, the concerns of parents cannot simply be dismissed.

“The critical issue is whether this proposed arrangement will preserve King’s College as an accessible public institution or gradually transform it into a school beyond the reach of the ordinary Nigerian family,” she said.

Osuere emphasised that in as much as Nigerians advocate for quality education, it must also be accessible and affordable to the common man.

“Any concession arrangement must be transparent, protect affordable access, guarantee government oversight and clearly define the role of parents and other stakeholders.

“Investment in public schools is welcome, but it should not come at the cost of equity or turn a public national asset into an exclusive institution for the privileged,” she noted.

Kehinde Olabode questioned the reason the federal government entered into an agreement with KCOBA without carrying the teachers, parents and other stakeholders along.

“In 2001, when the St. Gregory College, Lagos was concessioned, the process was open to all. The government handed over the school to the Catholic Mission, which in turn had a committee in place to manage the school, while the old students were providing support mechanisms.

“However, this time around, there’s no committee in place; why hand over the management of King’s College to its old students, who will later retrench workers that refuse to align with their ulterior motives,” she said.

However, Tunji Alausa, Minister of Education, has reached an agreement with the workers that no staff member would be victimised or subjected to any form of punitive action for participating in the industrial action.

The minister emphasised that the arrangement is a concession, not a sale or privatisation, which is intended to inject resources and improve King’s College.

Meanwhile, leaders of KCOBA had clarified that the association has no intention of buying the school, but is interested in rebuilding their alma mater.

Femi Okunnu, chairman of the board of trustees at King’s College Old Boys’ Association, clarified while addressing journalists amid protests from parents and workers at the institution.

“We’re not acquiring King’s College, and the college is not for sale. We are returning to serve it, to help manage, support and rebuild the institution that shaped generations of Nigerians.

“This is a matter of stewardship, of responsibility, of service rendered in gratitude and not a bid for possession,” he explained.

Leke Oshunniyi, former president of the association, who also spoke on behalf of KCOBA, said that an increase in school fees was not being contemplated, adding that it is even possible that students may not be paying fees at the end of the day.

Oshunniyi disclosed that KCOBA were targeting to raise about N300 billion, out of which pledges of N30billion had already been received.

Emmanuel Abugu, representative of parents of students of the college, listed three areas of fear being nursed by parents.

He said that except for the rumours that are flying all over the place, there has been no time the Old Boys Association formally and officially communicated to them what is going on.

They want to be assured that the move is not to convert some of the properties of the college into personal business. They are also worried that the move by the association is to ultimately increase school fees. The parents are also asking to be allowed to see the content of the contract being entered into between the government and the association.(BusinessDay)