By Uche Amunike
The Kaduna State government has reviewed and slashed school fees in all state-owned tertiary institutions in the state.
Speaking, during a press conference, Monday, at the Kaduna State Government House, Governor Sani Uba affirmed that the review of the school fees and eventual slashing was an action his administration decided to carry out in order to fulfill that part of his electioneering promises to the people of Kaduna State. He stated that he reduced the school fees in order to respond to the public outcry being made on the current fees being charged in the said institutions.
Hear him: ‘In response to the public outcry over the current fees being charged by tertiary institutions in Kaduna State and its effect on school enrolment and retention, I directed heads of tertiary institutions in conjunction with the Ministry of Education to obtain relevant information on the extant fees regime in state-owned tertiary institutions. At the end of their assignment, they made the following observations and recommendations:
‘That the extant fees regime in the state-owned tertiary institutions is burdensome and has led to a significant decline in student enrolments.’
‘That the extant fees has made many students to either abandon the pursuit of tertiary education or moved to alternative institutions.’
‘That to reverse the trend mentioned, it is imperative that a competitive fees model should be adopted in our tertiary institutions.’
‘That the competitive fees model responds to current realities and promotes access to quality education.’
He further averred that his administration is responsible and caring, hence, their acceptance of the recommendations which they have given a downward review as follows: ‘Kaduna State University (KASU) – current fee: N150,000, reduced to N105,000; Nuhu Bamalli Polytechnic, current fee: N100,000, reduced to N50,000; Kaduna State College of Nursing, N100,000 reduced to N70,000; College of Education, Gidan Waya, N75,000, reduced to N37,500; Shehu Idris College of Health Sciences & Technology, Makarfi – HND coursescurrent fee, N100,000 reduced to N70,000, ND Courses, N75,000 slahed to N52,000.’
Governor Sani further explained that the fees were given a downward review as a result of the commitment of the Kaduna State government towards providing palliatives to the people of the state, as a way to cushion the effects of the high cost of living in the country especially after the Federal government removed fuel subsidy, months ago.
He continued: ‘The welfare of our people is our topmost priority. Our administration shall continue to take all necessary to ensure access to free and qualitative education for every child in Kaduna state, from primary to secondary school.’
‘We will expand access to higher education; enhance teachers’ welfare and teaching standards; improve school infrastructure; build ICT competence in our students from basic education level and intensify investments on technical & vocational education’, he stated.
Recall that the administration of the former governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, increased school fees of the state-owned tertiary institutions amid public outcry.
