ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- Emmanuel Osodeke, the President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), has sounded an alarm, cautioning the Federal Government of Nigeria about a potential dropout of 50 per cent of students from universities within the next two years, citing relentless increases in tuition fees.
Speaking during a recent interview on Channels TV, Mr Osodeke expressed grave concerns about the state of Nigeria’s education sector.
He stressed that the substantial financial burden imposed on students by their respective institutions could result in a massive drop in enrollment if many students cannot afford the escalating tuition fees.
“If immediate action isn’t taken to address the steep fees imposed by universities across the nation, we anticipate that within two to three years, more than 40 to 50% of the students currently enrolled will be forced to discontinue their education,” warned Mr Osodeke.
He further elaborated that such a scenario could trigger a national crisis, as the dropout students might become susceptible to influences seeking to destabilize the country.
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“What we are advocating for is a return to the educational environment we had in the 1960s and 1970s. Back when I was a student, the government supported me financially through my education. We need an environment where the children of low-income families can access education,” emphasized Mr. Osodeke.
Addressing the issue of exorbitant school fees, he questioned, “How can the children of parents who earn just N50,000 a month afford school fees of N300,000?”
Mr Osodeke called upon the Federal Government of Nigeria to allocate 15 per cent of the total budget to education, asserting that this increase would alleviate the burden of high tuition fees on parents and promote equal access to education for all.
Regarding the government’s student loan policy, Mr Osodeke expressed scepticism about its effectiveness and called for a comprehensive review. He suggested, “Instead of labelling it as a loan, let’s consider it a grant.”
Back in July, Mr. Osodeke recommended a holistic approach and people-centric policies as the solution to the challenges posed by rising tuition fees.
In a separate development in early September, the University of Lagos reduced its fees following discussions with the National Association of Nigerian Students.