THE COST Of KNOWLEDGE: Is The Fee Increase Justifiable or Exploitative?

By Emmanuel Akano.

Amidst the effects of the crippling and fast decelerating economy ravaging the country known to be the giant of Africa, where soaring inflation and “strangled” survival of the masses is now a norm, the latest blow to the already beleaguered and pressured students of the University of Ibadan has left many clueless, hopeless and devastated. The recent bombshell implementation of a massive fee hike has become the latest flashpoint of debate over it’s affordability and accessibility. With over 100% increase in bundled fees, many of the students are beginning to feel that the once “free” education has now become a political campaign manifesto – promised and never implemented. This has brought about questions by the students of the University’s commitment and the Government’s support to their education.

With pockets emptied and futures uncertain, we ask the ones who matter the most – the students- to share their thoughts, fears, frustrations and probably better ideas, in a bid to save the leaders of tomorrow. Different sets of students were interviewed ranging from freshers to finalists, and each one of them had something to say as regards the fee increase.

Joy, a finalist in UI said the increase in the fees have affected her “..negatively..” She also said noted that she has added some side jobs to support herself while in school. Further questions asked were;
Interviewer: “Did you consider/think of opting out as a student.”
Respondent: ” Well, me as a finalist, there’s no way I should opt out. I have no choice, I’ve gone through 4 years+, giving up now is a waste of time. ”

The second respondent was Imoleayo Oluwatosin, a 200 level student.
Interviewer: Seeing the increase in UI’s fees, do you plan to work alongside academics to support your parents?
Respondent: Yeah, I am. I am a network marketer, that is where I get my urgent 5k from.
Interviewer: Do you think UI made a right decision by increasing the fees?
Respondent: “… I think the reason they are increasing the fees because the lecturers are not getting paid enough and if they believe if they increase it they can get funds… It’s too much, I’m not a fresher and I’m paying 200 + ”

Also, another stalite was interviewed to weigh another point of view. Motunrayo, a 300 level student.
Interviewer: How has the increase in fee affected you?
Respondent: ” Well, I don’t know how to pay my school fees if they don’t reduce it,…the money is much Sha, I Just pray they reduce it…”
Interviewer: Do you fund yourself?
Respondent: In some ways, but not…
Interviewer: Do you think it’s actually considerable that UI increased the fees, probably because pthey are not receiving funds from the government.?
Respondent: They don’t have a reason to increase the fee…because… there’s no improvement in the facilities..nothing changes..

Having heard staylites, new UI intakes were also asked on what they feel about the increase in fees?
David, a fresher of the department of Vet. Medicine;
Interviewer: I know you’ve had of UI before, probably one of the reasons you chose UI was its affordable fee, getting to UI and seeing that the fees have been skyrocketed, what was your impression about that?
Respondent: When we first came in, we had this motive of UI having the lowest fees…,but with the same force we entered, we got hit…😂, The fees was much, imagine preparing for a fee of 40,000/60,000/80,000 and you’re paying for about #400,000, it’s actually something that’s too painful to hear about, and looking at the cost of living right now….
Interviewer: Did you consider opting out?
Respondent: Well, based on me, opting out has never been an option, but for others, opting out is definitely an option… You can’t imagine studying a 6-year course and paying 400,000 asides other fees
Interviewer: Do you intend having side jobs or “hustles” to support your parents?
Respondent: “..I would like to have a side job..but we have to see what we can do about, even the government has to do something about creating funding avenues, scholarships…”

From optimism to outrage, their voices reveal the true cost of higher education. Delayed dreams, daunted determinations and their fears for the future has caused many students pleading to the powers that be and hoping for a restored accessible education.

VOX POP – STUDENTS REACT TO THE HIKE IN TRANSPORT FARE DUE TO FUEL SCARCITY

As a result of the increase in prices of transportation due to fuel scarcity, AASA press this week asked students how the scarcity has affected their movement, what their experience has been like and how they have been able to navigate movement in the school because of this problem, some students shared their experiences and here are some of the responses

Dayo 200 level

Yesss it has greatly affected my movement in school, I went late to class twice this week but luckily the lecturer had not entered. There was a day I went to eat at kuti and I had to walk all the way to gate just to get keke to cmf, because there was no keke at that kuti side after waiting for over 15 minutes. I walked to class like 3 times last week for my morning classes.

Anonymous

Yes !The fuel scarcity is really annoying the price of the transport is high imagine spending 700 from ojoo to Ui to and fro. So many things are expensive including transport ,How do we cope especially student. Most of the keke doesn’t have fuel so there also scarcity of keke within the school.

Segilade 400 level

Normally since I stay inside school, You’d think the price of transportation will not affect me because obviously they think people that stay inside school walk everywhere they go but no I don’t. I take keke but it has been really stressful trying to find keke because they have become very scarce, I can be infront of my hostel looking for keke for a long time , because of that I have been late to class multiple times. Also when I am in a hurry I want to get to where I am going as soon as possible, if I am at gate and I see a very long keke queue I do not want to stay for long so I eneter drop instead and I paid 300 to get to my department just because of fuel scarcity.

Anonymous

I understand that there is fuel scarcity, but I still think it’s unfair that prices of keke Increased especially for us that stay far from school area, keke men are always trying to extort us and frankly I don’t think it’s the fuel scarcity alone. The fuel scarcity not only affected the price but keke became very scarce last week after church, the line at the gate was very very long and little to no keke was in ground. I stood there for like 40mins and I .not even exaggerating it was very fustruating and annoying cause I just wanted to get to my hostel. The experience has been terrible and I really hope it gate better because it is really bad at the moment

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Here are some of the responses I got

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Here are some of the responses we got.