Cross River: Health students decry announcement of new high school fees

Students of Cross River State College of Health Technology in Calabar, Cross River State capital, have lamented the sharp and sudden increase in school fees across the board.

The new increase in school fees is reported to have taken place last month, according to the students spoken to.

They said the increase is over 45 per cent for natives, while those for non-natives are above 50 per cent.

One of the students who gave his name as Samson Akpan said that, as one in the Higher National Diploma programme, he is now to pay N150,000 aside other extra charges, including so-called ‘sorting’ fees.

“Students who are indigenes of the state in the same programme are to pay N120,000. Before now, I used to pay N85,000 while natives would pay N60,000. This increase is really killing as we cannot afford such skyrocketing fees.”

The students blamed the provost of the school, Dr. Ita Ikpeme, recalling that while he headed a department in the school, upon his resumption then, he increased the fees.

They lamented how the current economic policies in the country have affected them so that they are unable to meet many financial demands in the school.

As a result, they appealed to the school authorities to be considerate with them and kindly reverse or reduce the increase to enable them to meet their financial obligations.

Efforts to get a reaction from the provost were not fruitful. Staff in his office who did not want their names mentioned said it was a decision of the school, and not Ikpeme’s.

Cross River: Health students decry announcement of new high school fees