School fee hike: Group protest, ask Abia speaker to intervene
Ogbonnaya Ikokwu, Umuahia
A group known as Common Man Assembly Abia State chapter has protest the hike in school fees at Government College Umuahia.
Recall that the Abia State House of Assembly Joint Committee on Education, Public Petition and Judiciary is currently investigating the increase in the fees charged by college following a petition brought before it by Mr Chukwudi Onwudinanti, an indigene of Ubani Emede -Ibeku Umuahia East constituency.
He had petitioned the Fisher Education Development Trust, the mangers of the school before the committee on the alleged high fees charged in GCU and pulling down of monumental buildings in the school without recourse to members of Government College Umuahia Old Boys Association (GCUOBA).
The committee in its last had asked all parties involved in the petition to maintain status quo until the determination of the petition.
However, the group led by her President Mr Nathaniel Nwoka and secretary Mr Banham Ezenwa, in a Sava Our Soul later read during the protest in the Assembly Complex on Tuesday alleged the GCU is currently being classified as private School by the mangers who are charging exorbitant fees of over one million per session.
They pleaded with the Abia State government to ensure the Government College Umuahia is returned to a public school, so that children from poor background can attend the school.
The latter read in part, “Government should ensure that our children who are intelligent can go to Government College, as it was in the past by making the entrance exam open to everyone.
“The school fees should be slashed to reflect the economic situation of our Country and state now.
“The state government should be part of the management of Government College Umuahia, so that our interest would be protected”.
Some members of the group displayed placards with the following inscription “Bring down the high school fees of government college Umuahia, GCU should be made affordable for the rich and poor, Our children can no longer attend GCU due to high school fees, Governor otti please use you good office and look into how GCU was handed over to the old boys and give solutions to the various issues”
Addressing the protesters the Deputy speaker Rt. Hon Austin Okezie, assured the group that 8th Assembly is already handling the matter to ensure that the interest of the general public is protected.
He said,”I want to reiterate that this matter is already being looked into
By the Joint Committee on Education, Public Petition and Judiciary, We have had two hearings on it and from all indication we are going to have the final hearing just to give all the parties adequate opportunity to air their views.
“We assured you that public interest will upheld at the end of the day. The content of the petition is quiet clear and we also seen your expression on the different placards you came with. We will come with a resolution that will be in the interest of general public.
“As an old of the college I commend those who are already making efforts to restore the glory of Government College Umuahia we must make sure that all our interest are protected”.
Also speaking the chairman House committee on education, Hon. Okoro Uchenna kalu, said
the matter has been brought before the committee and they have had meetings with all the parties involved.
According to him,”The Abia State government believe in fairness just and equality. It’s important that we must safeguard the well being of our people and ensure that they are not oppressed in any way.
“We are promising you that we will treat the matter devoid of any sentiments. Before we will draw our conclusion we will ensure that it will favour people including members of the host community”.