Combatant greetings to the esteemed Management of Kwara State Polytechnic and other concerned authorities.
The CampusGist+ has come to you with heavy hearts and light pockets given the endless hike in school fees that threaten to rob students of the Kwara State Polytechnic of the future they tirelessly work to build.
As a formidable pro-students group with traceable antecedents in addressing students and management crises including a firm stand against injustice, we understand the economic strains facing our nation, but we can not accept being billed for the budgetary impacts.
As a team of advocates, equipped with the fundamentals of running an institution like Kwara State Polytechnic, we understand the need to put the school system on track, but this enormous weight shouldn’t be at the expense of the Nigerian students who are struggling to meet the upsurge in the cost of living.
It should be recalled that some months back, school charges were increased in this same institution with a special increment for non-indigenes. It’s on record that this decision was met with outrage condemnation and yearnings by Nigerian students.
This was later accepted after all efforts channelled to the decrease were proved abortive. After a few months, it becomes very disturbing to see another increase reflecting on Application Form, Acceptance Fee, Result Checker, Certificate Fee, and Payment for Convocation Gown.
These charges are inclusive of existing payment for Certificate Folder (5,000), Convocation Brochure (4,000), Final Year Transcript (3,000) and Statement of Result (3,000).
However, if you walk the campus grounds, sit in crowded dorms and other social gatherings — you will see the toll of rising costs being the subject of discussion. Students are also exhausted from labouring jobs to pay the next fees and talented youths may result to dropping out because payments outpace their means.
Therefore, we call on all necessary stakeholders within and outside the school, especially the Kwara State Government led by Mall. Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq to put heads together and put an end to this incessant hike in the institution fees.
We equally challenge the leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) Kwara Axis; Students Union Government, Kwara State Chapter and other relevant student bodies to be up to the task of demanding a fair and quality education for Nigerian students domiciled in Kwara State Polytechnic.
With our collective action, we can make education livable again. We can ease the burden so brilliance can blossom. We can fulfil the vision of affordable learning as a way to nation-building and human development.
In knowledge and faith, the CampusGist+ appeals on behalf of Kwara State Polytechnic students.
Bidemi Moses, Founder CampusGist+
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