Parents of students at Eva Adelaja Girls Grammar School in Bariga, Lagos, have launched a protest against the Lagos State government’s decision to increase boarding fees from N35,000 to N100,000. The parents, who gathered in large numbers on Sunday, voiced their frustrations and insisted that school will not resume until the fee hike is reversed.
The demonstrators carried placards with messages like “No reversal, No resumption!” and “We say no to this fee increment,” while demanding that the Lagos State government engage in dialogue before making such decisions that directly affect their financial burden.
The fee hike was announced in a letter signed by Olufemi Asaolu, Director of Basic Education Services at the Lagos State Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education. Dated Friday, the letter stated that the boarding fee for public schools had been increased to N100,000 for the 2024/2025 session and set the resumption date for September 15, 2024.
Segun Bashorun, Public Relations Officer for the Parents’ Forum, expressed his frustration, saying the decision was sudden and inconsiderate of the economic realities facing families. “Many parents are struggling, and the government should have consulted us before implementing such a steep hike,” Bashorun told reporters.
One parent added, “Our children have big dreams, and we can’t keep them at home because of this drastic increase. We are pleading for the governor’s intervention to reduce this burden on struggling families.”
