Funke Busari, Lagos
Notwistanding the early morning downpour, parents of students of Model Colleges in Lagos State defied the rains on Thursday to protest boarding fees increment in 32 Model Colleges across the State.
Recall that the state government said Model College students will begin to pay N50,000, as against N25,000 from next academic session to keep and feed them in school.
The situation has not gone down well with their parents, hence they took to protest to get the audience of the Lagos State Government alleged non-responsiveness to their entreaties.
They converge on the premises of Shoprite Mall in Alausa, Ikeja for onward movement to speak with governor Sanwo-Olu since the letter from Coalition of All Chairmen and Secretaries of Parents Forum of Lagos State Model Colleges dated 26th July 2021 was not replied.
However, the heavy police presence detailed to the venue of the protest prevented the aggrieved parents from proceeding further to get the attention of the State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
CASEFILE gathered that the parents were stopped in their tracks as they marched along holding their childrens’ school uniforms and singing songs expressing their displeasure over the increment, as well as asking that N30,000 should be considered.
They expressed the hope that by next Tuesday, the Lagos State House of Assembly would give them audience as it has communicated in a letter dated September 1, 2021 and signed by A.T.B. Ottun on behalf of the Acting Clerk of the House to deliberate on the impasse between the parents and the government.
The letter sighted by CASEFILE indicated that the lawmakers have given a date for a meeting to deliberate on the parents concerns about the issue.
The letter was titled: Coalition of All Chairmen and Secretaries of Parents Forum of Lagos State Model Colleges thus, “Sequel to your letter received by the House on 18th August, 2021 on the above subject, (copy attached) I’m directed to invite you to a meeting with the Committee on Education (Ministry Agency) on Tuesday, 7 September, 2021 at the Conference Room, 4th Floor, Members’ Wing, Assembly Complex, Alausa, lkeja by 10.00 am.
It added, “Consequently, you are requested to come along with relevant document(s) that would enhance fruitful deliberation at the meeting.”
