BEGINNING from this academic session, students of tertiary institutions in Delta State will pay more for tuition as the state government is set to implement the resolutions of the education summit held earlier in the year.
According to findings, the increase in school fees is necessitated by the harsh economic realities plaguing the country.
Institutions where a new school fees chart may have been worked out include the Delta State University, Abraka; the three polytechnics, the two colleges of education and College of Physical Education, among others.
Although the adjusted tuition fees have not been made official by the government, it was gathered that fees for course registration and other miscellaneous expenses have increased.
The state Commissioner for Higher Education, Mr. Jude Sinebe, when contacted on the development, said the state government had not issued a statement on the increase, “advising that people should be patient until the government’s position is made known.”
Speaking to the Tribune Education, the chairman, governing council of the Delta State Polytechnic, Ogwashi-uku, Dr. Festus Okumbor, said the management of the polytechnic has decided to introduced a N20,000-per-annum tuition fees.
According to him, “hitherto the school operated a tuition-free for all non-indigenes and indigenes, and that cannot continue any more in line with the economic realities.”
Dr. Okumbor disclosed that previously, fees paid by students were administrative cost, and that the authority had to lay bare all financial commitment of the school before the students’ leaders.
He said tuition fees of other institutions in the country were reviewed before arriving at the token fees of N20,000 per year.
The chairman explained that as a way of subsidy, it costs the state government about N600,000 to train a student, considering its financial obligations to lecturers, workers and infrastructure.
He said every tertiary institution is free to introduce its tuition fees or how to generate fund.
On the over 200 members of staff laid off from the school, Dr. Okumbor said the state government has commenced investigation into the matter but is yet to release its report.