….urges students to go write exam
Lawrence Nwimo, Awka
The management of Federal Polytechnic Oko, Anambra State, has denied claims of hike in the examination fee and other fees of the institution.
The Public Relations Officer of the institution, Chijioke Ibeziako, in a statement, clarified that fees paid in the institution including the examinations fee are legally approved and contained in the fee schedule issued to students upon registration.
Ibeziako also said the fees are in line with what is obtainable in other institutions pointing out that Federal Polytechnic Oko has a very moderate school fees regime and one of the institutions with the least school fees.
The PRO said the purveyors of malicious story that the institution hiked fees paid by the students are the enemies who don’t mean well for the institution.
According to him, the N5,000 claimed to have been imposed on students was an old fee that was approved by the then Governing Council of the Polytechnic, adding that the present management has ensured that school fees paid by the students are moderate and within the reach of the students.
“The N5,000 examination fee in question is an old fee which was approved by the then Governing Council and students were informed about it. It is part of the cumulative fees that were approved for payment by students per session.
“It is not far-fetched that other tertiary institutions pay examination fee. In fact, in many institutions, this fee is higher than that of Federal Polytechnic, Oko. There is no Institution where services are rendered without some form of payment.
“Following a circular released by the SUG President to the students not to pay the examination fee, Management in its characteristic open door policy held series of interactions with the SUG officials. As a result, agreement was reached and memorandum of understanding signed by the student union president and Management in the presence of NANS officials for students to continue paying the examination fee. We have evidence of this.
“Management also assured the students officials that students can continue writing the exam while they pay the exam fee.
“However, to the chagrin of Management, the student union president later reneged on this agreement and released a circular to students that first semester examination already scheduled for commencement will not hold as scheduled and directed students to stay away from school.
“In fact, in the early hours of the morning the examinations were scheduled to commence, he led some students to block the school gate, barring students who were coming to write the exams from entering the school premises.
“This agitation against the exam fee is therefore surprising and clearly portrays the hand of fifth columnists who do not mean well for the Ag.Rector and the Management and are bent on sabotaging the system for their selfish and inordinate ambition.
“Nonetheless, the Ag.Rector in order to avoid any crisis directed against using any force to stop the illegal blockade thereby ensuring normalcy and calmness in the Institution.
“The exam fee and other fees paid by students are legally approved as contained in the fee schedule issued to students upon registration and are in line with what is obtainable in other institutions. Interestingly from analysis, Federal Polytechnic Oko has a very moderate school fees regime and is in fact one of the Institutions with the least school fees.
“The agitation against the examination fees by few misguided students is unfortunate, misleading, unnecessary, uncalled for and misplaced.”
He said the Ag.Rector, Dr. Uche Onyegbu, since assumption of office has taken steps that enhance staff and students welfare, and has distinguished himself as one of the best staff/students friendly Chief Executive.
The Management implores students not to allow themselves to be used by those who want to foment trouble in order to achieve their ulterior motives and assured that their interest will always be protected.
It also urged the students to go and write the first semester examination as every student will be accommodated.
