By Olasunkanmi Akoni

Parents of boarding students at Eva Adelaja Girls Grammar School in Bariga, Lagos State, protested against the Lagos State Government’s recent increase in feeding fees from N35,000 to N100,000, a 186% increment.

The protest, which began on Sunday, saw a large group of parents storming the school area, chanting slogans, and demanding an immediate reversal of the fee hike. They vowed to keep their wards at home until their demands are met.

The parents lamented the situation, with one saying, “We can’t afford this money; it’s too much. Our children want to go to school.”

The parents’ forum demanded the reversal of the 200% increase in boarding fees, stating that their wards will not resume for the new academic session until the hike is reversed.

Chairman of the Parents’ Forum of Lagos Model Colleges, Surv. Dapo Dawodu, described the increment as “mindless and provocative” and accused the Lagos State Ministry of Education of “unbridled greed.”

Dawodu stated that the new fee translates to N100 million in the school principal’s purse to feed the children within three months, compared to the previous N35 million.

The parents’ forum proposed a Feeding & Welfare Analysis scheme in February 2024 to the ministry, which they claim has not been faulted.

They argued that Lagos State’s free education policy should include boarding programs and that the current economic situation makes the fee hike unacceptable.

The parents’ forum concluded that they will retain their children at home until the “obnoxious decision” is fully reversed.”