Students of the Adekunle Ajasin University Akungba (AAUA) have taken their protest against the Ondo State governor, Rotimi Akeredolu to the social media challenging him to reduce their school fees. Using the hashtag, #ReduceAAUATuition, the students noted that the over 200% increase was not favourable to them.
In the past one year, the AAUA students have been a sustained disagreement of the university management and its proprietors led by Mr Akeredolu.
As students were about writing their semester examinations when the university threatened to implement its “no school fees, no exam” policy.
Following recently the sustained protests on its campus, EduCeleb.com reported that the university declared a three week break for students stating the exams would suspended earlier would now hold from Monday, 26th May.
Thereafter, continued intervention by the students’ union leadership and the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) did little to make the government review its position on the fee increase.
#ReduceAAUATuition highlights challenges students face
Some noted that things had got worse on the campus rather than getting better since the increment as others highlighted other challenges.
Before 2018 with a fee range of 23k to 45k AAUA campus enjoyed 8am-4pm power supply. With the introduction of the new 80k to 150k tuition of @RotimiAkeredolu government power supply on campus is now between 10am to 2pm. Increment did not lead to improvement. #ReduceAAUATuition
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Back then, JAMB candidates pick AAUA as their most preferred institution because of the high educational standards and affordable fee@RotimiAkeredolu please
#ReduceAAUATuition
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Maximum academic success will be recorded when ones mind is at peace. Please @RotimiAkeredolu
#ReduceAAUATuition
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Dear, @RotimiAkeredolu let us remind you that you enjoyed free education at some point in your life. We need it too in AAUA as you #ReduceAauaTuition
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Education cannot be made a luxury in a country ranked the poorest in the world. The responsibility of state to fund education cannot be majorly shifted on innocent students and parents. @RotimiAkeredolu, we are begging you to #ReduceAAUATuition
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In one instance, a student referred to the work-study programme, which said used to give indigent students the opportunity to pay the old fees but was practically not effective anymore since the fee hike.
Before 2018, when the tuition was 23k to 45k AAUA had a wonderful WORK-STUDY SCHEME for indigent students, with the introduction of the new 80k to 150k tuition, the WORK-STUDY SCHEME has ceased to exist in reality but on paper. #ReduceAAUATuition
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@RotimiAkeredolu We know that the economy is bad, but causing the society pain by hiking our fees won't make the bad economy any better... @OndoTv @Adaba889fm @tvcnewsng#ReduceAAUATuition
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Admitting that education cannot be free, another student sought that avenues that would ensure that fees are affordable.
Yes, Tertiary Education cannot be totally free but @ONDOGOV has a responsibility to subsidize and support students by providing scholarships and bursaries. This way the cost is shared and quality is not compromised. #ReduceAAUATuition
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Some tweets highlighted the challenges of increasing dropout rates and prostitution and harassment, as a result.
Some students are sponsoring themselves,but the increment has sent them away from school. #ReduceAauaTuition @RotimiAkeredolu
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@RotimiAkeredolu Prostitution is gradually becoming a baptismal alternative job for our female students. #ReduceAAUATuition@RotimiAkeredolu @Ondo_APC @breez919fm
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#ReduceAAUATuition
I'm writing this with tears in my eye because I don't how am going to survive with the outrageous amount of money we pay in AAUA Education should be a right not a privilege..pls @RotimiAkeredolu
reduce our tuition fees..God bless u my Governor
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All heads are not equal, some of our mothers are been locked in smelling toilets by lapo officials for the loan they collected to pay our school fee, some sell pepper under the hot sun @RotimiAkeredolu #ReduceAAUATuition
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Even an alumni member of the university added was not left out in the online protest.
Some of us would not be where we are today if we had not had the opportunity to study at #AAUA
Social status should not deny people from acquiring #HigherEducation
Tonight, I join my voice with that of thousands young people begging @RotimiAkeredolu to please #ReduceAAUATuition
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I wonder how those that found it very hard to pay the fees even when it was lesser,will now pay it now that it has been skyrocketed #ReduceAAUATuition
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