FG to set up negotiation team on school fees hike

Yusuf Sununu, minister of state for education, says the federal government will set up a negotiation team between the Parents Teacher Association (PTA) and relevant stakeholders to look into the recent school fees hikes across the country.

Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Friday, Sununu said the hike in school fees could be a core factor leading to attacks in schools.

The press conference was organised to commemorate the International Day to Protect Education from Attack.

“So many areas that require finances are being attacked but we must also look at the constitutional provisions,” NAN quoted Sununu as saying.

“The constitutional provisions expressly state that free education but with a caveat when the government can afford and that is why it comes also as voluntary contributions by all stakeholders.

“When we say safety in schools, it is a collective responsibility. So we are going to encourage formal negotiations. Where we cannot provide, it is to encourage PTA and relevant institutions so that we can agree to a term that is acceptable to all of us.

“Also, we will encourage a lot of partnerships as part of areas that can bring peace. Whether we agree or not, we must appreciate the role of PTAs in sustaining services in lots of our schools at both local and federal levels.

“So, while we do that with scarce resources, at the ministry level, we try to see how we can block leakages and see how more funds can be available to schools to ensure that quality education is affordable, acceptable to every Nigerian without decreasing the quality of education.”

The minister hinted that the federal government would develop learning centres in Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps.

“Nigeria in recent past has had more than a fair share of attacks on our education system at all levels,” he said.

“These attacks are not only physical but also non-physical, especially on deliberate attempts to water down our standards of education.

“The federal ministry of education, in partnership with relevant stakeholders, has put in place various strategies to deal with these attacks.

“All our efforts would be geared towards implementing the safe school policy for all. The pre-activities of the celebration include playlet, dance, drama, poetic rendition and quiz competition.

“The presentation by learners is expected to emphasise the need for collaboration and focus on school safety policy for implementation guidance by all stakeholders.”

He added that the ministry would play a key role in the renewed hope agenda of President Bola Tinubu in moving Nigeria on the right track.