by Ibinabo Emmanuel Bagshaw

The want to hike the school fees, which is about to take effect, shows that the students are never put into good consideration. Who doesn’t know that the rate of students, who find it cumbersome to foot the fees, surge as the day goes by?

Instead of increasing the school fees, I think it’s essential that faulty facilities be repaired, and unavailable essential facilities be provided, in order to ensure a comfortable learning environment; and, also to aid the normal learning pattern, so proper understanding can be achieved.

Before I got admission into RSU, I, through personal effort, understood certain programming language. I didn’t bother to continue with it, because I thought when I get admission to study Computer Science, I’ll keep the study of programs intensively going.

But, immediately I got in, the school itself killed my zeal for studying programming languages: no provision for testing codes, no standard computer laboratory to explore as a computer scientist.

How many times do we use the supposed laboratory for studies?

On this effect, I’m of the opinion that the decision towards the amount of school fees to be paid in Rivers State University — the hike in the school fees — should be revisited.

Let’s look at it from this angle; there are parents who get sustained with the little money they accrue from menial jobs just to make sure they’re not bereaved of food, because of poverty. These parents literally always count the years remaining for the graduation of their child(ren) to check how long they’ll continue to squeeze to secure a certificate.

Is it minimum wage? It’s really not enough to effectively cater for a family.

Do the universities now place more value to the financial benefits, instead of pursuing a good learning environment — and considering the financial stands of most students?

I’m sure, that’s it!

Look at the nook and crannies of the school, you won’t say there are no areas which need proper attention. We incessantly hear complaints about the economy, but students still struggle towards paying their bills.

These words are written to touch few areas of the reason why the school fees shouldn’t be hiked!