PUBLIC EDUCATION SHOULD REMAIN PUBLIC

Before this time, quality education was made for all and was a right. But now, it is being portrayed as a privilege. Managements of various universities are taking turns to increase the school fees without any form of consideration. We have seen school fees that were increased by more than 300%. I do not really care if private universities are paying 3 million dollars per semester; after all, they are private (not for all and sundry). But, I seriously frown against any form of action to make public universities private.  They should be public; a place where you will find the children of petty traders, civil servants, market women, carpenters and so on. This set of people that constitute the management boards were children of blacksmiths, hunters, farmers and so on but where made what they are today because of the cheap education they could enjoy; the public education they went through. Now, they are big men and fail to realise that not everybody is as big as they are.

I stand to vehemently disagree with the excuse that they need increased revenue to develop infrastructures. Most public universities realise more than enough revenue from various intervention funds, space allocation on campus, enterprises ran by the university (radio, sachet water, bread e.t.c.). Why on earth will they need our school fees to develop then? Are those ones embezzled? If my memory is not failing me, I could vividly remember that ASUU fought for more development fund last year wasting a whole of 6 months of our precious time. This is mid-year, where is the fund? What have they used it to develop?

Education in Nigeria is not even what it should be. It is a big shame if this kind of education we are going through is made expensive. Over 80 students in a department; a lecturer teaching over 1000 students in a lecture theatre that has no loudspeaker and writing on the white board with bad marker; receiving lectures from 4pm to 6pm and even on Saturdays and so much more. All we could boast of are quality lecturers and professors. But a professor teaching over 80 students cannot make the same impact a professor teacher 40 students will make. If this kind of education of little quality is made expensive, then I fear for the future of this great country. Making it expensive should be termed extortion and corruption.

It is very unusual that even with this kind of conditions, the zeal to learn remains in the soul of Nigerian students. We stand strong to learn, we remain strong by diving through this circumstances to gain knowledge. The ability to gain the university knowledge is what we don't want to be denied of. The rich have their private universities to patronize; the public universities are all we have as children of the commoners. Must the little we have be taken away from us? I have a quite number of friends that sponsor themselves in my school. Can they ever afford giant fees? NO! Most of our professors sponsored themselves back then through the university because education was cheap then. Take a look at the men they've became today.

I want to use this medium to salute without any reservations Nigerian students that have stood strong to ensure that public education is not made private. We remain strong to always demand that any injustice to Nigerian students be brought to justice.

Support and Vote Oluwafemi Williams
A.K.A Jabulani as NANS Vice President (National Affairs)

TESLEEM OKUNOLA
MEDIA DIRECTOR, JABULANI CAMPAIGN MOVEMENT