Kaduna State Governor, Senator Uba Sani had on Monday approved the downward review of fees in state-funded higher institutions.
The Governor who disclosed this at a press briefing attributed the review to observations and recommendations made by Heads of tertiary institutions and findings by the Ministry of Education.
Recall that there were outcries over hike in school fees in Kaduna State-owned tertiary institutions under the immediate past regime of Governor Nasir El-Rufai.
Governor Sani noted that the extant fees regime in the state-owned tertiary institutions was burdensome and has led to a significant decline in student enrolments.
“In response to the public outcry over the current fees being charged by tertiary institutions in Kaduna State and its effect on school enrolment and retention.
“I directed Heads of Tertiary Institutions in conjunction with the Ministry of Education to obtain relevant information on the extant fees regime in state owned tertiary institutions”, he said.
Governor explained that, at the end of the assignment, the heads of institutions and ministry of education observed that the extant fees has also made many students to either abandon the pursuit of tertiary education or moved to alternative institutions.
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He also stated that the panels recommended accordingly the need to reverse the trend and adopt competitive fees model in state- owned tertiary institutions.
“That to reverse the trend mentioned, it is imperative that a competitive fees model should be adopted in our tertiary institutions”, he said, adding that the competitive fees model responds to current realities and promotes access to quality education.
“As a caring, responsive and responsible government, we have accepted the recommendations and accordingly reviewed the fees downwards”, Sani said.
In view of the reduction, Kaduna State University current standing at N150,000 fee has been reduced by 30% with new fees put at N105,000 only.
Nuhu Bamali Polytechnic and College of Education (COE), Gidan Waya, currently paying N100,000 and N75,000 respectively have been reduced by 50 percent each, and to now pay the sum of 50,000 and N37,500 as new fees respectively.
Accordingly, Shehu Idris College of Health Sciences & Technology, Makarfi, offering HND courses with current fee put at N100,000 has also been reduced by 30 percent, to now pay N70,000, while the ND Courses paying N75,000 has been reduced by 30 percent and to pay N52,000 as new fee respectively.
Similarly, Kaduna State College of Nursing currently paying fee of N100,000, has been reduced by 30 percent and to pay N70,000 as new fee respectively.
The Governor also explained that the downward review of the extant fees regime aligns with their commitment to offered palliatives to cushion the effect of general rising cost of living in the polity, especially in the wake of recent petroleum subsidy removal in Nigeria.
“The welfare of the people is our topmost priority. Our administration shall continue to take all measures necessary to ensure access to free and qualitative education for every child in Kaduna State from primary to secondary school.
“Expand access to higher education; enhance Teachers’ Welfare & Teaching Standards; improve School Infrastructure; build ICT competence in our students from basic education level; and intensify investments in Technical & Vocational Education”, he said.
Earlier, Sani said Human Capital Development was a key pillar of their Sustained Agenda, adding that only well educated and healthy persons that have the skills to exercise initiative and the vigour for the hard work, are required to build a strong society and a prosperous economy.
“Our administration has therefore prioritized Access to Education for Children and Youths of Kaduna State”, he said.
