A controversy is brewing at the Federal Science and Technical College, Yaba, following a significant hike in the Parents Teachers Association (PTA) fee. Reports indicate that the school administration allegedly bypassed established protocols, raising the PTA fee from the government-approved N5,000 to N11,500 without proper consultation or explanation.
Sources within the college disclosed that the previous PTA executive council had initially increased the fee to N7,500 without involving parents. However, this was later reduced to N5,000, in line with the Ministry of Education’s directive. The latest increase by the new PTA executives has sparked widespread dissatisfaction among parents, who argue that the decision lacks transparency.
Compulsory Fee Sparks Backlash
Paying the PTA levy is mandatory at the college, especially for boarding students, who are required to present receipts for both the PTA fee and school fees before resuming. With an enrollment of over 5,000 students, the N6,500 increment per student amounts to an additional N32.5 million, further intensifying concerns among parents.
In 2016, the federal government set the PTA fee for unity schools at N5,000. This recent hike appears to violate that policy, raising questions about accountability. A source from the school remarked, “The government clearly stipulated that no school should charge more than N5,000 for PTA fees. Yet, this new executive has used underhanded methods to impose extra charges, claiming they are for additional services or development.”
Lack of Consultation and Transparency
During a recent meeting, discussions initially revolved around contributions for fuel to maintain electricity and water supply. However, the conversation shifted to increasing the PTA fee. Volunteers were reportedly selected to deliberate on a suitable fee structure, but parents say no feedback has been provided since then.
One parent lamented, “We were not consulted or informed about this decision. Now, boarding students are expected to resume on January 5, 2025, and cannot check in without paying this increased fee. This lack of communication has left us feeling sidelined.”
Another source revealed that the precedent for such actions was set by the previous PTA executives, who unilaterally added N2,500 to the PTA fee, raising it to N7,500. The fee was only reverted to N5,000 after parents protested. “This new set of executives is repeating the same mistake. They arbitrarily added N6,500, making it N11,500. If they must increase the fee, a reasonable amount like N7,500 might be acceptable, but not N11,500,” the source added.
Parents Demand Accountability
Parents have reportedly written several letters to the college management and principal, seeking clarity and justification for the fee hike. However, no response has been received. Concerns about the transparency and accountability of PTA fund management persist.
“The college claims the additional funds are for developmental purposes, but there is no clear breakdown or evidence of how the money will be utilized,” a parent stated.
Efforts to contact the PTA Chairman, Akeem Ibrahim, for comments have been unsuccessful. Calls, text messages, and WhatsApp messages sent to his number remain unanswered as of the time of filing this report.
For more updates, join our WhatsApp channel: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VabITrvEAKW7DSkTfP0J.
Source: Chronicles Reporters