The Lagos State Government (LASG) has announced an unavoidable increase in boarding fees for its model colleges, aiming to improve student welfare.
This decision, announced on Monday by Mr. Ganiu Lawal, Deputy Director of Public Affairs at the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, comes in response to the need for better funding for boarding facilities.
Lawal pointed out that the current boarding fee of N35,000, in place since 2021, is no longer adequate for 2024.
He noted that boarding students represent over one percent of the total student population in Lagos’s public schools.
The Lagos State Government has approved a new boarding fee of N100,000, effective from the ongoing 2024/2025 academic session, which began on September 15, 2024.
“The Ministry acknowledges the concerns of some parents regarding the fee increase,” Lawal stated.
“This was a difficult decision, but the welfare of the students is paramount for both the Ministry and the Lagos State Government”, he continued.
Lawal explained that the fee covers essential expenses such as feeding, janitorial services, and other costs associated with maintaining the hostels.
He emphasized that the boarding fee, which is paid each term, does not include energy costs for fuel and cooking gas, which are necessary for meal preparation.
He further highlighted that students benefit from free education, including infrastructure, technology support, and security, with the state government also covering WAEC examination fees.
According to Lawal, the new fee remains competitive compared to federal and state public schools with boarding facilities nationwide.
“None of our parents would find it reasonable to feed a child aged 12 to 18 years for just N35,000 over three months,” Lawal said.
“The cost of nutritious food is essential for both physical growth and mental alertness,” he further stressed.
The Ministry stresses the importance of stakeholder cooperation to ensure student well-being and urges parents to understand the necessity of the fee adjustment for the betterment of their children’s education.
Lagos State provides free education across 1,021 primary schools, 369 junior secondary schools, and 329 senior secondary schools, including 32 model colleges, all of which are boarding institutions except for Vetland Junior and Senior Secondary Schools, which are day schools.
(NAN)
