• To charge protesting students for public disturbance
• Hostel exemption fee balloons from 5k to 20k
The last appears yet to be heard about the threat issued by the authorities of Kwara State University, Malete to students over compulsory stay of fresh and final year undergraduates on campus hostels as the school renewed threats to deal with students found protesting against such.
Although the school said the practice is part of its policies that had been in existence over the years, many observers described it as draconian and modern day slavery.
“It is very ridiculous that KWASU, a state university is putting students through modern day slavery and hardship by virtue of its not well thought policy. You don’t force hostels on students. You rather make them attractive and appealing to draw patronizers. Academics is all about freedom,” one commentator had said.
The Ravens NG however learnt that the school allows an exemption for students on the pay of N5,000, which has however ballooned to N20,000 with the passage of time.
“The school gives hostel exemption to students that do not wish to stay in the school hostel, but we also have to pay for it. It used to be within the range of N5,000. But as of now, it has gone up to N20,000 due to late payment. You know there is economic hardship in the land. Majority of students are not capable of raising the money at a go, together with school fees, that’s why late payment is recorded. The current administration of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq promised to reduce the tuition fee. That has not happened going to two years now. Rather it’s threat we are receiving on compulsory stay on school hostel,” an affected student who craved anonymity explained to our reporter.
Mohammed A. Shuaib, Acting Registrar, KWASU, wrote that any student that participates in the protest against the policy would be dealt with and charged for public disturbance.
“It has also come to the notice of the Management that some group of students, led by Lawal Abdulazeez Okikiola, the students union president are planning to carry out an illegal demonstration.
“It must be stressed that, any student found disrupting the peace and tranquillity on campus will be arraigned before the Students Disciplinary Committee and appropriate sanctions will be imposed on such student according to the University’s law.
“We hereby remind the affected students of their Matriculation oath that they will be obedient to the rules and regulations of the University and not disrupt peace and tranquillity on campus,” the statement read.