On Tuesday, hundreds of Rivers State University, Port Harcourt, students protested the purported school administrationโs no fees, no exam policy by taking to the streets.
Singing and demanding that the university reverse its decision, the students marched out of the Mile 3 neighborhood campus.
As the majority of those impacted expressed grief over the outcome, it was learned that some students, particularly those in their last year who were unable to pay the 2021/2022 school fees, were not prevented from sitting for their exams on Monday.
The final-year students who were impacted by the decision of the institutionโs management expressed concern that it would force them to stay another year in school and result in higher tuition costs.
To voice their complaints, the students marched from the Mile 3 neighborhood to Ikwerre Road and finished at the Government House on Azikiwe Road in Port Harcourt.
Monmon Precious, one of them and the president of the National Union of Rivers State Students, said that the economy, not them, was to blame for the payment delay. The student asked the school administration to change its mind about its position.
The kids demonstrated today in opposition to the foreign policy of โno school fees, no exams.
โWe do not intentionally fail to pay our tuition; the financial situation is dire. The governmentโs inability to fund projects will undoubtedly make it harder for the students to pay their tuition.
โOur bursaries (stipends) have been withdrawn; Rivers State is no longer offering scholarships. All we want is the old arrangement, which permits students to sit for examinations with the possibility that their results may be held back until they have paid everything, he said.
Student leader Koki Gbenga claimed that since the implementation of the โno fees, no exam policy,โ he has been receiving frequent texts from his peers threatening to commit suicide.
I receive daily texts from fellow students threatening to commit suicide due to the state and national economies, according to Gbenga.
They (management) ought to take us into account and permit us to study and take tests. Students may cause chaos for themselves and society if they are expelled from school at this crucial time.
Similar to this, a student only known as Andrew bemoaned how many areas the students were from had been devastated by the flood and urged the government to take their hardship into consideration.
When contacted, the universityโs spokesperson, Emeka Egbechu, claimed it was an internal matter and that everything was back to normal at the institution.
โI wonโt talk much on it until I hear from the Vice Chancellor,โ Egbechu continued. There is nothing to worry about, that is all I can say for now. Our campus is currently quiet, and it is an internal matter. When I have more information, Iโll let you know.
