Students of the University of Calabar have taken to the streets to protest a hike in the charges levied by Varsity’s management.
The students gathered at the Malabor Square which houses the Students Union Government secretariat and moved to the female hostels bearing placards.
They marched from the areas where hostels are situated, popularly referred to as ‘Malabor Republik’ as their numbers increased via the Senate building and currently occupy the roundabout next to the main gate which connects Etta Agbor Street and Mary Slessor Avenue.
Some of the placards with various inscriptions read: “Florence Obia, UNICAL is not a private university, which one is ‘slight increment’, say no to billing”, “UNICAL VC, stop forcing girls into prostitution”, “this is a federal university, not a business center,” among others.
Meanwhile, there were alleged sporadic gunshots within the school environment on Sunday 3rd December 2023 at about 8:30 pm.
While our reporters keep tabs on the situation, vehicles have diverted to other routes as the Etta Agbor Road and Mary Slessor routes have been blocked.
The versity management had over the weekend reached the decision to increase tuition fees.
In the statement by the University’s Information Officer, Mr Effiong Eyo, the upward review of the tuition fees was taken at an emergency meeting of the University Senate on Friday.
The release stated that the implementation of the upward review takes effect from the 2022/2023 and 2023/2024 academic sessions.
Findings showed that with the increase fresher’s, returning students and the final year students for the non science courses are expected to pay N111,000, N91,500 and N114,000 respectively.
They are also required to pay N36,500, N21,500 and N21,500 respectively as third parties dues.
Students in the science courses are expected to pay N155,000, N125,000 and N148,000 respectively for fresher’s, returning students and final year students. They are also to pay N38,500, N21,500 and N21,500 respectively as third parties dues.
However, in the early hours of Monday, Student’s of the institution took placards with various inscription to protest the hike of tuition fees as well as other charges asking the management to rescind its decision.
Some of the inscriptions include, return to the old fees, bring back our old fees/ charges , We can’t afford the news fees, UNICAL SUG , wake up ” amongst others.
Findings reveled that previously, tuition fees for an average student, depending on the department, was N64, 050 for fresher’s, N52,050 for final year and N49,500 for the returning students.
The management explained that the increment was necessitated by the current economic realities and the need to maintain the academic standard which the University was known for.
