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By Lawrence Agbo
Students of the College of Nursing at Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital (NAUTH), Nnewi, Anambra State, are threatening to stage a protest following a sharp increase in school fees, which they describe as exploitative.
One of the students, who spoke with Daily Sun on the condition of anonymity, said many students were shocked after receiving a message on Friday informing them that the new school fee had been increased to ₦580,000.
According to the student, the initial payment for entry-level students was ₦250,000 when they gained admission, with the understanding that the amount would reduce as they progressed to higher levels.
“We paid ₦250,000 when we entered the school because we were told that was just the first payment. Usually, 100-level fees are higher due to some extra bills, and we were told that subsequent payments would not be up to ₦250,000,” the student said.
However, the student said the situation changed when a new set of students was admitted and made to pay ₦580,000, with ₦250,000 as tuition.
“Even the new students were told that the fees would reduce as they progressed in level. But just this evening, on Friday, we got a message in our school group from our welfare representative that the new fees going forward will be ₦580,000 for everyone. We were like, how?” the student added.
Beyond the tuition, the student lamented that there are several additional costs that make studying in the institution financially difficult.
According to the student, hostel accommodation costs ₦150,000 per year, while feeding in the hostel costs ₦30,000 monthly, amounting to ₦360,000 annually.
“Even the feeding fee is compulsory for those in the hostel. Whether you eat the food or not, you must pay. Yet many students still buy food outside because the quality is poor,” the student said.
Yet another student also raised concerns about transportation to clinical postings, noting that students still pay transport fares despite the school providing buses that are often overcrowded.
“The school can assign one bus to two or three sets of students. That single bus cannot carry over 250 students going for clinical posting,” the student said.
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Other challenges highlighted include what the student described as inadequate learning facilities within the college.
“We have never used the laboratory because it is not functioning. There are no toilets in the school, so if someone wants to use the restroom, the person has to run back to the hostel. There are no chairs in the school, and even the nursing library is not functional,” the student said.
The student added that many nursing students rely on the medical students’ library, where they are required to pay an access fee.
In addition to the school fees, the student said students also pay between ₦45,000 and ₦60,000 for clinical posting, excluding feeding and transportation costs.
The student further questioned why students were made to pay additional examination fees despite already paying ₦20,000 for exams as part of the ₦250,000 initial payment.
“When we entered, we paid ₦20,000 for exam fees inside the ₦250,000. But when we were about to write exams last year, we were still asked to pay another exam fee. I just don’t understand,” the student said.
The student warned that many nursing students are already considering protest if the school management fails to review the fees.
“There is every possibility that we will protest because the extortion and exploitation are too much. Even private nursing schools don’t charge this much,” the student said.
With the revised school fees set at ₦580,000 annually, students say the total yearly cost of schooling now exceeds ₦1 million when hostel and feeding fees are included.
“Calculating everything in a year, it is about ₦1.09 million, excluding clinical posting fees. This is a federal school, yet it feels more expensive than private schools,” the student said.
Students are therefore calling on the school management to reconsider the fee hike and reduce the burden on them.
