ABUJA, NIGERIA — The Federal Government has assured that school fees will not increase under the proposed management arrangement for King’s College, Lagos, following concerns raised by stakeholders, including the institution’s old boys’ association, over the planned concession of the college.
The Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, gave the assurance on Wednesday during a stakeholders’ engagement in Abuja, where he addressed concerns about the proposed concession. He said the government had no intention of imposing any financial burden on parents or students and that the welfare of the students remained the top priority.
“I want to assure Nigerians, particularly parents and the old boys of King’s College, that there will be no increase in school fees under the proposed management arrangement. The government’s intention is to improve the quality of education and infrastructure at the college, not to burden parents or students,” Alausa stated.
The Minister explained that the proposed concession was designed to attract private sector investment to upgrade the college’s infrastructure, improve teaching and learning, and enhance the overall quality of education. He said the government would retain ownership of the college and would ensure that its legacy and standards are preserved.
“The concession is not a sale of the college. King’s College remains a federal government institution. What we are doing is exploring a public-private partnership model that will bring in the necessary resources to modernise the school and to ensure that it continues to produce the leaders of tomorrow,” he said.
Alausa disclosed that the government had engaged with the King’s College Old Boys’ Association and other stakeholders to address their concerns and to incorporate their input into the concession framework. He said the government would continue to engage with all stakeholders to ensure transparency and to build consensus.
The President of the King’s College Old Boys’ Association, who spoke at the engagement, expressed appreciation to the government for its willingness to listen to their concerns. He, however, urged the government to ensure that the concession process is transparent and that the interests of the students are protected.
“We are not opposed to improving the infrastructure of King’s College. But we want to be sure that the process is transparent and that the standards of the college are not compromised. We will continue to engage with the government to ensure that the best interests of the students are served,” the association’s president said.
The proposed concession of King’s College has been a subject of debate in recent weeks, with some stakeholders expressing concern that it could lead to an increase in fees, a reduction in the quality of education, or a loss of the college’s identity. The government has consistently maintained that the concession is aimed at improving the college and not at commercialising education.
The Minister also announced that the government would soon unveil a comprehensive plan for the renovation of King’s College, including the rehabilitation of classrooms, laboratories, libraries, and hostels. He said the government was committed to restoring the college to its former glory and to ensuring that it remains one of the best secondary schools in Nigeria.
“The future of King’s College is bright. We are committed to preserving its legacy and to ensuring that it continues to provide quality education to Nigerian children,” Alausa said.
As the government moves forward with the concession process, parents and old boys will be watching closely to ensure that the promises made are kept. For now, the assurance that fees will not increase has provided some relief to stakeholders, but many remain cautious about the long-term implications of the proposed arrangement. The coming weeks will reveal more details about the concession framework and its impact on the college.
