Peaceful protests have rocked the model colleges in Lagos State over the insistence of N100,000 payment per term as boarding fee by the State Government.

This is as the Parents Forum of Model Colleges in Lagos have officially informed the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State of their intent to carry out a peaceful protest to the governor’s office in Alausa, Ikeja on Monday.

At the Igbokuta Model College, Ikorodu, it was observed that students’ resumption was abysmally low.

Also, for the few students that turned up, teachers assigned to each class refused to accept them back to the school, insisting on the payment of the boarding fee.

Attempts by the parents to persuade the teachers to accept their wards failed, which did not go down well with most of the parents on ground.

However, the Principal of Igbokuta Junior Model College, Mr. Raheem later intervened and instructed the teachers to register the students for resumption of school.

At this point, more students were allowed to come into the school and resume their academic activities.

Also, it was observed that students in JSS1 and SSS1 who had initially paid the compulsory N70,000 were allowed into the school premises by the teachers.

Speaking on the issue, one of the concerned parents at Igbokuta Model College, Dr. Taofeek Ayinde, appealed to the Lagos State Government to rescind its decision on the hike on the boarding fee.

According to him, the government should listen to the plights of parents and guidance on the issue, stressing that the government did not show empathy with the parents especially at this time of economic doldrums.

He said: “Looking at the state of the economy, the government must listen to the yearning of the people in order not to send our children and wards out of school.

“We have some parents with three or four children in the colleges at this moment. Where do you expect such parents to get N400,000 every term from? The government should revert this bogus fee.

“If at all, nothing can be done, the boarding fee should not be more than N50,000 per term, not this about 200 per cent increment by the government. This is a bitter pill for parents to swallow.”

Also, at Agbowa Model College in Ikorodu, some of the parents were seen carrying placards of various inscriptions.

In solidarity, the parents chanted “We no go pay, we no go pay, N100,000 we no go pay.”

They also appealed to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State to intervene in the matter.

Besides, a letter to the Police Commissioner of Lagos with the head: ‘Notice of Peaceful Protest (II), dated November 1, 2024, signed by Mr. Dapo Dawudu and Prince Adeyemi Sowemimo, the Chairman and Vice Chairman, Lagos State Parents Forum, respectively and obtained by our correspondent, notified the police of the intending protest slated for Monday.

The body also sought police protection for parents who might embark on the peaceful protest.

The letter read in part: “The essence of this protest is to peacefully register our dismay and grievances over the unjust, criminal and satanic increment of hostel boarding fee from N35,000 to N100,000, which we find to be outrageous being well over 200 per cent.

“We wish to notify you, sir, that parents also wish to picket on Sunday, November 3, 2024 at each of our respective children’s school gates.

“We seek for your understanding and protection of our members from unnecessary intimidation and harassment.”