Parents Sunday registered their displeasure as some students were again, denied entry into NOWA school Karshi Abuja over non payment of a controversial increment in fees.
According to the parents, the school had earlier increased the fees by twenty thousand naira in the same session before sending another message two days to resumption informing them of a further fifty thousand naira increase when many had already paid the fees stipulated in the newsletter at the. Lose of the term.
A parent, Mrs Olorunfemi described the incident as unfortunate.
” They already gave us tellers to pay school fees, people like me had paid,just two days to resumption via text message NOWA president through the commandant sent a WhatsApp message that she has increased school fees with 50,000 after we had paid over 300,000. Two days to resumption ? It has never happened “.
The parents said they got to school with their wards haven paid the fees on the newsletter but were turned back. Only those who came in early last week were allowed without the increment though they were told it would be recorded as outstanding.
Their concern was the medium through which the message was passed. A parent who spoke on condition of anonymity said ” some parents could not go back to the bank to pay. Some said things are not done like this,it they want to increase school fees they normally do it through newsletter or PTA meeting. We resumed, they said they will not allow all the children who did not pay the autocratic 50,000 increase to enter. Most of them are in WAEC class and exams starts this week, imagine the psychological effect on the students”
Officials of the PTA who spoke to journalists said they had called for dialogue with the school authorities and registered their reservation towards the increment it got no response. They further said they had approached the court but we’re surprised that the school had disregarded the court and gone ahead to enforce the increment.
Mr Abimbola Danjuma who spoke to reporters said ” it is very disheartening and unfortunate. Infact we are surprised that NOWA president would act in this manner knowing fully well that some of these students are in their final year and about to commence WAEC”. The truth is these parents can afford this money but an agreement is an agreement. We had an agreement on what to pay then in the middle of the second term you introduce additional fees? Also the manner in which it is done is very disrespectful to parents”.
They called on the senior hierarchy of the Navy to wade in and resolve the impasse as failure to do so could affect the intake of students for the next session.
The school commandant,Lt. Commander Ikhiere declined comment but was overwhelmed telling parents earlier that he was not aware of the court proceedings and was acting on instructions.
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