Ondo State University shut after students protest management's no fee: no examination policy

ONDO State's Adekunle Ajasin University at Akungba-Akoko has been shut down after students staged a protest to oppose a recent decision of the school's management to bar those who could not pay their fees to sit for their examinations.

In a recent clampdown, the university authorities announced the enforcement of No School Fees, No Test/Examination policy, resulting in large numbers of students not being allowed to participate in a test. Infuriated by the management’s decision, the students mobilised in their numbers and disrupted the test.

Students described the action of the university management as an attempt to make their poor colleagues drop out, going by the exorbitant fees put in place last year. One student , who gave his name as Williams explained that they shut out most students who have not paid their fees in full.

He added: “It is nothing but pure wickedness. They’re some of us whose parents don’t have the financial strength of paying the fees at once. It’s just unfair.

Another student, who gave her name as Titi, added:  “Even in some private universities, they’re ways it’s done that it won’t be cumbersome for parents and students. Probably, the plan of the state government is to deprive us of university education."

Following the protest, the university management ordered all students to vacate the campus with immediate effect. University registrar Dr Sunday Ayeerun said all students should now resume on Monday May 20.

“The management of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko, Ondo State, has approved a mid-semester break for all students of the university. All students of the university are, therefore, advised to proceed on the mid-semester break with immediate effect," Dr Ayeerun added.

Originally, the students were billed to start the first semester 2018/19 academic session on May 5, 2019. Last year, the Ondo State government increased the school fees in the institution to N180,000 from N35,000, which led to a series of protests that shut down Akure, the state capital for a few days.