FRESH STUDENTS OF IMT ENUGU LAMENT OVER COMPULSORY PAYMENT OF HOSTEL FEES.
Some First year National Diploma and first year Higher National Diploma Students of the Institute of Management and Technology, IMT, Enugu may not take part in the first semester examination starting on Monday next week. This is because they may not be able to pay forty thousand naira compulsory hostel fee being demanded from them by the Management of the institute.
Radio Nigeria discovered that most students of the school were not happy with the policy which affected even those who had secured accommodation off-campus. The First year National Diploma, ND 1 students are required to pay the money immediately while those of Higher National Diploma, HND 1 are to pay the fee with ease.
The students lamented that with the economic situation in the country, it was difficult for their parents to source the money especially those who are staying off Campus. According to the students, the demand has compelled them to explore all means of getting the money to enable them to take part in the Semester examination starting on Monday.
‘’We are like one hundred and something in our department, most of us do not have the money, everybody is just crying going up and down begging.’’
‘’ I went to the HOD and told him that my father had an accident and that he should pity me and allow me pay next semester, he said he was not in charge of that and that I should go and find means of getting the money.’’
‘’They should be considerate, many people are complaining, many are afraid of losing their admission because of the hostel fee, they managed to pay their school fees and acceptance fee, that is ₦65,000 and they are now requesting for ₦40,000, it’s unfair.’’
They maintained that payment of hostel fee should not be made compulsory as many of them preferred living off Campus while some had their residential homes close to the school. The students also regretted that efforts of the past executive of the students’ Union Government, SUG to stop the act yielded no result.
‘’The former SUG President was to protest about it and he was tortured and expelled from school. Is not good, so they are all afraid because this is a new Rector, you may try to protest and you will be a victim . They are all final students and don’t want anything that will affect their education’’.
‘’They want all the ND1 and HND1 to be in hostel and you get to find out that even after paying the ₦40,000, the hostel accommodation will not be enough.’’
They appealed to the state government and relevant authorities to intervene in the matter which was not only detrimental to their educational pursuit but was capable of forcing them to indulge in wrong doings to get the money.
When contacted through telephone, the Enugu State Commissioner for Education , Professor Uche Eze, said he was not in a position to comment on the issue and referred Radio Nigeria to the Rector of IMT.
Efforts to meet with the Rector for comments proved abortive as he was said to have embarked on an official trip while his Deputy was in a prolonged meeting as of the time Radio Nigeria visited.
UZOAMAKA ONWU