FG ASSURES KING’S COLLEGE PARENTS OF STABLE FEES UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT PLAN

The Federal Government has assured parents and students of King’s College, Lagos, that the proposed management arrangement involving the King’s College Old Boys Association will not lead to an increase in school fees. The Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, gave the assurance on Wednesday in Abuja while addressing concerns surrounding the agreement between the government and the old boys’ association.

Alausa explained that the arrangement was designed to bring additional resources into the management and development of the school without transferring its ownership. He stressed that King’s College would remain under government ownership despite the proposed partnership with the King’s College Old Boys Association.

The minister said the implementation of the agreement would be closely monitored through clearly defined key performance indicators to ensure that all parties fulfil their responsibilities. He added that the Ministry of Education had established an implementation and monitoring team that would conduct unannounced inspections of the school to assess compliance with the agreed standards and obligations.

Alausa acknowledged concerns raised by unions and other stakeholders, saying the government remained open to discussions and would consider suggestions capable of improving the implementation of the arrangement. He explained that the deterioration of infrastructure across the nation’s Unity Colleges had accumulated over several decades and could not be addressed immediately through government funding alone.

The minister again ruled out any increase in school fees, saying the Memorandum of Understanding contained provisions aimed at protecting the interests of both the government and students. He also encouraged journalists to visit King’s College and other Unity Colleges to independently assess their facilities and conditions, particularly amid the controversy surrounding the proposed management arrangement.