6-fold tuition hike at Kaduna State Uni stokes tension

Medical students, who are non-indigenes are now expected to pay N500, 000 while indigenes will pay N300,000.

Students at Kaduna State University (KASU) have kicked against what they termed exorbitant tuition, after the school allegedly increased tuition by nearly six fold.

Daily Trust gathered that the management is said to have increased tuition for new intakes, both indigenes and non-indigenes.

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It was gathered that previously, new entrants who are indigenes paid N23,000 for arts and N27,000 for sciences while non-indigenes paid N33,000 and N37,000 for arts and sciences respectively.

But Daily Trust gathered from new students who have commenced the registration process that the management of the school had reviewed its fees.

Medical students, who are non-indigenes are now expected to pay N500, 000 while indigenes will pay N300,000.

Non-indigenes admitted for nursing and pharmacy are expected to pay N300,000 while indigenes of the state are charged N200,000.

It was also gathered that non-indigene students offered other science courses are expected to pay N220,000, while indigenes would pay N170,000.

Non-indigene students offered admission into arts, education and social sciences are expected to pay N200,000 while indigenes will pay N150,000.

Abdullahi Yakubu Isa, a 500-level student of the university, who is also the Public Relations Officer of National Association of Kaduna State Students said the school environment was tense as returning students feared that the increment may also apply to them.

“We are currently in consultation because the environment is very hot. As students who are used to paying over N23, 000, to wake up and hear that fees have been increased to over N200,000 is a problem, many students are worried,” he said.

He said if the school management fails to reverse the policy, many students would have no choice but to drop out of school.

Efforts to reach the management of the institution to verify the claims failed, as the Public Relations Officer Adamu Bargo had on Wednesday night told our correspondent that he would call him back but did not.

Correspondents visited the PRO’s office on Thursday but he was said to be in a meeting.