Students shut Cross River College of Health Tech over fees increase

Students of Cross River State College of Health Technology, Calabar, yesterday, disrupted academic and social activities in the school in protest against astronomical increase in fees

The student’s who padlocked and barricaded the school gate said they were no longer comfortable with the way the management of the institution was handling the issue of school fees, adding that they pay for services that are not provided to them. Many of them who spoke in separate interviews 

said their living condition was worse than that of maximum prison inmates as they were banned from cooking inside the school. One of them, Gideon Ajom, said the burden of buying food outside was taking a toll on them and their parents and as they were grappling with that, the school management increased school fees from N40,000 to N52,000 and things are really hard with them (students). His words: “The increase is more than the five percent and their excuse was that the state government 

was no longer funding the school. Now they said we are not allowed to cook in our hostels, everything we eat is bought from outside the school. “On the average, a student spend about N900 a day, that is if you are frugal in your spending and the most disturbing part is that about 80 occupants share just three toilets and this is a health institution.” Another student, Promise Azu said: “Since I entered this college, I have not used or taught how to use computer here, but I have paid for it as 

computer fee is on my receipt.” Efforts to reach the Provost of the school were unsuccessful but an official who pleaded anonymity said the issues will be handled amicably to avoid breakdown of law and order.