Fee hike row: Kaduna college suspends academic activities indefinitely after student’s death

The Kaduna State College of Education, Gidan Waya, has announced the indefinite suspension of academic activities amid students’ unrest over the hike in tuition fees.

According to NAN, Marcus Timothy, the college’s registrar, broke the news in a circular addressed to the institution’s community.

In the circular, the institution said the suspension came into effect following the students’ protests over the planned increase in tuition fees that resulted in the loss of two lives.

It added that despite the suspension of academic activities, staff are expected to report for normal work as required.

“Consequent upon the aborted planned students demonstration last Monday, June 28, government has advised the management to close the college till further notice,” it wrote.

“To this effect, all academic activities in the college are suspended. However, members of staff  are expected to report for their normal work and schedules.”

TheCable had reported how a student of the college was killed during a protest over the decision to increase the institution’s tuition fees by the state government.

In April, the state government had increased tuition fees in all its tertiary institutions. The government had also explained that the move was to enable it to deliver quality skills and training required to tackle 21st-century challenges.

Shehu Makarfi, the state commissioner for education, who announced the directive at the time, had said the national certificate in education (NCE) programmes in COE Gidan Waya was increased to N75,000.

The management of the Kaduna State University (KASU) had last month also suspended academic activities for its undergraduate students indefinitely after a protest over the state government’s decision to increase the tuition fees.