The Management of the University of Calabar (Unical) held a meeting over the week when the decision to increase tuition fees was reached.
In the statement made by the University’s PRO, Mr Effiong Eyo, the increment review of the tuition fees was decided at the emergency meeting of the University Senate on Friday.
The release showed the implementation of the upward review takes effect from the 2022/2023 and 2023/2024 academic sessions.
However, it was discovered that due to influx of newly admitted students, returning students and the final year students for the non science courses will have to pay N111,000, N91,500 and N114,000 respectively.
They are also required to pay N36,500, N21,500 and N21,500 respectively as third parties dues. Moreso, students for the science courses was increased to N155,000, N125,000 and N148,000 respectively for fresher’s, returning students and final year students.
Similarly, they will pay N38,500, N21,500 and N21,500 respectively as third parties dues.
However, in the early hours of Monday, Students of the institution protested by taking up placards following the hike of tuition fees as well as other charges asking the management to reconsider some of its decision.
Some inscriptions on the placards include, return to the old fees, bring back our old fees/ charges , We can’t afford the news fees, UNICAL SUG , wake up ” amongst others.
The student matched round the school premises and took their protest to the Main gate of the school causing traffic gridlock along Etta-Agbor and Mary Slessor road in calabar Municipality LGA.
Although, before the increase, the tuition fees for an average student, depending on the department, was N64, 050 for fresher’s, N52,050 for final year and N49,500 for the returning students.
However, the school authority explained that the increase was based on the current economic stance and the need to maintain the university’s academic standard and reputation.