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By Austin Oyibode

A massive protest is currently rocking the Delta state school of Health technology, Ughelli.

The students are protesting against 100 percent hike in tuition fees. The state government and school authorities are yet to make policy statement on the students’ action even as lecturers and other staff are locked outside the school premises.

Chairman of the governing council of the Delta state school of health technology, Ughelli, Nelson Ejakpovi, may have run into troubled waters following the ongoing massive protest by students over an alleged tuition hike.

Reports indicate that the aggrieved students thronged out in the early hours of Wednesday, May 24, 2017 demanding for a reverse in the 100 percent increase of the school charges, aside other fees by the school authorities. The students were said to have securely locked the gates of the school, and mounted a barricade to bar the school authorities from gaining entrance into the school premises while those who are already in the school compound were locked in.

They lamented the ordeal they have been plunged into by the education policies of the Governor Ifeanyi Okowa administration, claiming that the policies do not reflect the prosperity for all slogan of the state government.

It was learnt that the school authority had unilaterally increased the school fees from N17,000 to N35,000, a development that the students decried, saying it was contrary to the campaign promise of Governor Okowa.

Chairman of the institution’s governing council, Mr. Nelson Ejakpovi, said: “The situation is receiving attention, I don’t think it’s much to worry about. It all bothered on communication breakdown. Thanks a lot.”

Also, the commissioner for higher education, Mr. Jude Sinebe, said issues at the institution were at the purview of the commissioner for health, Dr. Nicholas Azinge.

When contacted Dr. Azinge said he was at a meeting with the state governor, adding that he would talk later.

Meanwhile, the provost of the institution in Ofuoma-Ughelli, Mrs. Agnes Olojoba, has appealed for calm among the students. However, as at the time of filing this report, lecturers and staff of the institution are still outside the school premises.

• Source: Naij.com