Oko poly reacts to alleged exam fee hike, students’ protest

The management of Federal Polytechnic, Oko, Anambra State, has reacted to a recent protest by students of the institution over allegation of a hike in examination fee.

The students, in a protest last week, had accused the management of imposing a N5,000 examination fee on them.

But in reaction to the protest, the Public Relations Officer of the institution, Mr. Chijioke Ibeziako, denied any hike in examination fee by the new acting Rector of the institution, Dr. Uche Onyegbu.

He said the purveyors of such stories are enemies who do not mean well for the institution, insisting that N5,000 had been the cost of exam fee as approved by the former governing council of the institution.

A press release by Ibeziako, which was made available to DAILY POST read, “This agitation against the examination fee is therefore surprising and clearly portrays the hand of the fifth columnists who do not mean well for the Ag.Rector, Dr. Uche Onyegbu and the entire management and they are bent on sabotaging the system for their selfish and inordinate ambition.

“Exam fee is a statutory fee in higher institutions, and in many institutions, this fee is higher than that of Federal Polytechnic, Oko.

“We frown at the attitude of the president of the Students Union Government of the institution who reneged on the agreement the school management reached with the students body.

“Following a circular released by the SUG President to the students not to pay the examination fee, Management in its characteristic open door policy held series of interactions with the SUG officials.

“As a result, agreement was reached and memorandum of understanding signed by the student union president and Management in the presence of NANS officials for students to continue paying the examination fee.

“Management also assured the students officials that students can continue writing the exam while they pay the examination fee but to the chagrin of the Management, the student union president later reneged on this agreement and released a circular to students that first semester examination already scheduled for commencement will not hold as scheduled and directed students to stay away from school.

“In fact, in the early hours of the morning the examinations were scheduled to commence, he led some students to block the school gate, forbidding students who were coming to write the exams from entering the school premises.

“Nonetheless, the Ag.Rector in order to avoid any crisis directed against using any force to stop the illegal blockade thereby ensuring normalcy and calmness in the Institution.

“The rector’s strong sense of commitment and diligence has promptly resolved persistent challenges associated with exam materials, printing of students results and has achieved ease of doing business on campus.”