Fee Increment causes protest by part-time students in UNIPORT

Part-time 200-Level students of the College of Continuing Education, University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT), have raised the alarm over the increment in fees by the institution.

The students said in Port Harcourt that while other returning students have been asked to pay a reviewed N105,000 for the new session, 200-Level students are to N178,000.

One of the students, Victor Duku, said: “We want the management to consider our plight; we don’t want to drop out of school. The new fee increment is too much for most of us who have nobody taking care of their education. We are part-time students but not all the students are working.”

Other students, including Bright Wometi of the Accounting Department and Iheduru Michael of Philosophy, appealed to the authorities to be lenient and reduce the Year Two students fees to what other returning students are to pay.

But, the Director, College of Continuing Education, UNIPORT, Prof. Stephen Okududu, said the hike was in tune with the increasing cost of running the programme.

He said the college is distinct from the UNIPORT, stressing that the fees do not amount to increment as being protested by the affected students.

Okodudu, however, advised the students to channel their grievances on the matter in writing to the university authorities.