Students of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, Ondo state have come out in their hundreds to protest the “NO SCHOOL FEE NO EXAM POLICY” introduced by the school management in the beginning of the second semester.
Students who came out in their were seen carrying sticks, walking in numbers, burning woods on the street while expressing displeasure over the policy.
AAUA INSIDER gathered that the policy will restrict student’s who are yet to pay their Tuition fee for the 2020/2021 academic year from writing the first semester examination which commenced today.
A 400 level Student of Mass Communication, Joseph Babatunde who spoke to AAUA INSIDER said that the management was expected to have implemented the policy through other means and not restricting students from sitting for the second semester examination.
“There’s a way things should be done. The management should have found other means of implementing this policy to avoid this protest. The management should have pushed it to the clearance period since students cannot avoid clearing their results before graduating. When it’s the clearance period, student’s won’t shout nor complain and will have no choice but to pay up. Actions like this demands wisdom.
“Imagine if the Management have implemented wisdom on this issue, the school environment will be at peace. The management cannot tell us that they don’t know students will protest. Application of force isn’t needed, you can’t keep going the usual way and expect a different result. It is unfortunate that the management has not learnt from the 2019 protest which is not the first of its kind in this institution,” he said.
AAUASU DISTANCE SELF A DAY TO PROTEST
The Adekunle Ajasin University Student Union in a press release on Sunday said the union was not involved in planning any protest, the union also said it was insensitive to protest, connoting their unacceptance for the protest.
Part of the circular read in part, “The students union leadership under comrade Ogunsanmi Kolade, wishes to inform the students populace that the union is not yet involved in the planning protest currently waving on social media as information reaching us has it that some unidentified person’s are mobilizing students for protest on issue relating to the examination bid to commence tomorrow, 22nd November, 2021
“We advise student’s to distance themselves from any protest that does not involve the students Union. The students community should remain calm and prepare for their examinations and those with their Tuition fee should endeavor to pay and Carry out all necessary registrations in due course”
MANAGEMENT CANCELS POLICY
The management of Adekunle Ajasin University have cancelled the ” NO SCHOOL FEE, NO EXAM POLICY”.
In a circular obtained by this reporter, the management directed all students to be allowed to sit the first semester examinations for the 2020/2021 academic session.
Part of the circular read, “The management received and considered the passionate plea of the student Union leadership on the above subject matter, management has directed that all students be allowed to sit for the first semester examinations for the 2020/2021 academic session.
“For emphasis, 100 level Students who are yet to complete the processes of getting their matriculation numbers are to use their jamb registration Numbers to sit for their examinations. However all students are still enjoined to complete their registration processes before conclusion of their examinations”.
This reporter observed that a protest of this nature occurred in 2019 where 200 level Students were hindered from writing their Computer Based Test (CBT) without payment of Tuition fee.
All these occured a year after students protested the 500 per cent increase of the institution Tuition fee.
Pictures from the protest below:
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Caleb Ijioma is an award winning Journalist that has a burning desire for Youth Empowerment, capacity building, education, Human Rights etc.
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