It’s very much needed
Owó ni kèké ìyìn rere (A lot of good things rely on money) — Yorùbá Proverb
My Lords, it is great to be back after few weeks off the court, and it is a pleasure to present this topic with glaring answers to you — Is the ‘no tuition, no tests/exams policy’ necessary?
First, I would like to introduce to you the fact that the news of this policy has been in circulation for weeks, which shows that the school management mean business with the policy. However, it was quite surprising when I saw students at various centres who are yet to pay up. It was not days before the test that the school announced the effectiveness of this policy, nor was it weeks before. For about two to three months to the commencement of tests, mails were received concerning this policy and even every faculty, department, laboratory and library in and around the school bore the banner. This simply means that no one, and certainly not my opponent, can plead to ignorance of such policy.
LAUTECH is an institution with quite a number of staff and a lot of projects to carry out, as well as a lot of other commitments. How is the school expected to fulfil all of these if one of its means of sourcing for fund is stagnant? The institution, like many others, run on funds, and it is pertinent that the school receives them at the right time, if it is to carry out all that is required. So, where did unnecessary come in if the school as a responsible body has deemed it fit to inform students of this policy, not days or weeks to test, but months!
Again, is it not the students who clamour for development here and there? It would be hard for any student not to find faults in certain structures or processes in the school. Yes, the school needs to improve on a lot of things, but will they achieve those using stones? Of course, there’s a need for the general and acceptable means of payment: money. That, which the school has asked students to pay on time.
Furthermore, it is known that unless a student wants to forfeit a certain session, he is expected to pay up. This means in the end, all students will pay. If they will eventually pay, why not pay early, at a time that the money will be useful to the school and they will be able to utilise it? Do they expect to go into the test hall where there are no question papers or answer booklets? Or do they expect to make use of facilities which they have not paid for?
That the school has checked its pocket and realised that the early payment is the best option is not a fact to be neglected. The fact to be neglected and deemed unnecessary is the argument that many do not have the money. For them, the school has given enough grace and is still giving the grace to source for it and pay up!
It’s a bit harsh!
Òkun ò kí n hó ruru, ká wàá ruru (Drastic situation doesn’t deserve drastic approach) — Yoruba proverb
Why not tell us you want a massive dropout instead of the policy, which I think is unnecessary. This is a school which is co-owned by two states, Oyo and Osun. Two states which are among the many states finding it difficult to pay workers’ salary. Need I say most of the students of the school are from either state? You don’t expect most of us to pay the tuition fee on the first day of resumption. The school itself is in financial crisis because of the inconsistent payment of salaries by both states.
What makes this policy annoying is the fact that the tuition fee has just been hiked and the school management released a list of debtors not long before then. This is not logical at all. You release a (long)list of debtors, which cuts across all levels, then hike the tuition fee. As if that’s not enough, you make a policy saying ‘NO TUITION FEE, NO TESTS/EXAMS’. My lords, please tell me where in the world is that done? Well, it’s LAUTECH.
This is totally unnecessary, since a student can’t graduate until they pay all their debts. So, why make students waste their years in school by denying them entrance into test and exam hall when you can just choose to not give them result or not allow them graduate until they pay up, which is usually the case.
One more thing the school management didn’t consider is the implication of the policy. Do they not think there might be an increase in crime rate? Don’t get me wrong, even before the hike in tuition fee, or the policy, there have been series of reports of robberies and various crimes, especially in student areas, but why make a policy that may further increase the rate? They might want to have a rethink on that.
My lords, I don’t think the irresponsibility of the government of the two owner states should be suffered for by the students. This policy is only a prove that the tuition fee is what is being used to run the school. If not, explain the sudden hike in tuition fee, and then the (unnecessary) policy.
I know there are universities out there that are paying humongous amount as tuition fee, mostly private, before I chose LAUTECH which is government owned. What do you do about students who pay up before exams, but missed the tests? A make up test would only be a waste of time and resources considering they may want to change the questions. So why the stress? Or what do you do about a student who pay up halfway through the exams? Lots of questions are begging for answers here.
My lords, it will be good for all parties if the school management can review the policy, and find a long lasting way to end her financial mess instead of making a policy that is a massive drop out waiting to happen.
The institution is actually right i’d say: based on face that Attending an institution is never for free u know u have to pay as at due time agreed. It is true indeed that they can withheld on students result but on clear recognition by the institution, I think management noticed a lot of students felt more relieved and relaxation mindset on condition that “I have done all my required courses when am ready i will get my results ” but if the no tuition no exam is brought in it, it will be like a double tension on students implying extra year; extra courses to take . yea some will say bad Gov.s, yea but let’s all remember we all signed an Oath of allegiance.
Well, it’s a two way thing! We have some students in LAUTECH who haven’t paid a dime since their first payment in 100l, not because they’re incapacitated but they’ve spent the money with the theme song’ if I no pay for final year I no go collect certificate’. But on the other side many parents are incapacitated due to non payment of salaries and the increment in the tution fee.
Everything boils down to govt tho! If the govt is faithful to their responsibility such hard policy would not be needed!
But I think for now this policy would save us from another strike till May29 when a new govt emerge in both States
Fact from both ends, but habeeb points should be given much attention. I’m not trying to be biased, but the school can work on several ways to generate sustainable incomes rather than using the student as bait always for their fishes. After all, no one ever goes away with school fee.
The situation of this “NO PAYMENT, NO TEST, NO EXAM”Is getting complicated.
I will plead to the school management to put some student into consideration because fingers are equal and everyone are not born with silver spoon although some student have collected that tuition fee and spent lavishly but an adage said; “Bí elésè bán je ìyà olódodo á baa je níbè”
I suggest if the management can consider 300L-500L to pay for current semester only because some haven’t pay from 200L-500L so,how would you expect them to pay everything once….
Apart from being a victim of the policy.
Not all students spent their tuition, and I can boastfully say that most students that are yet pay is because of this economic kangaroo, disastrous economic breakdown.
I would really appreciate if the management could just go back to our payment history.
Then they’re gonna find out that not all students spent their tuition.
I’ll plead to the management to give all defaulters the grace of this Session
By next session, if we then refused to clear all outstanding balance, the Management can then take up the Policy from where it’s left.
I’m certain that most defaulters would have found means to clear their outstanding balances
There’s also one thing I want to remind the Management of, which is; some defaulters actually spent their tuition, but some are really incapacitated to pay.
Please don’t let’s see this Yoruba Proverb that goes thus;”Ti Eleshe ba njiya, oldodo a ni’pin nibe(where the sinners are being punished, even the the innocents will have their own share from it)” to be the next solution
“Ti a ba nope ki a di’ju ki eni buburu Jojo lo, ti eni rere o fi koja lo a le mo mo.
A Plea From A Defaulter
Weldone guys!
It’s a good policy I’ll say given the current economic situation of both states that co-owns the institution and given that the policy has been made a long while before the commencement of the tests.As argued by the first debater,the school has plenty of staffs and many projects to embark upon and the school fees serves as its major source of funds,so I believe the policy is the best to be adopted.
If we’re being honest then we know that the school is not at fault. You cannot be a student of any institution and not pay for the services you receive. However, the two owner states should be held more responsible even more than the students for lack of funds to run the university. Removing practicality from this situation, the human factor becomes quite clear and understandable. Students can’t pay their school fees if the government that owns the school and also employs their parents refuse to be considerate. The school has tried its best in being patient for a while, the government should do the rest by being the saviour people voted for them to be.
The school needs funds for development and payment of salaries but subventions are not coming through from the two owner states which brought about this policy. Do we also need a reminder that these owner states owe their workers salaries and most of these workers constitute a large number of ladokites’ parents. Some students are now thinking of suicide as an option because they didn’t write tests and there is no hope of writing exams.
This policy is an inhumane act on the part of the school,they need to develop other means to generate revenue for the school and give students and parents peace of mind in this already troubled space of ours.