Unity schools should remain as national assets
Recently, hundreds of parents and staff of King’s College, Lagos took to the streets with placards reading “King’s College is not for sale” and “Federal Government, we say no to concession.” Their anger was directed at a proposed plan to hand the management of one of Nigeria’s most prestigious federal government colleges to the Old […]
Hundreds of parents and staff of King’s College in Lagos protested against a plan to transfer the management of the prestigious federal government school to the Old Boys Association (KCOBA). They demanded that the school not be sold or given away, emphasizing that it belongs to all Nigerian children, not just alumni. The school, established in 1909, was created to produce leaders of character and learning for the nation, and its purpose should not be reduced to a "cash cow" due to budgetary concerns.
The protesters urged the Federal Ministry of Education to provide a better response, questioning whether the government plans to concession all Unity Schools and what safeguards exist for admission, fees, staff welfare, and standards. The Old Boys Association, while commendable, lacks the legal, financial, and administrative capacity to run a federal institution accountable to the Nigerian public.
The Trade Union Congress suspended industrial action following a meeting with the Minister of Education, but the government should engage with unions and stakeholders through mutual respect, the law, and the national interest.
Written by urgent.news from Daily Trust's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
