Authorities of the Federal Science and Technical College (FSTC), Yaba, Lagos State, say all fees charged by the institution are approved by the Federal Ministry of Education.

Additionally, sundry charges including levies aimed at transforming the institution also enjoy the express approval of the supervising ministry. The school’s Parent Teacher Association (PTA), and the FSTC chapter of the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN) are in sync with the management on this issue.

Speaking recently in an interaction with newsmen, against the backdrop of high and unapproved fees alleged by a national daily (not The Guardian), principal of the school, Rev Chris Ugorji, said the publication, which claimed that N217, 300 was charged new intakes, was done in bad faith and intended to dent the image of the institution.

He said contrary to what the publication claimed, boarding students paid N212, 300, while day students pay a total of N157, 800.
 
“We remain focused on delivering quality education to all. Our goal is to transform the college with emphasis on quality,” Ugorji who craved the support of all stakeholders stated, adding that, the school demands an apology from the media organisation for what he described as a “jaundiced” publication.  

Chairman of the PTA, Mrs. Oby Igwillo, who was represented by the vice chairman, Mr. Francis Omotosho, said the PTA levy was used in funding new projects like the 1, 000-bed space female hostel under construction); massive rehabilitation of the boys’ hostel, payment of teachers and other support workers (numbering almost 100), among others.  “The facelift we are seeing at the college is as a result of money. We are renovating the boys’ hostel and decking the female hostel. The returning students paid N30, 000 last session. The new students are paying this development levy once and for all,” she said.  Chairman of ASCSN, FSTC unit, Mr. Abdurafi Quadir, who lampooned the publication said, since rot in public schools was not peculiar to FSTC, Yaba, the media organisation would have done well addressing the state of public schools in the country, and not criticising those struggling to transform their schools with the intervention of the PTA.