The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has refuted claims of fee hikes in public boarding schools within the federal capital, dismissing reports circulating among parents and guardians.
Dr. Danlami Hayyo, the Mandate Secretary of the Education Secretariat, FCTA, addressed the issue in an interview with journalists in Abuja on Thursday.
Contrary to assertions made by some parents, Hayyo clarified that there had been no increase in fees for students attending FCT public boarding schools.
Responding to the allegations, Hayyo firmly stated, “This is not true; this is not true.” He further explained, “The Minister of FCT, Mr. Nyesom Wike, had even approved the increase in the feeding allowances for boarding schools due to the rising cost of food items. Look at the situation, how much is a bag of rice in the last two years and how much is a bag of rice currently?”
The mandate secretary also rejected claims of mass withdrawals of students from public boarding schools in the FCT, asserting that these institutions are committed to providing quality education at affordable costs, aligning with the means of parents.
“I don’t think there is someone that will remove his children or his son from public school as a result of the feeding cost; I doubt much,” Hayyo emphasized.
Moreover, Hayyo highlighted the remarkable academic achievements of students in public schools, noting that the best-performing student in the 2023 West African Examination Council (WAEC) hailed from a public school.
