Parents and guardians, accompanied by their children, have staged a protest against the College of Education Warri, COEWA Nursery & Primary School in Warri, Delta State, due to the school’s decision to raise fees and book costs.
The demonstrators gathered outside the school gate, expressing their dissatisfaction.
The protesting parents argued that the substantial increase in book prices for their children is unreasonable. They issued a threat to withdraw their children from the school unless the Delta State government, led by Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), takes action.
One parent, Tonukarin Dabona, revealed that COEWA Nursery & Primary School had raised the cost of books for his children from ₦29,500 to ₦52,000, alleging that the school had made both the books and the payment mandatory for each child. Dabona stated that if the school authorities do not reverse the book price hike, parents will not allow their children to return to school and urged Governor Oborevwori to intervene.
Another parent, Mr. Preye Suowari, who has three children in the school, expressed the unhappiness of parents regarding the fee and book cost increase. He explained that parents were protesting the management’s decision to raise fees and book prices.
Suowari pointed out that the books, sold at high prices by the school, are not original but photocopies bound together for parents. He emphasised the frustration caused by the “outrageous” book prices, calling on the Governor to allow parents to purchase books for their children from anywhere in the state, rather than requiring them to buy from the school, as is the practice at COEWA Nursery & Primary School.
Other parents who claimed to have already paid their children’s fees demanded refunds from the school’s authority so they could enrol their children in private schools in Warri. They threatened legal action if the school failed to refund their money.
Efforts to reach Dr. Oyovwi, the Provost of the College of Education, Warri (COEWA), for comment were unsuccessful at the time of this report.
