Olufemi Oguntoyinbo, an APM senatorial candidate for the Oyo Central District, argues that raising registration costs for NECO and WASSCE will exacerbate the number of children leaving the school system in Nigeria. In a statement released Thursday, he called on the federal government to permanently abandon these plans.
While the administration recently announced a temporary suspension of the fee hikes, Oguntoyinbo believes the proposal should be scrapped entirely. He contends that increasing financial burdens is inappropriate while most citizens are currently struggling to afford basic needs. He stated that the government has a fundamental duty to educate its people, making the decision to raise exam fees counterproductive.
According to Oguntoyinbo, many families already lack the financial means to keep their children in school, and the current dropout rate is already rising. He credited the efforts of wealthy individuals who provide support to underprivileged students for preventing an even more severe crisis.
