proffemi:

At the height of the SLS saga, I was one of those crying that it should not be swept under the rug IF $20 billion was missing. Do you know for a FACT that $20 billion was missing? I mean, I would be happy to believe that someone loaned N1B from my dad, and so, owes me that amount. But is it TRUE? We do first have to get to that point first.

Then, what makes you assume that if we had that money, it would all be dumped on education fiam?

Look, lets even forget all of that. What is so wrong in a man paying (A FRACTION!) for what he wants? Can you tell me what is wrong with that?

jaryeh: Not bad o. And that's what we've been doing, but they still want us to pay more, sooner or later, we pay everything. And not that they will use the part they withdraw in anything public service - they load their accounts the more. This we all know. Same thing happened to the fuel subsidy.

rutchiekens:

So because naija govt does not want to its duties I should wake up from what... This is about the people that can't afford to send their kids to private schools...

If Naija govt can't do its basic duties the day the poor decide to revolt even the middle class would tremble in fear.

jaryeh: @proffemi, on the OAU issue, on whose side are you? Ours or theirs? Why?

MOBBDEEP: I don't really mind your calling my view & some other's 'pre-adolescent'.And I'm well convinced that I'm not playing devil's advocate.

Please Sir, can I ask you a question. How much tuition fee do you think will suffice for the public tertiary institutions? I meant the range.

proffemi:

There is a simpler explanation: perhaps Nigerians have always been self-entitled. However, when our population was manageable, we could sustain the illusion from our petroleum. Now that our population is getting out of control, we can no longer afford to continue pretending.

As you noted, this is similar to what happened with the subsidy issue. Where you are wrong is the same as before: you think there is something wrong in asking someone to pay for the value he gets.

I see you are studiously ignoring my question, but I'll pose it again: what is wrong in asking someone to pay some fraction for the value he gets?

rutchiekens: Its been very sensible and realistic... Countries that are not as rich as Nigeria are doing it so why can't Nigeria do it.

proffemi:

I am never one to criticize grammar in an online forum. However, I think the new chatting culture has ruined communication globally (not just in Nigeria). Take your post for example: I am struggling to get the gist of your post, but it's hard going.

Can I suggest you put a little more effort into making your posts easier to understand? Use paragraphs where necessary, and don't underestimate the value of the period (full stop).

proffemi:

Ours or theirs? That is always a simplistic way of looking at things (reminds me of George Bush circa Gulf War).

I am on the side of logic and commonsense.
I am on the side of sustainability.
I am on the side of building a greater Nigeria.
I am on the side that pities students who (reference to iwonbaoko's analogy) want FG to slice up their meat into many worthless pieces.

I expect that at different times, I will find myself supporting either the students or the university administration.

proffemi:

I am never one to criticize grammar in an online forum. However, I think the new chatting culture has ruined communication globally (not just in Nigeria). Take your post for example: I am struggling to get the gist of your post, but it's hard going.

Can I suggest you put a little more effort into making your posts easier to understand? Use paragraphs where necessary, and don't underestimate the value of the period (full stop).

jaryeh: The change has to start from the government because it has all the needed resources. Starting it from us - by introducing tuition and other unnecessary fees - would cut off the development because we do not (and should not) trust them. We would see any of their plans to get from us as another scam - and so it has been.

rutchiekens: Saying the population is getting out of control just makes u a political b:itch and senseless Nigerian...Nothing can get out of control in this world... Cos u are not the one that created the universe.

jaryeh: Ok. What's your say on it?

rutchiekens:

My argument was with Abraham2013 but since u getting head over heels with yourself..... U're welcome..

Here are some countries:

Argentina
Greece
Denmark
Brazil
Sweden
Finland
Norway.

To mention a few

proffemi:

There are certain aspects of the change that will start from government, but this is not one of them.
Let me personalize this matter a bit: do you Jaryeh believe that the government spends up to N500,000 on your education per annum? Since you pay less than N50,000 currently, do you Jaryeh think the government has not done enough by paying N450,000 on your behalf? As someone has asked, do you think it is fair that it is this same you (and not the hairdresser or mechanic) that is demanding for more?

MOBBDEEP: Again @ Prof ( don't mind me Sir )
I will continue to reiterate that the fee/funding is not the fundamental problem!
It sure needs assessment but it is just a side problem.
Fix this & leave corruption + defective accountability + rotten Civil-Service un-tended to, our condition will be more pitiable.

jaryeh:
N450,000? In what way? If ASUU felt we needed more and demanded for it, why can't I?

rutchiekens: The day u figure out the answer to this question... That day would mean your IQ just improved...

proffemi:
No, no, that's not what I meant. You will always find stupid reasoning on both sides of the divide on any issue. I did not mean to imply that anyone who does not see things the way we do is stupid. I always respect logic, even if it is in support of a stance I oppose.


I would rather first deflect that question by asking: how much does tertiary education cost in countries we are "copying"? If we want our education to get to comparable standards, it must cost in the same range.

Lest you think I'm copping out, I'm going to come out and say it: I believe that educating an engineering student (my area) should cost up to N2 million per annum. I AM NOT SAYING THAT STUDENTS SHOULD PAY THAT. What the universities decide to charge per student depends on what FG is willing (and able) to drop on behalf of that student.

As you know, ASUU tried to get FG to pay more last year, but students were mostly opposed to the ASUU strike action. So, the universities are simply shifting up the student's share of the burden to compensate.

proffemi:

I hope you don't think I will shy away from stating my mind because my stand may be unpopular?

I think students are being silly in their demands. They should not argue that N30,000 is too much for tertiary education in 2014 (how can anyone say that, and not slap himself?). They should have focused on the fact that some students cannot afford to pay such.

Your focus should be on how serious the university is about helping indigent students. By most of their utterances and actions, the students have demonstrated that the school showed them too much respect by offering to dialog. Their utterances did not show that they grasp the issues at stake.

proffemi:

Are you saying you do not think you cost FG that much? How much do you estimate is the value of the education you currently get? I think this is the crux of the matter.

PS: sorry I have to leave for a meeting now (just informed). Be assured however that I will return by around noon, so please post away!

jaryeh:
We feel it is outrageous and unjustified. The question is: Why the increment? How much debt has the management ran into while it was collecting "ridiculous fees"? Mr VC said FG's intervention fund has reduced, we asked "how much was it and how much is it now?".

proffemi:

So, in your opinion: corruption in Nigeria, and in the universities is the major problem of the sector?
In your opinion, assuming we could wide out corruption in Nigeria, the universities would immediately get to global standards at the current level of funding?