FRENCH VILLAGE INCREASES TUITION AGAIN
It has become rather expedient for me to bare my mind on this rather pressing issue as the relevant authorities and stakeholders have not summoned enough courage or better put, are taking their time to express what they feel and think about the increment of the tuition of the Language Immersion Program (LIP) for the French students of the Nigerian universities at the Nigerian French language Village (NFLV).
The increment, communicated on the 30th of October through the Punch newspaper, shows an increase of approximately 35% from the about #55,000 paid by the previous 2011/2012 set to #75,000. The reason for the ‘Kilimanjaro’ increase is yet unknown as the director of the institution Prof. Samuel Aje or any member of the administrative body is yet to give a tangible explanation for the barbaric increment.
It is to be noted that the institution in question (NFLV) was created by an act of parliament in 1991 to lessen the burden of students travelling abroad in order to get themselves accustomed with the French language, so by default, the NFLV is a federal institution so the tuition should not be toyed with anyhow. The record stands that this is not the first time such an event is occurring under the Prof. Samuel Aje led administration which started in 2005. It is reported that he has increases the tuition for about five times since his taking over. An institution that receives bursary from the federal government to run its daily activities, do not pay its own workers as that is done also by the federal government should have little business with the tuition but rather focus on the day to day effective and efficient running of the institution. Well, maybe liberty should be given to the French for Special Purposes (FSP), a department of the institution that caters for the immediate need of admirers of the French language.
It should be recalled that 2010, there was an outburst by students protesting the poor state of amenities as provided by the institution. It’s obvious that event has now produced any ‘good’ fruit as the reasons for the outcry have not been clinically addressed, in effect there has been a downslide margin of the number of students that register with the institution as most universities now prefer to take their students abroad where they can get value for their money. An institution that has lost its goodwill need not increase the value for its services (except if certified better) if it still wishes to be patronized. The administrative body should please adhere to the status quo of helping to lighten the burden of having to study a foreign language like French and not burden the students as its recent action suggests.
This appeal is coming on the heels of the difficulties faced by most of the French students when partaking in the Language Immersion Program (LIP). The Year Abroad Program (YAP) also LIP, forms a crucial part in the completion of the degree program for French language students of students of universities and colleges of education alike, as the students would not be allowed to graduate from the institution. Some self-sponsored students, parents and guardians are unable to meet up with the financial requirements for the LIP.
We hereby call on all stakeholders of the NFLV, the French embassy in Nigeria, the French consulate in Nigeria, Alliance Française in Nigeria, the vice-chancellors of universities, the head of departments of French language in universities and also the federal government to delve into the critical matter as required. They should please effect a reduction in actual sense or help subsidize the fees as it is weighty on the part of the students. It is also not a coincidence that an institution that just increases the tuition fees is also planning a Fund raising slated for the end month in celebration of the 20 years existence of the school, an event that took place last year as the institution was founded in 1991. We therefore implore the relevant authorities to checkmate the affairs of the NFLV as these actions are deliberate and are targeted to scam the entire populace.


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And wld u bliv dat phcn has
disconnected village power, I jus learnt
dat today o... And I wonder wat we r
goin to face, and I have it on gud
authority as of thursday dat
portharcourt will not be in village next
year...
And also the village is waitin for a bill
that will make village compulsory for all
french students and dat has passed the
First reading aS at october,,, do you
know how hellish that place will be if
dat move is successful, we will have
8boys in a room and maybe 6 gurls to
1...Goodluck!