The Ogoni Youth Federation (OYF) has called on the Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, to sack the acting Rector of the Ken Saro-Wiwa Polytechnic, Bori (KENPOLY), including the dissolution of the governing council of the institution.
A statement signed by the President of the OYF, Legborsi Yamaabana, said the decision of the school authorities to stop students from writing examinations over non-payment of school fees is barbaric and condemnable.
They said the development had reduced the institution to secondary school, where students are sent away for non-payment of school fees.
According to them, students should be allowed to pursue their studies without any form of interference, as they can be compelled to clear all outstanding fees upon graduation.
The statement read in part, “It is insensitive on the part of the authorities of KENPOLY to be frustrating students they were supposed to help graduate on time.
“This development has reduced KENPOLY to the level of secondary school where students are chased away for non-payment of school fees. This is alien to the tertiary education system, and those who made the decision have no respect for Education.
“Students should be allowed to pursue their Education unhindered and be compelled to clear all outstanding school fees upon graduation and before collecting their certificates. This is how it is practised globally, and I am sure some management staff of KENPOLY benefited from this arrangement.
“The future KENPOLY students, a majority of who are from Rivers State, are being tampered with. Not taking the exams will amount to not going for NYSC with their colleagues from other institutions and repeating an extra year, which involves extra cost and would be double jeopardy for the students and their parents/guardians.
“We, therefore, call on the Governor of Rivers State and Visitor to the polytechnic to not only cause this distasteful decision to be rescinded but to dissolve the Governing Council and sack the acting Rector of the institution.
The group noted that Education is the human right of citizens and not a privilege.
