The University of Calabar has declared a significant increase in tuition fees for undergraduate students, amounting to over 100%. This development was conveyed in a statement released by the institution’s spokesperson, Mr Effiong Eyo, and made available to the media in Calabar on Monday.
The decision to raise tuition fees was reportedly made during an emergency meeting of the university’s Senate held on Friday. The implementation of the fee adjustment is scheduled to take effect in the 2022–2023 and 2023–2024 academic sessions.
According to the statement, the revised fees for non-science courses indicate that freshers, returning students, and final-year students are now required to pay N111,000, N91,500, and N114,000, respectively. Additionally, a third-party dues component of N36,500, N21,500, and N21,500 is applicable to each category.
For science courses, the new fees are set at N155,000, N125,000, and N148,000 for freshers, returning students, and final-year students, with corresponding third-party dues of N38,500, N21,500, and N21,500.
Before the increment, the tuition fees for an average student, depending on their department, were N64,050 for freshers, N52,050 for final-year students, and N49,500 for returning students.
The university’s management justified the fee hike by citing current economic realities and the necessity to uphold the academic standards for which the institution is renowned. This announcement has stirred reactions and discussions among students, parents, and stakeholders within and outside the university community.