Exodus Hit Awka Catholic School Over 43% Fee Hike, Parents Protest Against Manager
Aquinas Model Nursery and Primary School managed by St Thomas Catholic Church, Agu Awka was deserted on Tuesday as parents and guardians refused to return their children and wards for a third term in protest of a 43 percent increase in fee hike.
The decision by parents and guardians to withdraw their children was informed by what they considered as unfair and unilateral fee increase by the Manager, who was posted to the school recently.
The parents and guardians most of whom are parishioners of St Thomas Aquinas Parish thronged the school to protest the abnormal increase and demanded the removal of the Manager for his draconian and exploitative attitude.
The parents said Pascal, who returned as Manager, recently communicated the increase in a letter delivered to them through the pupils.
They described the situation as unusual and demeaning for critical stakeholders as parents and parishioners.
They said the manner of increase and its communication was contrary to the tradition in which the school management and parents met in a PTA towards the end of the third term to discuss and make decisions ahead of the next session.
The concerned parents said rather than treat their letter of appeal to rescind the fee hike, the School Manager dismissed it as insulting during mass warning that he was ready to put aside his Cassock and descend to the gutters with them if they dared it again.
“During his tenure as Manager, he increased fees twice and when he came back, both parents and the children knew there would be a problem because all he is interested in is money money money.
“The Manager has by his action disbanded the PTA which has supported the school for over two decades because no meeting has been held under him and we are ignored during critical decisions that affect us and our children.
One of the parents said, “we are therefore calling on Most Rev. Dr Paulinus Ezeokafor the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Awka to Manager to order because he has returned to supervise the shutting down of Aquinas Model Nursery and Primary School.
“It is more worrisome that the increase is not for the renovation of dilapidated primary school structure or better welfare of the poorly paid staff but for the construction of a secondary school and repayment of loan uncured for the project,” they said.
The protesters said the secondary school project had been the basis for fee increase over the past eight years.
During his first administration, his major impact in the school was an increase of fee without any improvement in the condition of the learning environment.
Another parent said the draconian attitude of the manager will not only collapse the school but paint an ugly image for the Church.
“We not sure His Lordship is aware of the level of lawlessness being exhibited the Manager this is not the school where my children have attended for about 10 years
“If he is building a secondary school, he should look for money and complete it then fix his price, we are not supposed to be punished or bear the burden of the project.
“Management has been asking us to contribute to that project for over eight years yet it is at the foundation level.
“Parents have not committed any crime because they want to train their children in Catholic School,” they said.
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In what looks like a warning of crackdown on parents, a notice signed by the on Manager earned that any parent or guardian found complaining about the hike or instigating others would face sanctions.
The said children of parents involved in any form of violence or gangsterism would be expelled from the school.
“We are committed to the safety of our pupils and property of the church and school.
The Church/school premises are a sacred place and should be respected.
“Please note that we will take very legitimate actions to protect Aquinas Model School and St. Thomas Aquinas Parish facilities, public please note,” he said.
The parish priest had intervened in the matter but the parents insisted that if nothing positive came out of the meeting, they would be left with no other option than to escalate the matter to the Bishop of the Diocese.
It is important to note that the entire Agu Awka does not have any public primary and secondary school serving the residents of the area.
