Scores of students of Rivers State University protested over the “no school fees, no exam” policy from the management of the institution.
The protest by the students caused heavy gridlock along the Ikwerre and Azikwe Roads Tuesday as the students marched from the university to the Rivers State Government House chanting various solidarity songs.
They carried placards with inscriptions like “no school fees, no exam is evil”, “our families are ravaged by flood”, and “RSU management allows us to write exams”.
The protesting students were later addressed by a top police officer after they resisted efforts by security operatives to stop the protest.
One of them said the time given to pay the fees was short.
“What we ask is just time, we know we are going to pay our fees,” the student said.
“We are not asking the state government to pay school fees for us.
“The time frame was too short; we were not informed on time. This protest will not end until the state government tells us what we need to hear.”
“The school should release a memo for everything we want,” another student said.
“What do we want? We want them to reschedule exams for all the students to restart their exams because currently some of us can’t concentrate or read well.
“And secondly, reduce the school fees. The school fee is too much.
“All we are asking is for more time, give us an extension.
“There are floods in our communities and our parents struggling. Things are very hard.
“The economy is bad. Rivers state government should give us more time.’’
The president of the National Union of Rivers State Students, Monmon Precious, one of the protesting students, said they are on a peaceful walk against the “no School fees, no examination” policy.
“It is very appalling and very bad that Rivers State government is not taking care of the educational sector,” he said.
“We are pleading to pay little by little based on the economic situation in the country. And school fees are on the increase and the government should come to our aid.’’
The final-year students of the Rivers State University started their second-semester examination on Monday, and students who are yet to pay their school fees were asked to leave the examination halls.
