The inability of the Bayelsa State Government to pay the school fees of students on their scholarship scheme studying at King’s College, Ghana, may force the school to send the students back home.
The students are said to be having a tough time over the development with the school authorities, as they are been threatened with expulsion.
A human rights activist, Mr Aluzu Augustine, has expressed concerns following a letter addressed to the students by the Registrar of the school, Mr Simion Isekpo, threatening to expel the students if Bayelsa State government failed to pay their fees.
The letter read: “Management of the university wishes to inform all students being sponsored by the Bayelsa State Scholarship Board that should your outstanding and current fees not be paid by October 15, 2016 deadline, the university would have no choice but expel you from the university on October 16, 2016.
“Also, affected undergraduate and postgraduate students who have completed their programme would not be allowed to participate in the forthcoming convocation in November 2016.”
Sending A Delegation
Already, it is learnt that the Ghanaian school had, in adherence to the deadline, barred the affected students from participating in school activities, but had yet to issue a circular expelling them.
“We have been told that Governor Seriake Dickson is sending a delegation to our school. But for now, we have been stopped from taking parts in school activities.
“Those of us in hostels have been asked to vacate. We are just hanging around waiting for the governor”, an affected student, who requested not to be named, claimed.
A spokesman for the governor on Students’ Welfare, Mr Owoupele Jeremiah, has confirmed that Governor Dickson had directed that funds should be released for the immediate payment of the students’ fees to enable them participate in examinations and access their certificates.
Jeremiah said: “Today, the governor told me he had graciously given approval and directive for release of funds to quickly address the payment issues for Kings College, Lincoln and universities in the UK whose certificates are pending.
“A well-structured payment plan has been established to be implemented phase-by-phase by the board.
“This will allow the government to address them so that their certificates can be released to enable them use same for their various endeavours.
“While some may find this development with scepticism, it is intended to let the public know that the government is responsive and willing to deal with issues of development in human capital.
“The resources are lean but with a pyramid of preference, the needs will be met eventually. The scholarship board will do the needful and the affected students will receive their privileges restored in the affected institutions”.