There was panic yesterday in Eruwa, Ibarapa East Local Government Area of Oyo State as police and students of Eruwa Polytechnic clashed, following their protest against the management of the school.
It was learnt that the students were protesting the dismissal of students of Higher National Diploma (HND) Business Administration and hike in fees charged for late registration.
A source said: “The students were protesting the introduction of late registration fees and dismissal of HND One students of Business Administration.”
The protest, it was gathered did not go down with the management which called in the police.
In the ensuing melee, a male student was shot and a female student had an asthma attack.
The two students are receiving treatment in an undisclosed hospital.
Explaining further, the source said: “The affected HND One students of Business Administration were told to go home after being admitted and paying their fees. They have even been receiving lectures. The school now said they cannot admit them again, telling them to go home and come back next session.”
The source said the school management hinged their excuse on the fact that the affected students studied Public Administration for their National Diploma (ND).
It added that the students insisted that the management gave them go ahead to apply for Business Administration for their HND programme which they complied.
On this premise, according to our source, the students were admitted but were surprised when the management made a U-turn and sent them packing through a notice on the board.
As if that was not enough, while the students were appealing the decision, the source noted that the students requested that the management return all monies, especially school fees, paid to the management.
But they were shocked as the management told them that when they return next session, it will be sorted out.”
The second reason for their protest centered on payment of late registration fees for both the Daily Part Time (DPP) and full time students.
It was gathered that the students were appealing to the management that most of their parents who work as civil servants are being owed several months of salary.
The two sections of students affected under this category are DPP students who pay N37,500 and their full time counterparts who are paying N28,250 as their school fees were billed additional N2,500 as late registration fees and N300 as bank charges.
It was also gathered that students were forced to remain indoors till around 5pm yesterday for fear of arrest while others were detained at Sango police station, Eruwa.
All efforts to reach the management for their reaction on the development proved abortive.
One of the school’s principal officers confirmed the incident but declined to comment on the reason for the protest.
