By Esther Onyegbula

Tension is rising among parents of students at Federal Technical College (FTC), Ijebu-Imusin, following a controversial hike in the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) levy, which has sparked widespread disapproval and calls for urgent dialogue.

A group of parents, under the banner of the “Supportive Parents Forum JSS1- SS3 ,” that came to being as a child of necessity when the school social media platforms has been closed, issued a formal letter to the PTA Executive headed by Mr. Ayopo somefun, also copied the school principal, expressing strong opposition to the increase in the annual PTA levy from ₦10,000 to ₦12,000, as stated in the school’s third-term newsletter and reinforced by the PTA Public Relations Officer, Mrs Ogundipe Grace-Abike on official communication platforms.

In the letter dated April 12, 2025, and signed by fifteen parents representing the forum described the increment as “painful” ” authoritarian ” and “unconstitutional,” accusing the PTA Executives of bypassing due process and disregarding the consensus reached during a general congress meeting held in December 2024 where the PTA levy was increased by 100% from 5,000 to 10,000.

According to one of the parents, Mr Oluwafemi Ologbon-ori , who spoke on behalf of others, “The recent hike did not follow the required process as stated in our PTA constitution,” referencing a previous increase from ₦5,000 to ₦10,000, which they claim was properly discussed and democratically agreed upon at the time.

Another parent, Mrs Gisanrin kafayat Afolake lamented, “All school WhatsApp forums were locked following heated arguments surrounding the levy increase since March 28, 2025, effectively silencing dissenting voices and violating our constitutional right to free expression.”

“This did not give us the space to express our fundamental human right of freedom of speech,” he added. The group urged the PTA to reverse to the agreed levy because there is no justifications for the increament and that the Memo from the Federal Ministry of Education was expressly clear on this issue.

The group call on the PTA Executives to take a cue from what is happening in other Unity schools around where a reversal has been done amicably, mentioning FGC, Odogbolu now paying 7,000, FGC, Sagamu 8,500 and FGGC Akure still paying 7,500. While calling for a reversal of the hike pending a broader stakeholder discussion, the parents emphasized their commitment to a peaceful resolution.

The group asked the PTA Executives to convene a roundtable meeting to address the grievances and prevent further escalation.

“We are not ready for any chaos. All we stand and care for is nothing but the peace the school is known for,” they said but the PTA Executives is asking for the contrary because the chairman Mr Ayopo shomefun replied back on the locked school platform that we are bunch of losers and not recognize by the constitution, hence, they went ahead to upload the controversial 12,000 on student portal which necessitated the group writing an appeal letter to the Permanent Secretary, FME, for quick intervention.

As of the time of reporting, school authorities have yet to respond to the demands.The development highlights growing tensions between stakeholders in public education funding and management, as economic pressures continue to affect Nigerian families.