The crisis surrounding King’s College, Lagos, has escalated following the closure of the school by workers protesting the proposed 35-year concession of the institution to the King’s College Old Boys Association.
The development adds to growing opposition to the Federal Government’s plan to transfer the management of the 117-year-old school to its old students’ association.
Parents and students had earlier protested against the concession, insisting that the institution should remain under government control. They also threatened legal action and warned that students could be prevented from resuming for the new academic session if the government failed to address their concerns.
The proposed arrangement has generated strong disagreement among stakeholders, with critics expressing fears that handing over the management of the school could affect its affordability and accessibility to students from less privileged backgrounds.
The King’s College Old Boys Association, however, has maintained that the arrangement is not a sale or privatisation of the institution. The association says the partnership with the Federal Government is intended to rehabilitate and modernise the school while improving infrastructure, teacher development, technology, scholarships and students’ welfare.
The association has also announced a N100 billion endowment fund as part of efforts to support the school’s development.
Despite these assurances, opposition to the concession has continued to grow. Parents have questioned the decision-making process and called for greater consultation with teachers, parents and other stakeholders before any major change is implemented.
The dispute has now extended to the workforce, with workers shutting the school as the controversy over the 35-year concession intensifies.
The situation has further raised concerns about the future of the institution and whether the proposed arrangement can proceed without resolving the objections of workers, parents and students.
With the new academic session approaching, pressure is mounting on the Federal Government to engage the affected stakeholders and find a resolution to the dispute surrounding the future management of King’s College.
