Parents deny crack in relationship with Caleb University over fees

The Parents of the students of Caleb University, Lagos State, on Saturday debunked speculation of having running battle with the authorities of the university over school fees.

Penpushing reports that, Vice Chairman of the Parents Forum, Oritseweyinmi Boyo made this known while speaking with journalists alongside cross section of the parents, stressing that there has been no any crack in their relationship with the university management.

The parents explained that the body, Caleb University Parents Forum, has always been impressed with the school management decisions over the years, adding that the parents have been relating with the university management through the body, and at no time was there an unresolved issue that could lead to any crack in their relationship.

The Parents’ Forum Vice Chairman confirmed that some students had paid their accommodation fees in anticipation of resumption, but were   advised by the school management to either carry such fees forward or get a refund.

Penpushing further reports that, Boyo noted that he had personally called on any parent who had paid his or her child’s accommodation fee, to come up with the receipts of such payment for a refund.

The body commended the university management for ensuring no disruption in the school academic calendar with the e-learning initiative, which has enabled the students to interface with their lecturers.

The forum chairman also advised any parent with better suggestions to either channel such through the parents’ forum or directly to the vice-chancellor, and stop making demands on the university.

Penpushing also reports that,he expressed the entire parents’ appreciation to the university management for coming up with a broader platform – “Caleb Connect”, a mobile App, through which parents and alumni can communicate directly with the university, while the second App – “Caleb Watch” takes care of the health and security needs of staff and students.

The parents forum said with the two recently launched mobile applications, the stage has been set for even better communication between the university and its stakeholders, stating  that it was the cordial relationship existing between the parents and the university management that made it possible for the parents to commence the construction of a well-equipped multi-million naira medical centre in the school, which is expected to be commissioned in the last quarter of the year.

The Parents’ Forum treasurer, Mrs Juliana Falodun in her remarks, commended the University for the Effectiveness of the e-learning programme, stressing that with it, the university has been able to do everything online without any hitch.

Penpushing also reports that,some other parents which include  Deaconess Olubukonla Akinrinsola, Engr. Oluwafemi Ajayi, Elder Kunle Kilasho, Mrs Adaobi Ekwempu and Pastor (Mrs) Uche Omitayo corroborated the forum leadership position that the school authority had made it known that it would either make a refund to those who had paid accommodation fees or get it carried forward.

The body appealed to those who were making demands on the university to always get in touch with the school management on any issue for clarification, and advised members to team up with the Parents’ Forum to always appreciate the university management for its consistency in policy direction, ability to maintain the university’s high academic standard, as well as ensuring no disruption in their children’s academic activities in spite of the lockdown.

The parents noted that with the effectiveness of the e – learning programme, the university should not discontinue the initiative even after the lockdown, but merge it with the traditional form of classroom teaching as it had reduced a lot of risk involved in travelling for lectures, meetings, project presentation/ defence and other activities.

Meanwhile, some parents, who disclosed that their children did not pay the accommodation fees and had unfettered access to the e – learning portal, thanked the university management for making available to the students periodic guidelines, and  also for  organising both general training session, college and departmental – level trainings for them to gain a mastery of teaching and assessment tools available on the e – learning platform.