Low Turnout As Lagos University Screens New Intakes

Lagos State University

The screening of new intakes of the Lagos State University (LASU) Ojo entered its second day on Tuesday, with a low turnout among fresh students.

The low turnout is believed to be connected to the increased fees regime in LASU that sees fresh intakes paying between N190,000 and N350,000 depending on faculty.

The screening of the newly admitted students for the 2013/2014 academic session, which began on Monday, is expected to end on Thursday.

At the university on Tuesday, some new intakes queued up and took their turns to go through the exercise at the MBA auditorium where the screening was being conducted.

The number of students was an improvement on what was observed on Monday, when a correspondent visited the school in the afternoon and there was no queue.

A screening official, who pleaded anonymity, said the turnout was still low in comparison with what was experienced in previous years, but it was still in its second day.

The Dean of Student Affairs, LASU, Kabir Akinyemi, however, said that there was hope that the turnout would continue to improve in subsequent days.

Asked if the high school fees could be discouraging some students, Mr. Akinyemi said short-listed students were already aware of the fees.

"There would be an impressive and better turnout subsequently, since the exercise is still in progress," he said.

Mohammed, the son of late human rights activist, Gani Fawenhimi, had on Monday condemned the fees introduced by the LASU management.

He told some students of the institution who visited him at his Ikeja home that the fees were "very unreasonable". He told the students to embark on peaceful protest against the fees.

Mr. Akinyemi, however, urged prospective students to show up for the exercise and shun deliberate absenteeism.

"In the event of some students missing the exercise, the university management may have to decide on an avenue to re- screen those with genuine reasons before the matriculation on March 28."

The professor said that candidates who did not meet the specified requirements for admission would be screened out during the exercise.

"It is not possible for LASU to admit any student who is unqualified because they need students.

"Any student who does not meet up with the requirement would either have to change the course to that which is suitable, or would be denied the admission," the dean said.

He advised the students to be of good conduct during the exercise and beyond.

(NAN)