The King’s College Old Boys Association has raised concerns over alleged admission racketeering, over-enrolment, deteriorating infrastructure, student welfare, security and financial accountability at the Lagos-based Federal Government College.
The association also alleged irregularities in the allocation of admission slots reserved for states under the federal character principle, claiming that some slots had been sold to candidates from other states.
The concerns were contained in a statement issued by the Chairman of the KCOBA Board of Trustees, Alhaji Femi Okunnu, SAN, CON, amid the controversy surrounding the proposed transfer of the management and operations of King’s College to the King’s College Education Trust.
KCOBA alleged that there had been an established culture of admission racketeering in which some affluent parents paid money to secure admission for their children.
It further claimed that some candidates admitted through state quotas were from states other than those for which the places were reserved.
According to the association, the alleged admission irregularities contributed to excessive enrolment, with the student population at one point rising above 3,800, despite an estimated carrying capacity of about 1,200 students.
KCOBA said the alleged over-enrolment had placed excessive pressure on the school’s facilities and affected the monitoring and discipline of students.
The association described the alleged admission practices as a threat to merit, federal character and equal access to education, particularly for children from less privileged families.
Beyond admissions, KCOBA raised concerns about the condition of some buildings and facilities within the college.
The association said some facilities had deteriorated to a level that raised concerns about the structural safety of students, teachers and other members of staff.
It also expressed concern over reports of students becoming involved in substance or drug abuse, saying some cases had reportedly resulted in expulsion.
KCOBA called for a combination of discipline, counselling, early intervention and improved welfare measures to address such cases.
The association also highlighted concerns about food insecurity among students, saying Kingsmen had encountered students asking for money on the school premises, reportedly because they were hungry.
It said the possibility of a student going hungry to the point of begging should concern all stakeholders in the institution.
Another issue raised by the association was the use of the college’s Victoria Island campus.
KCOBA alleged that the campus was being operated as a commercial car park for people visiting the visa application centre and other businesses around the Churchgate Towers area.
According to the association, the arrangement exposed the school premises to possible security risks and infiltration by people who had no connection with the college.
It also questioned the transparency of the revenue generated from the car park, alleging that payments were collected in cash without adequate public accounting.
KCOBA called for the matter to be thoroughly investigated.
The association also questioned the management of Parent-Teacher Association levies, alleging that the funds ran into hundreds of millions of naira and were used for procurement and contract awards.
It argued that there should be transparent safeguards where an organisation collects substantial levies and is involved in awarding contracts funded from the same resources.
On technology, KCOBA said it had previously attempted to support the digitisation of the college but that some of its initiatives were not fully implemented.
The association said the experience demonstrated the need for a management structure capable of sustaining investments in technology and other areas of institutional development.
KCOBA also identified teachers’ welfare as a major issue in the proposed transformation of the college.
It said teachers and non-academic staff should be treated as partners rather than casualties of the disagreement surrounding the school’s management.
The association claimed it had engaged some parent representatives and teachers and had assured them that teachers’ welfare would be prioritised, including improved remuneration.
It also announced plans for a N100bn endowment fund, which it said would support scholarships for indigent students.
The association said it had further committed to ensuring that the existing financial burden on parents of King’s College students would not be increased.
The concerns form part of KCOBA’s broader argument for a new management framework for the college.
The association said its objective was to address what it described as systemic challenges affecting admissions, infrastructure, student welfare, accountability and the overall management of the institution.
KCOBA maintained that the proposed arrangement would not transfer ownership of King’s College to the Old Boys Association, but would provide a framework for managing and developing the institution.
The association urged stakeholders to focus on the conditions of the college and the welfare and education of its students, rather than allowing the controversy surrounding its proposed management structure to disrupt learning.
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