An announcement sent out by the executives of the Education Students Association of Nigeria (ESAN) at around 10 pm on March 3, 2026, regarding an increase in the Teaching Practice fee from ₦5,000 to ₦20,000, sparked reactions from the students of the faculty.
The announcement stated that the new fee followed negotiations with faculty management and covers both the Teaching Practice exercise and logbooks. According to the statement, the initial amount proposed by the management was ‘significantly higher’, and ₦20,000 was presented as the final agreement.
In an interview, Ebrume Israel, the Welfare Officer of the Education Students Association of Nigeria, explained that the increment was proposed to cover logistics and welfare-related expenses during the Teaching Practice exercise.
‘It is to cover transportation costs and welfare. The school no longer funds the faculty,’ he said.
When asked why the university had previously funded the exercise but no longer does so, he stated that he was unaware of the reason.
‘Teaching Practice isn’t included in the school fees breakdown,’ he added.
According to him, the faculty executives attempted to negotiate with management to reduce the financial burden on students.
However, many students did not take this development lightly. Some described the increment as ‘excessive,’ ‘insensitive,’ and ‘financially burdensome,’ especially given Nigeria’s current economic realities.
Praise, a Part 2 student from the Institute of Education, said her reaction was mixed when she heard the news.
‘I was sad about it but also somewhat reassured because I believe the executives will do something about it,’ she said.
Many students argued that the proposed increment will place an additional financial burden on them, especially given the costs already associated with the Teaching Practice exercise.
Adedayo, a Part 3 student from the Department of Arts and Social Sciences Education, believes the increase is unfair.
In his words, ‘It’s not fair because some students even struggle to get transport fare to the schools where they observe their teaching practice. We are not getting paid for this service we are rendering,’ he said.
Similarly, Comfort, a Part 2 student from the Department of Educational Foundations and Counselling, noted that students come from different financial backgrounds.
‘We all come from different families, and all fingers are not equal. Some might not be able to afford it due to the increase because some students haven’t even paid their school fees, talk more of ₦20,000 for teaching practice,’ she explained.
Due to the numerous complaints of students across the faculty, an emergency meeting was held on the 4th of March, 2026, between the faculty executives, students and management. This meeting led to a reduction of the fee from ₦20,000 to ₦15,000, although the decision is currently temporarily frozen pending an official announcement.
Some students have, however, suggested alternative solutions to reduce the financial pressure.
Favour, a Part 2 student from the Department of Educational Management, suggested a lower amount.
‘I would suggest a reduction to ten thousand naira,’ she said.
Joshua, a Part 4 student from the Department of Science and Technology Education, emphasised that the Teaching Practice exercise is an important component of teacher training and should remain accessible to all.
‘The TP exercise models and reforms future teachers. The ₦20,000 fee is a lot, especially for students already struggling with costs like transportation, feeding, instructional materials, school fees, and accommodation. The school should consider subsidising the amount so everyone can participate,’ he stated.
However, the President of the Faculty, Kumapayi Daniel, disclosed that discussions with management are still ongoing. According to him, the executives are working towards securing a further reduction in the proposed fee.
As the situation progresses, many students are hopeful that continued dialogue between faculty management and student representatives will lead to a more favourable outcome.
At the moment, the temporary freeze on the decision leaves students awaiting an official announcement regarding the final cost of the upcoming Teaching Practice exercise.