“We wish to appeal to you to hit the ground running by sanitising the Unity Colleges across the country, in a bid to upscale the standard and get desired results.

“It has come to our attention that some parents have allegedly resorted to cheating centres, also known as special centres, to gain an unfair advantage during the entrance examination. We urge you to direct the National Examinations Council (NECO) to emulate the integrity demonstrated by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) in conducting the examination.

“Upholding the sanctity of the entrance examination will ensure that unity schools are populated by deserving students, who would contribute positively to nation building.”

The statement further urged the Federal Government to take a holistic approach to the funding and maintenance of the colleges, in a bid to reduce the financial burden on parents.

It noted that the dearth of teaching and non-teaching staff in the colleges was another source of concern to parents, as this had further increased their financial burden, by way of stepping in to employ such staff, to fill existing gaps.

According to them, there is a need for the government to consider the PTA-employed workers, who work in collaboration with their counterparts employed by the government, to sustain the standard.

“It is worrisome that some of these staff employed by the PTA have been hopeful for employment conversion for over a decade. This measure would significantly reduce the financial burden on parents, and ensure the continued delivery of quality education.

“We also want to appeal for a downward review in boarding fees. We are aware that the Federal Government often subsidises food for our children. However, we also urge the appropriate agency to monitor this to ensure that the intervention manifests in the welfare of our children.”

On the recently reviews fees, the group noted that with the recent hike in pump prices of petrol and prevailing economic difficulties faced by many families, the increase may force a lot of children to drop out of school, thereby truncating their quest for education.

“Quality education is the cornerstone of national development, and Unity colleges are one of the few avenues where children of the masses can assess this form of education, regardless of their socio-economic background.” The statement said.

The Southwest zone of Unity Colleges comprises 18 Federal Government schools.