The 20th of September, 2015 marks 106 years since the creation of undoubtedly Nigeria’s foremost leading secondary institution. Over the course of the century, Kings College Lagos has produced an array of public servants, professionals, global leaders, and game-changers who, in one way or another, attribute some of their success to the strong moral foundation and pedestal that the institution provides its students. Its core values of truth, honesty, obedience, patriotism, integrity and chivalry resonate with a large percentage of the individuals among us who salute ‘Floreat!’ to each other. Its exceptional staff stronghold, coupled with the backing of an active alumni association, and the fact that it is a Federal Unity College continues to attract the best minds from across the country. Kings College is indeed a remarkable institution of which anyone is proud to bear the brand.

Sadly, the solid brand is no more what it used to be. In recent times, it has failed to churn out the standard caliber of gentlemen it once produced. It can no longer proudly assert its position as the foremost secondary school in Nigeria. It has been in the news lately for all the wrong reasons: from dilapidated infrastructure to inadequate boarding facilities and poor management of the school. In all earnest, yes, these are some of the problems it faces among others. However, in my opinion, these are all symptoms of the basic problem: overpopulation. With an average of 470 students per set and 55 per class, the school is densely overpopulated. Inevitably, there is immense pressure on resources and this leads to every other problem it faces.

The dense overpopulation is as a result of the cringe to be associated with Kings College. A great number of people want to have their children or wards enrolled into the institution and would resort to any lengths to do so. They bribe and coerce, blackmail and lobby, all in order to gain admission into the institution. Fingers point to the current principal, Otunba Dele Olapeju, as the mastermind behind the admission scandals that warp Kings College Lagos. I tend to believe otherwise and here’s why. When a parent approaches you with a call from someone in a higher position of authority than you are, you have no option but to oblige their request. When you only receive less than 20% of the allocated amount of money for the school every year, you are forced to be entrepreneurial and find other means of supporting the college fund. When there are incomplete projects around the school, and you hardly have enough money to cater for the students’ wel lbeing, you tend to admit students whose parents would willfully complete these projects for you. These little discrepancies here and there are what have led to the bloated images of corruption that the PKC is accused of, and consequently, the overpopulation of the school. To make him seem a victim of circumstance is impossible as he is equally flawed by malpractices, especially regarding the very suspicious PTA fees that students are required to pay every term.

Nonetheless, it is imperative to bring into view the role admission-seekers play in the maladministration of the college. As a friend of mine once bluntly stated, “Not everyone can be a king, sincerely, if everyone becomes king, who would be the subjects?” Parents need to understand that the door to Kings College is strictly based on merit and no back doors or windows are open to people who fail to reach the required standards. As such, they should work on their children to reach the standards instead of working on the standards to meet their children. Kings College does not turn boys to men anymore, rather it turns children to boys. You can find 8 and 9 year olds being admitted to JS1 and somewhat expecting the system to mature them. The system is not one that is set to build a child that is not mature enough to work on himself. Kings College in its entirety is a journey of self-realization that one undertakes by himself that the school guides him through to produce a wholesome Kingsman.

Truly, a smaller population would enable Kings College yield more impact on the students it admits. Numerous initiatives by the Kings College Old Boys’ Association and other organisations for its students have failed in the past due to the large population. If there were fewer students as it was in the past, proper guidance would be given to every individual to enable them attain their utmost ability and craft them into fine young gentlemen.
Federal Unity Colleges stand as an embodiment of a government’s dedication to education. Kings College is a foremost federal institution and should remain so. However, I believe that to salvage the school from plunging any further into the abyss, a well-planned public-private partnership deal needs to be struck regarding the administration of the school. As long as the director continues to be produced from within the system, the problems facing the school will remain a constant hindrance. It is high time that the KCOBA steps in as an intermediary to broker such a deal that would allow the director to be selected from outside the civil service, given the near end of the tenure of the current principal, and resolve a way to cut down the population of the school.
In all sincerity, this might be the only solution to save an institution we so dearly love and admire and indeed restore her past glory.
Floreat!

Saeed Malami
KCOB 2015
@ss_malami on Twitter

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