By ERNEST VINCENT
As the new school year begins, Nigerian parents are facing significant challenges in paying their children’s school fees, sparking widespread concerns about access to quality education.
According to reports, school fees have skyrocketed in recent years, with some government schools increasing fees by up to 400% in the past decade.
The situation is further exacerbated by the country’s economic woes, including soaring inflation and currency devaluation.
“I’m withdrawing my son from school because I can’t afford it,” lamented Ngumut Jacob, a parent.
He revealed that his children’s fees had increased from N26,000 to N43,000.
Another parent, Mrs. Rose Gyang, expressed similar frustration, stating that she was finding it increasingly difficult to keep up with the rising costs.
Experts attribute the increase in school fees to various factors, including inflation and currency devaluation, adding that the Naira’s significant value loss has affected import-dependent school supplies and operational costs.
However, Mrs Job, the Head Teacher of ECWA Private School, Rayfield, explained: “The decline in public education funding means budgetary allocations to education remain below UNESCO’s recommended 15–20%, which does not speak well of the Giant of Africa.”
In addition, she said, “Rising cost of living, utilities, transportation, are not commensurate with teachers’ meagre salaries, and as such, teachers may not give their best. The privatisation and commercialisation of education is increasingly seen as a business, especially in Plateau State, and school owners most times don’t handle issues to do with money with a human face, because of the harsh economy”
Parents and stakeholders are urging the government to implement policies that would alleviate the financial burden on families and ensure access to quality education.
“Education is a right, not a privilege,” declared Mr. Godwin Luka, an advocate of educational reform.
“We need to allocate more resources to public education, ensuring that it is of high quality and accessible to everyone,” he added.
“The rising school fees have forced many families to make difficult choices, including withdrawing their children from expensive schools or taking loans to pay fees,” lamented Mr Ishaya, adding that “the situation is particularly dire for low-income families, who are struggling to make ends meet.”
As Nigerian governments grapple with the challenge of providing affordable education, parents continue to bear the brunt of rising school fees, highlighting the need for systemic solutions to address the issue.