Two weeks into the new academic session across the country, many parents and guardians are still grappling with the payment of school fees in private schools.
With the economic situation that arose from federal government’s policies, especially fuel subsidy removal and the management of the naira leading to rise in the prices of goods and services, most school owners have jerked up their charges.
Reports have it that fees were increased between 30-50 percent in most cases.
Apart from tuition fee, fees for books, and school transport service, the common charges observed in most schools whose websites were accessed were for extra classes, utilities, medical services, vocational subjects, clubs, societies, sports and stationery.
It was also observed that most schools charge what they called maintenance levy and capital works levy.
Most private schools also charge more than the recommended amount for examinations conducted by the West African Examinations Council, WAEC, and the National Examinations Council, NECO. WAEC collects N18,000 for its West African Senior Secondary Certificate Examination, WASSCE, but some schools charge up to N40,000.
The National President of the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools, NAPPS, Chief Yomi Otubela, said at a forum that there was no way his members would not increase school fees, but that they are mindful of the economic reality in the country.
The Deputy National President of National Parents/Teacher Association of Nigeria, NAPTAN, Chief Adeolu Ogunbanjo, advised parents not to kill themselves over putting their children in schools they cannot afford.
To him, the economic realities of the time should teach any discerning mind to know his or her bounds.
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