…NAPTAN Says Fees Rose 30-40% as NUT Urges Parents Not to Withdraw Children
As primary and secondary schools resume across the country, Nigerian parents and guardians have raised economic and security concerns amid the latest fuel price increase and new bills awaiting them for the new academic session.
CDA News Nigeria reports that the President of the Lagos chapter of the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS), Otunba Yusuf Alaka, said in a recent statement that private school owners should not be blamed for the increase in fees. “In fact, the increase ought to be higher than that if the cost of living would be taken into consideration in full force. The increase we complained about, that is 40 per cent, is small if we are to go the whole hog,” he said.
CDA News Nigeria gathered that the Board of Trustees of the National Parent Teacher Association of Nigeria (NAPTAN) noted that parents were already groaning under the economic burden of paying school fees and purchasing books and other educational materials. “School owners have increased fees by between 30 and 40 per cent, and many parents are finding it difficult to cope because of the economic situation in the country,” the Chairman of NAPTAN, Deolu Ogunbanjo, had said.
In the same vein, the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) called on parents and guardians not to be discouraged by the economic situation. “Yes, things are tough. The economic situation is challenging and many people are struggling, but that is not an excuse to withdraw children from school,” the NUT had said in a statement.
On security, the Federal and state governments said they had beefed up security in schools, noting that security agencies had been mobilised for heightened vigilance, especially around unity colleges and their immediate environments. The Federal Ministry of Education said the safety and well-being of students and staff remained central to the Federal Government’s commitment to providing a secure and conducive environment for teaching and learning.
But speaking to Daily Post, some parents lamented the high cost of living, especially the hike in fuel prices. A parent, Peter Attah, said it would be quite unfortunate for him to earmark about N10,000 on fuel every day to take his child to school and back home. “I have decided to save myself needless stress by contracting a tricyclist in my neighbourhood to take my son to and from school,” he said.
On security, Attah urged parents, pupils, students, teachers, administrators, and other stakeholders to promptly report any security concerns, unsafe conditions, damaged facilities, and health-related issues to the appropriate authorities. Another parent, Ekoja Otache, urged the Federal Government to construct a perimeter fence around every school in Nigeria, regardless of location, to protect schoolchildren from any impending attack and kidnapping.
Another parent, Esther Adigwe, expressed concern over the security arrangements in public boarding secondary schools, especially those located in remote areas. “The most disturbing thing is the porous nature of the schools; the majority are without perimeter fencing. How about schools in the rural areas of this country? The government should endeavour to construct fences, employ more security operatives and ensure their adequate welfare,” she said.
Also speaking, Sesugh Tersoo, a parent, stated that privately-owned schools should avoid being too exploitative, stressing that every Nigerian child has the right to quality education. “It is, however, disheartening that some private school proprietors are not considerate but are taking advantage of the situation in the country to inflate their fees. How would average Nigerians cope? These school owners should allow the poor to breathe,” he said.
Source verification: Original reporting based on statements from NAPPS Lagos President Otunba Yusuf Alaka, NAPTAN Chairman Deolu Ogunbanjo, the Nigeria Union of Teachers, the Federal Ministry of Education, and interviews with parents, as published by Daily Post Nigeria.
Editorial Policy: CDA News Nigeria is committed to accurate and balanced reporting on education and social matters.
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