With the start of a new school year just around the corner, parents are scrambling to stock up on supplies.
However, in Akure, the capital of Ondo State, anxiety prevails despite the customary back-to-school excitement. This is because of the recent economic hardship, which has been exacerbated by the loss of fuel subsidy and the inflation that is sweeping across all sectors.
SAREWA HAUSA reports that primary school tuition was between N35,000 and N50,000 each semester before the recent economic slump.
Secondary school tuition and fees averaged between N65,000 and N150,000 a year.
Inflation, however, has caused these sums to skyrocket, and today parents with children in elementary school can expect to pay anywhere from N75,000 to N120,000 per semester.
Similar increases have occurred in the price of school supplies and uniforms.
Many parents are downhearted because of the dramatic increase in costs associated with educating their children.
The fees are greater, the cost of books has virtually doubled, and everyday expenses have spiraled out of control,” Funmi Omoniyi, a single mother of three, told DAILY POST.
How can I pay for food and shelter if I invest more money in my education? It’s really difficult to provide for my family.
Mr. Aliyu, another frustrated dad, emphasized that “the removal of fuel subsidy has had a spiral effect on almost every aspect of our life, including education.”
“It’s disheartening to see the dreams and aspirations of our children being constrained by these financial challenges,” he remarked.
Many households are using a wide range of coping mechanisms to deal with the current crisis. They are minimizing unnecessary expenditures and keeping to tight budgets.
One of Akure’s private school heads, Mrs. Bola Daunsi, explained that the decision to raise tuition was not made lightly but was instead prompted by circumstances beyond the school’s control.
Daunsi argued that the current economic difficulties being seen across the country are also being felt by private schools.
But the principal did say that she understood that families were struggling because of the economy.
“The need for fee changes has been prompted by a number of factors, including rising inflation, rising operational costs, rising compensation for teaching staff, and the requirement to uphold rigorous educational standards.
She argued that these changes were necessary to maintain the long-term viability of the educational system as a whole.
Meanwhile, a Ministry of Education employee who requested anonymity said that tuition hikes at publicly funded institutions are prohibited by state law.
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