As primary and secondary schools in Nigeria open their doors for the first academic term after a lengthy (third term) break, parents and guardians across the country are groaning, with the weight of a harsh economy and increase in fees.

The resumption of schools came at a time Nigerians are battling with the harsh realities of an economy that seems to be out of control.

Fuel price has skyrocketed to a staggering N615 per litre, a stark contrast to the N197 per litre during the previous academic term.

This surge in fuel cost is a direct result of the federal government’s removal of fuel subsidy, a move that sent shockwaves throughout the nation.

The first term of the academic year is traditionally a period of transition for many students and pupils.

New classes mean new uniforms, textbooks, and additional expenses for parents who are already stretched thin.

However, what has compounded this situation further is the revelation that many schools within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and across the states have quietly increased their fees and logistics charges.

A prime example is a top secondary school located in Orozo, an outskirt of Abuja, which has announced a substantial fee hike from N2.8 million naira per term to a staggering N3.87 million.

Similarly, a popular secondary school in Jabi, Abuja, has raised fees for Junior students from N3.8 million naira to 4.5 million naira.

The news of this increment has left many parents frustrated and anxious about how they will cope with the financial strain.

Some parents have voiced their concerns, urging both the government and the school proprietors to reconsider their decisions.

They called upon the government to take immediate action to mitigate the adverse effects of the subsidy removal, which have aggravated an already dire economic situation.

The parents also urged school proprietors to be considerate in their approach to fee adjustments.

Sarah Thompson, a civil servant and resident of Karshi Abuja, lamented that it’s understood that schools need to cover their costs, but pleaded for transparency and a fair balance between quality education and affordability.

She said, “It’s heartbreaking to see the fees for our children’s education go up so drastically. We’re already struggling with the increased cost of living, and now this? It’s a heavy burden.

“Every year, it feels like we’re being squeezed even more. The rising prices of school materials and the sudden fee hike are making it incredibly challenging for us as parents.”

Another frustrated parent, Fatima Ahmed, a tailor, lamented thus, “I want the best education for my child, but it’s becoming increasingly unaffordable. These rising costs for textbooks and school fees are pushing us to our limits.

“The government needs to step in and address these issues. It’s not just about fees; it’s about the overall cost of sending our kids to school. We can’t bear this alone.”

A mother of triplets, Enuwa Ochefu, who is a petty trader told our reporter that, “As parents, we are left with no choice but to make sacrifices in other aspects of our lives to ensure our children can continue their education. It’s a tough situation.

“Education is a fundamental right, and it’s disheartening to see it becoming a luxury for many. We hope that the authorities take notice of our struggle.”

Meanwhile, Miss Israel Kwer, the proprietor of Mt Moriah Group of Schools, Abuja, shared her perspective on the matter in an interview with DAILY POST on Sunday.

She revealed that her school had been facing difficulties paying its staff since the removal of fuel subsidy.

Despite the challenging circumstances, she stated that her institution had not increased its bus fees.

She said, “We want to be transparent about our fee adjustments. The rising market prices, like textbooks going from 2000 to 5000, have compelled us to make these changes.

“However, we’ve taken the extra step of not increasing our bus fees despite the fuel cost rising to N617 from last term’s N195 per litre. We kindly request their understanding and support as we navigate these challenging financial circumstances together.”

A parent in Enugu State, Chief Chris Eze, on his part, said it was high time both the government and the school proprietors exhibited sensitivity and responsiveness to the plight of parents.

He said, “Education is the cornerstone of a nation’s progress, and it’s essential that we work together to ensure it remains accessible and affordable, particularly during these challenging economic times.

“The worst part of it is that the government is living in denial; I recall when news filtered in that school fees for unity schools had been increased to N100,000.

“The Federal Government quickly issued a circular telling the members of the public to discountenance the news.

“But as we speak, they are paying no less than N130,000; this is excluding hostel requirements.

“It is difficult for parents to cope with this kind of situation; we had expected that the government would consider the plight of parents but that has not happened,” he lamented.

Meanwhile, it was observed that some parents are withdrawing their wards from private schools owing to their inability to pay the adjusted fees.

As primary and secondary schools in Nigeria open their doors for the first academic term after a lengthy (third term) break, parents and guardians across the country are groaning, with the weight of a harsh economy and increase in fees.

The resumption of schools came at a time Nigerians are battling with the harsh realities of an economy that seems to be out of control.

Fuel price has skyrocketed to a staggering N615 per litre, a stark contrast to the N197 per litre during the previous academic term.

This surge in fuel cost is a direct result of the federal government’s removal of fuel subsidy, a move that sent shockwaves throughout the nation.

The first term of the academic year is traditionally a period of transition for many students and pupils.

New classes mean new uniforms, textbooks, and additional expenses for parents who are already stretched thin.

However, what has compounded this situation further is the revelation that many schools within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and across the states have quietly increased their fees and logistics charges.

A prime example is a top secondary school located in Orozo, an outskirt of Abuja, which has announced a substantial fee hike from N2.8 million naira per term to a staggering N3.87 million.

Similarly, a popular secondary school in Jabi, Abuja, has raised fees for Junior students from N3.8 million naira to 4.5 million naira.

The news of this increment has left many parents frustrated and anxious about how they will cope with the financial strain.

Some parents have voiced their concerns, urging both the government and the school proprietors to reconsider their decisions.

They called upon the government to take immediate action to mitigate the adverse effects of the subsidy removal, which have aggravated an already dire economic situation.

The parents also urged school proprietors to be considerate in their approach to fee adjustments.

Sarah Thompson, a civil servant and resident of Karshi Abuja, lamented that it’s understood that schools need to cover their costs, but pleaded for transparency and a fair balance between quality education and affordability.

She said, “It’s heartbreaking to see the fees for our children’s education go up so drastically. We’re already struggling with the increased cost of living, and now this? It’s a heavy burden.

“Every year, it feels like we’re being squeezed even more. The rising prices of school materials and the sudden fee hike are making it incredibly challenging for us as parents.”

Another frustrated parent, Fatima Ahmed, a tailor, lamented thus, “I want the best education for my child, but it’s becoming increasingly unaffordable. These rising costs for textbooks and school fees are pushing us to our limits.

“The government needs to step in and address these issues. It’s not just about fees; it’s about the overall cost of sending our kids to school. We can’t bear this alone.”

A mother of triplets, Enuwa Ochefu, who is a petty trader told our reporter that, “As parents, we are left with no choice but to make sacrifices in other aspects of our lives to ensure our children can continue their education. It’s a tough situation.

“Education is a fundamental right, and it’s disheartening to see it becoming a luxury for many. We hope that the authorities take notice of our struggle.”

Meanwhile, Miss Israel Kwer, the proprietor of Mt Moriah Group of Schools, Abuja, shared her perspective on the matter in an interview with DAILY POST on Sunday.

She revealed that her school had been facing difficulties paying its staff since the removal of fuel subsidy.

Despite the challenging circumstances, she stated that her institution had not increased its bus fees.

She said, “We want to be transparent about our fee adjustments. The rising market prices, like textbooks going from 2000 to 5000, have compelled us to make these changes.

“However, we’ve taken the extra step of not increasing our bus fees despite the fuel cost rising to N617 from last term’s N195 per litre. We kindly request their understanding and support as we navigate these challenging financial circumstances together.”

A parent in Enugu State, Chief Chris Eze, on his part, said it was high time both the government and the school proprietors exhibited sensitivity and responsiveness to the plight of parents.

He said, “Education is the cornerstone of a nation’s progress, and it’s essential that we work together to ensure it remains accessible and affordable, particularly during these challenging economic times.

“The worst part of it is that the government is living in denial; I recall when news filtered in that school fees for unity schools had been increased to N100,000.

“The Federal Government quickly issued a circular telling the members of the public to discountenance the news.

“But as we speak, they are paying no less than N130,000; this is excluding hostel requirements.

“It is difficult for parents to cope with this kind of situation; we had expected that the government would consider the plight of parents but that has not happened,” he lamented.

Meanwhile, it was observed that some parents are withdrawing their wards from private schools owing to their inability to pay the adjusted fees.

Vice Chancellor (VC) of the University of Calabar, Prof Florence Obi has revealed some of the measures taken to address the sexual harassment crisis rocking the law faculty of the institution.

Recall that the Dean of Faculty of Law, Prof Cyril Ndifon was suspended after some law students embarked on a protest, accusing him of sexually harassing them.

Speaking during an interview with Channels Television on Saturday, August 26, Prof. Obi said that the management of the school carried out a “clean sweep” of the law faculty, ensuring that all the principal officers at the faculty are women.

The V.C also said that they’ve put in place measures to curtail cases of sexual harassment between lecturers and students of the institution. She said;

“We have put up measures to see that, going forward, such occurrences are curtailed. You can’t completely eradicate sexual harassment in schools because it happens everywhere, every country. It does happen but the impunity, the serial abuse, the way and manner in which this is done, is where it becomes a problem.

“In my university, we have put up so many measures that we know, going forward, nobody in the Faculty of Law will hold students to ransom and make any female student so vulnerable to having amoral relationship.

“We have put about seven committees in place. There is a committee to assign students to supervisors, because there are accusations that the suspended dean took all female students to supervise and that made them vulnerable to his advances. Now, there is a committee to handle that.

“There is a committee to look at mobilisation to law school which students alleged in their protest letter to us that they (staff) use that as an intimidation, as a way to getting some of them to succumb, that if they don’t accept, that they may not be mobilised to law school. We have set up a committee to do that.

“There is a result vetting committee. We have also made a clean sweep in the faculty where we have the acting dean, for now, a woman; the sub dean, a woman; the faculty officer, a woman; we want to see that the students are protected.”

The management of the University of Lagos on Friday, confirmed an increment in the tuition fees of its undergraduate students.

It explained that the hike has become necessary, because of the prevailing economic realities in Nigeria.

This was contained in a statement signed by UNILAG’s Public Relations Officer, Adejoke Alaga-Ibraheem.

Alaga-Ibraheem noted that the management has deliberated with its stakeholders (students, parents/guardians, staff unions, and alumni, among others), that there will be adjustments in the tuition fees for new and returning undergraduate students.

It partly read, “The adjustment in fees which will take effect from 1st Semester, 2023/2024 Academic Session, is in view of the prevailing economic realities and the need for the University to be able to meet its obligations to its students, staff, and municipal service providers among others.

“It is also pertinent to note that the University has not increased its obligatory fees in recent years.

“Management, therefore, seeks the kind understanding and support of students and other stakeholders with the assurance of its commitment towards ensuring that students get the best learning experience.”