BACK TO SCHOOL: Parents Sigh As School Costs And Textbook Prices Rise

Back-to-school season is in full swing as the new academic year draws near, especially when parents rush to make last-minute purchases.

Worry, however, hangs in the air amid the customary back-to-school rush in Nigeria due to the recent economic difficulties made worse by the elimination of the fuel subsidy and the inflation sweeping across all sectors.

Findings show that primary school tuition before the sudden economic collapse varied between N35,000 and N50,000 per term.

The secondary school fees used to range between N65,000 to N150,000.

Inflation has dramatically raised these numbers, though, and parents of children in elementary school now have to deal with a considerable rise of between N75,000 and N120,000 per term.

Similar to how the price of textbooks and uniforms has now reached an unsustainable level.

Many parents are feeling unhappy as a result of this sharp increase in education-related costs.

As she bemoaned the situation, Funmi Omoniyi, a single mother of three, said "the fees are higher, the cost of books has nearly doubled, and every day." The cost of living has gotten out of hand.

"How can I meet my fundamental necessities at home if I spend more on education? How do I feed my kids; this is killing me.

The elimination of the fuel subsidy, according to another parent who expressed similar annoyance, "has had a spiral effect on almost every aspect of our life, including education."

The limitations placed on our children's hopes and desires by these financial difficulties, he remarked, was depressing.

Numerous families are using a range of coping mechanisms to deal with the situation. They are minimizing needless spending and keeping to strict budgets.

A head teacher at one of Nigeria's private schools emphasized that the decision to raise tuition was not taken lightly and was influenced by a number of outside circumstances.

She stressed that despite popular belief, private schools are not exempt from the nation's current economic problems.

However, the head teacher understood the struggles families were having because of the recession.

"Rising inflation, escalating operational costs, increased salaries for teaching staff, and the need to maintain high-quality education standards have all contributed to the need for fee adjustments.

"These adjustments are essential to ensure the continued provision of quality education and the overall sustainability of the schools," she stated.