Parents, represented by the National Parent Teacher Association of Nigeria (NAPTAN), are urging President Bola Tinubu to intervene and put a stop to the increasing tuition fees and other charges imposed by government-owned schools. They express concern that the continuous rise in fees, along with other increased costs in various sectors like fuel and electricity, is putting a heavy burden on families.
Adeolu Ogunbanjo, the Deputy National President of NAPTAN, appeals to the President to urgently intervene and prevent further tuition fee hikes in public schools. He emphasizes that while they support the President’s move to remove the oil subsidy, the simultaneous increase in other fees is putting an overwhelming financial strain on parents and their children.
In addition to their call for action on school fees, the parents also provide advice on addressing the cost of fuel in Nigeria. Ogunbanjo suggests that encouraging modular refineries could help reduce petroleum product prices and bring relief to the citizens. He advocates for setting standards for those operating such refineries to ensure proper regulation and effectiveness.
The recent increases in fees have affected both federal unity colleges and universities. For instance, the University of Lagos recently raised its fees from N19,000 to N190,250. This situation has sparked apprehension among parents who fear that the forthcoming primary and secondary school sessions in September will present challenges for many families in coping with the escalating costs of education.
Academic staff unions, including the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), have also expressed concerns about the government’s introduction of the Student Loan Scheme, predicting that it could lead to further tuition fee hikes. They raised doubts about the scheme’s ability to effectively support indigent students and criticized the repayment methods and timelines.
Parents are now urging President Tinubu to take swift action to alleviate the increasing financial burdens on families, especially with regards to school fees, in order to ensure access to quality education for all Nigerian children.
