Parents and guardians in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) are expressing growing concerns over a sudden and substantial increase in school fees across both public and private educational institutions. This development comes at a time when the nation is grappling with economic challenges stemming from the removal of fuel subsidies, significantly impacting the cost of living for citizens.
In separate interviews with the News reports on Monday, parents voiced their worries and the financial strain this fee hike is causing. Mr. Victor Okoye, a civil servant and a father of four, revealed that he previously paid N150,000 per child, totaling N600,000 for his four children’s education. However, he is now facing a doubled fee of N300,000 per child, amounting to a staggering N1.3 million for his entire family’s education. To meet this new financial burden, he anticipates having to borrow from a bank or alternative sources.
Mrs. Abiemwese Moru, also a civil servant and a mother of two, echoed the sentiment, describing the situation as unbearable and challenging. She urged government authorities at all levels to consider salary increases for workers to help them adequately support their families.
Mr. Maharazu Ahmed, another civil servant, proposed a government intervention to address the escalating tuition fees. He suggested that the government should subsidize these fees by establishing a benchmark for school charges. This standardization would enable effective monitoring, preventing sudden and exorbitant fee increases that hinder access to education for economically disadvantaged individuals. Ahmed also called for the implementation of the Federal Government’s education loan scheme to provide financial support to students in secondary and tertiary institutions.
Ahmed emphasized the importance of financial planning, encouraging parents to budget wisely to meet their educational expenses, as education remains a crucial necessity for their children.
In contrast, Mr. John Amebo advised parents to carefully manage their expenditures and enroll their children in schools that align with their financial capabilities, thus avoiding unnecessary debt burdens.
