Hard times await parents as schools increase fees

School managements across the country are responding to inflation and subsequent rise in the prices of goods and services by increasing their transport and feeding fees.

While officials of some schools confirmed to our correspondent that the measure was to cushion the effect of the increase in fuel price and the attendant rise in the cost of consumables and services, parents and guardians said the development would further worsen their financial standing and ability to respond to other pressing domestic issues.

According to the National Bureau of Statistics, the inflation rate, which rose from 15.6 per cent in May to 16.5 per cent in June, is the highest to be recorded in the country in 10 years.

Referring to the poor state of the economy, many of the administrators said their schools could no longer foot the extra margin for fuelling school buses and providing meals for pupils.

According to the Head, Administration and Human Resources, Mind Builders School, Lagos, Mr. Rotimi Titiloye, the increment in the institution is not surprising to parents.

He said, “The increment in our fees affects only transportation and lunch, not in any other area. The cost of maintenance has skyrocketed. Fuelling school buses and generators is now very exorbitant.  The increment in fuel price from N87 to N140 per litre is almost 100 per cent. The last three months were difficult but we could not go back to the parents. Some of them actually expected it. The only thing was that they were just not sure of the percentage.”

In Edo State, it was learnt that many schools have increased their tuition to cushion the effect of the harsh economy. It was also gathered that some private schools in the state offered incentives to parents in order to discourage them from withdrawing their children.

A parent, Mr. Titus Akhigbe, told one of our correspondents that he would have to pay an additional N30,000 for the tuition of his three children at Justice Group of Schools, located on Upper Sakponba Road, Benin.

Akhigbe added, “At the beginning of every session, there is always a slight increase. I believe there will be another increase when a new session begins. It is because of the situation in the country. One good thing about the school is that when you have four children, one of them will not be required to pay tuition; you only pay other fees.”