As primary and secondary schools across the nation commence a new academic session, many parents and guardians are facing the added challenge of tuition fee increases, according to findings by LEADERSHIP Data Mining Department.
These fee hikes are occurring at a time when families are grappling with shrinking disposable incomes due to soaring inflation in the prices of goods and services nationwide, driven by the removal of petrol subsidies.
Parents of tertiary institution students are expressing concerns about significant tuition fee hikes in some Nigerian universities. These universities attribute the 100 to 200 percent fee increases to inadequate financial support from the government and the high inflation rate.
Despite the government’s efforts to implement scholarships for underprivileged students, many students remain uncertain about their educational prospects.
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Furthermore, tensions are rising in various universities as students voice their dissatisfaction with recent fee hikes and other charges, staging protests nationwide. For instance, students of the University of Jos recently took to the streets to protest increased fees and service costs imposed by the institution. Led by the Student Union Government, they demanded an immediate reversal of the fee hikes, emphasizing the economic hardships faced by Nigerians and the exacerbation of the situation by further fee increases.
Similarly, at the University of Lagos (UNILAG), tensions escalated as the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) supported students’ plans for protests. NANS issued a 48-hour ultimatum to the University of Lagos management to reverse fee hikes and refund affected students. NANS also called on all tertiary institutions and Unity Schools across the country to refrain from raising school fees and threatened nationwide protests. This stance was announced during a press conference held at the International Press Centre, Lagos, following the disruption of their peaceful protest by the police at UNILAG.
Prior to this, NANS had protested a more than 300 percent increase in school fees at the Edo State-owned Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma. The students demanded an immediate fee review for the sake of peace.
Rising living costs and operational expenses are limiting access to education, making it unaffordable for many parents. Private schools have increased fees for primary and secondary students by over 300 percent, raising concerns that a significant number of pupils may not return to school. Some parents are considering enrolling their children in public schools, while others are uncertain about the next steps, raising fears of a surge in the number of out-of-school children.
In Kano, the government has stopped all private schools in the state from increasing their school fees and is introducing new rules to govern school fee increases during the re-registration process.
While some parents appreciate the halt in private school fee increases, others argue that the fee hikes are a response to the prevailing economic situation characterized by rising inflation and currency depreciation.
In Lagos State, some schools have increased their fees, while others have made marginal or no increases. School officials justify these fee hikes by citing the challenging economic climate.
In conclusion, the increase in tuition fees in Nigerian schools, both public and private, is a response to the current economic challenges, including high inflation rates, rising living costs, and the removal of petrol subsidies. While some parents appreciate the efforts of authorities to curb fee hikes, others believe that private schools, in particular, need to increase fees to cover rising expenses and maintain the quality of education. The situation underscores the need for a balance between affordability and quality education in the country.
