Concerned parents of students attending Unity College in Nigeria are urging the Federal Government to reconsider the sudden increase in school fees. They believe that making education accessible to all is crucial in the country. The parents expressed their concerns separately during interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.
According to a circular seen by NAN, the Federal Government raised the fees for new students from N45,000 to N100,000. This increase has caused worry among parents, especially those from low-income backgrounds, who find it difficult to afford such high expenses in the current challenging economic situation.
Mrs. Mitchelle Uzor, a small business owner, expressed her distress over the news. She had been saving and preparing for her son’s admission to one of the colleges in Lagos after graduating from primary school. The sudden fee hike came as a blow to her, and she feels that access to quality education in public schools, like Unity Colleges, is essential for the masses.
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Mrs. Funmilayo Olubiyo, a civil servant, also decried the fee increase, pointing out that the current economic crunch is already burdensome. She believes that the government should take into account the financial constraints faced by low-income earners such as bricklayers, vulcanizers, and petty traders before implementing such policies.
Chief Adeolu Ogunbanjo, Deputy National President of the National Parent Teacher Association of Nigeria (NAPTAN), joined the call for the government to revisit the fee increase. He emphasized that education is crucial for the masses, and making it unaffordable will lead to significant challenges.
In response to the concerns, Hajia Binta Abdulkadir, Director of the Senior Secondary Education Department, clarified that the fee increase only applies to new students (JSS1) for the first term. The fees include expenses for uniforms, books, and other essential requirements. The fees for existing students in JSS 1, JSS 2, SS1, and SS2 remain at N47,000 for the second and third terms, with SS3 students paying N55,000 for the third term and JSS 3 students paying N46,000, both inclusive of boarding fees.
Despite the explanation, the parents continue to call for a review of the fees, as they believe that education should be accessible to all without becoming an undue financial burden on families.
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