Education
SOME parents in Enugu metropolis have expressed worry over what they described as unbearable increase in tuition fees and levies charged by many private schools in the state.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that some privately-owned nursery, primary and secondary schools increased their tuition fees and other levies when compared to what obtained during the last academic session.
In an interview with NAN, on Monday, a parent, Mr Solomon Agbo, in Enugu, said that the development had placed additional financial burden on many households.
He regretted that the tuition fees increase in Enugu had added to the financial burdens of parents already stretched by the rising cost of living.
“I was surprised to hear from my children’s school principal that the school fees of my daughter in junior secondary 2 is now N150, 000 as against N120, 000 we paid last year.
“I tried to ask what the reason for the increment was and the principal said that it was the directive from the proprietor and that he does not have much explanation on the matter,’’ he said.
Agbo said it was important for government to look into arbitrary hike in fees and levies in private schools because of the socio-economic burden it was putting on parents and guardians.
A housewife, Mrs Uchenna Alekeozor said the new tuition fees charged by a popular private school in Independence layout area of Enugu had made the school out of the reach of average parents.
“Last term, we paid N85,000 per child for my three children, but this second term the school said that the fees is now N110,000 per child.
“Government should intervene and regulate these charges because education is supposed to be social service and not profit oriented venture which most school owners are turning it to,” she said.
A civil servant, Mrs Theresa Ogbodo, said she had already decided to transfer her two children to a public school because she could not afford new tuition fees charged by her children’s school.
“The school my children attend raised their fees to N150, 000 per term as against N115,000 we paid last term, I cannot cope with that considering my take home salary,’’ she said.
Some private school proprietors and administrators had defended the increment, insisting that it was due to the prevailing economic realities.
They cited inflation, rising utility costs, staff salaries and the need to maintain quality learning environments as key reasons behind the upward tuition fees review.
Mrs Nneka Udeaku, a school proprietor, explained that the fees adjustment in her school was aimed at sustaining operations without compromising standards.
“We understand the concerns of some parents, but schools are also grappling with the same economic pressures.
“We cannot deliver quality education if we do not have competent teaching staff members and the right instructional materials,” Udeaku said.
Another school proprietor, Mr Chris Agbo, argued that with the increments, private schools still bear heavy burden in bridging the gap created in educational services by government.
He also lamented that the private schools did not receive subvention from government.
Agbo said that some private school owners are running at a loss, insisting that investment in education venture is capital intensive.
He maintained that without the adjustments in fees, most schools would collapse.(NAN)
A.I
April 25, 2026
Tags: Mr Solomon Agbo Mrs Theresa Ogbodo