The rising cost of education in Nigeria has become a pressing national issue, affecting families at all levels of learning—from primary to tertiary institutions. Many parents are struggling to keep their children in school as tuition fees, textbooks, and other essential learning materials become increasingly unaffordable.
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According to a report by Daily Trust, parents in cities like Jos are facing an excruciating dilemma: feeding their children or paying their school fees. With inflation skyrocketing and wages stagnant, education has become a luxury many can no longer afford.
Parents Voice Their Struggles
Daily Trust also mentioned that Salis Adam, a concerned parent, lamented the financial burden of schooling his children.
“The high cost of education affects children directly. If you look at the prices of learning materials, many cannot afford them, and learning without these materials cannot be successful,” Adam said.
He further highlighted that the government’s failure to provide affordable public education has forced parents to rely on private schools, which are both expensive and often below standard.
Similarly, Magdalene Matkwap, another parent, decried the school policies that force families to buy new textbooks every academic year.
“My sister bought textbooks worth N190,000 last year for her first child, and this year, the school insists her second child cannot use them. This is a serious problem,” she said.
Education Stakeholders Warn of Dire Consequences
Principals and school proprietors in Jos have attributed the escalating cost of education to rising operational expenses, inflation, and inadequate government funding.
Auwalu Inusa, the Principal of Rikkos Community School, warned that if the government does not intervene, the future of Nigeria’s education system will be in jeopardy.
“The cost of living in general has skyrocketed. Running a school requires heavy spending on staff salaries, school maintenance, and other necessities. This forces schools to charge higher fees,” Inusa said.
He further warned that the inability of students to afford quality education would result in a future workforce filled with inadequately trained professionals, which could be detrimental to national development.
Experts Call for Government Intervention
Education experts stress that unless immediate steps are taken, the rising cost of education will have severe implications for Nigeria’s development. Emmanuel Dang, a lecturer at the Department of Economics Education, University of Jos, warned that the nation’s economic progress is directly tied to the quality of its education system.
“No economy can develop beyond the development of its educational system. Education is free in principle, but in reality, there are numerous associated costs. If these costs continue rising unchecked, the country will suffer in the long run,” he said.
According to Dang, Nigeria’s education sector remains underfunded. “The national budget allocated less than 6% to education, far below the UNESCO benchmark of 26%,” he pointed out.
Call for Subsidies and Support for Parents
Stakeholders insist that the government must take urgent steps to alleviate the financial strain on parents. Suggestions include subsidizing school fees, providing free learning materials, and enacting policies that regulate private school charges.
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Philanthropists and well-meaning individuals have also been urged to step in and support struggling families to ensure that children do not drop out of school.
As Nigeria continues to grapple with economic challenges, the future of millions of children remains uncertain. Unless swift action is taken, the cost of education may push an entire generation out of school, with far-reaching consequences for the nation’s progress.
