Parents Decry Rising School Fees in Enugu as Private Schools Defend Hikes

ENUGU, Sept 22 – Parents in Enugu metropolis have expressed frustration over what they describe as unbearable increases in tuition fees and levies charged by most private and faith-based schools in the state.

According to reports by the News Agency of Nigeria, many private nursery, primary, and secondary schools have raised their tuition fees by between 20% and 50% compared to the last academic session, further straining households already grappling with Nigeria’s rising cost of living.

Parents Express Frustration

Mr. John Ude, a parent, said the sudden hike had placed an additional financial burden on families.

“I was surprised to hear from my daughter’s principal that her junior secondary school fees had risen to ₦150,000 from ₦100,000 last year. When I asked for an explanation, the principal said it was a directive from the proprietor and he couldn’t say more,” Ude said, urging government intervention.

A housewife, Mrs. Ngozi, echoed similar concerns, saying a popular faith-based school in Amechi had raised its fees far beyond the reach of average parents.

“Last term, we paid ₦85,000 per child for my three children, but this session, the school announced ₦120,000 per child. Education should be a social service, not a profit-driven venture,” she said.

Some parents have opted to withdraw their children from private schools altogether. A civil servant, Mrs. Juliet Ugwu, explained:

“The school raised fees to ₦150,000 per term from ₦95,000 last term. I simply cannot cope with that on my salary.”

School Owners Defend Fee Increases

Private and faith-based school proprietors, however, argue the increments are unavoidable, citing Nigeria’s worsening economic realities.

Mr. Emeka Mbah, a school owner, said the adjustments were essential to sustain operations.

“We understand parents’ concerns, but schools face the same economic pressures. Quality education requires competent teachers and adequate materials, which cannot be sustained without fee reviews,” he said.

Another proprietor, Mr. Chris Agbo, stressed that private schools continue to fill gaps left by public education without government support.

“Even with the increments, private schools carry a heavy burden in bridging the education gap. Running a school is capital-intensive, and without adjustments, many schools would collapse,” he noted.

Broader Context

The tuition hikes in Enugu reflect Nigeria’s inflationary pressures, with rising costs of food, utilities, and salaries affecting both households and businesses. While school owners insist increases are necessary to maintain standards, parents are calling for regulation to prevent arbitrary hikes.

Last year, the Enugu State Government introduced a licensing regime requiring private schools to register or renew their approvals, with fees set between ₦100,000 and ₦300,000 depending on school category.

However, school owners allege the actual charges are much higher, with renewals now ranging between ₦450,000 and ₦2.2 million, depending on school size and level. Reports of mandatory ₦5 million payments circulated widely, but Commissioner for Education Prof. Ndubueze dismissed those claims as false.