Nigerian parents are confronting a difficult start to the new academic session as private schools raise tuition fees by as much as 30 to 40 per cent, adding another major expense to household budgets already strained by rising food, transport, energy and housing costs.
Checks across parts of the country indicate that many private schools have reviewed their charges to reflect higher operating costs. In Lagos, one private secondary school in Ipaja increased its tuition from ₦86,000 to ₦124,000 per term, while another school in Egbeda raised its fee from ₦250,000 to ₦320,000.
The increases extend beyond tuition. Parents must also budget for books, uniforms, stationery, meals, extracurricular activities and school transport, making resumption significantly more expensive for families with two or more children.
Transport has become a particularly serious concern following repeated increases in fuel prices. Some school owners are reviewing their bus charges, reducing school-run services or withdrawing them entirely because of the rising cost of fuel, vehicle maintenance and repairs.
One school proprietor in Alagbado, Lagos, reportedly discontinued the school bus service because it had become too expensive to operate. Parents affected by such decisions must now take their children to school themselves, arrange private transport or consider boarding facilities where available.
For working parents, the withdrawal or increased cost of school transport creates challenges beyond money. Families must reorganise work schedules, find trusted transport providers and ensure that children can travel safely to and from school each day.
The National Parent Teacher Association of Nigeria has appealed to private school owners to moderate the increases. Chief Deolu Ogunbanjo, chairman of the association’s Board of Trustees, said many parents were already struggling under the combined weight of school fees, books and other living expenses.
While acknowledging that schools face higher operational costs, the association urged proprietors to limit fee increases to no more than 20 per cent. It argued that most parents had not received corresponding increases in salaries or personal income and could not easily absorb rises of up to 40 per cent.
School proprietors, however, say the increases reflect the economic pressures affecting their institutions. They cite higher wages, rent, electricity, fuel, maintenance, teaching materials, government levies and the cost of retaining qualified teachers.
Otunba Yusuf Alaka, president of the Lagos chapter of the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools, said many schools were also carrying substantial unpaid fees from previous terms. According to him, proprietors must balance parents’ financial difficulties against the need to pay staff, maintain facilities and keep their schools operating.
The financial pressure places many families in an uncomfortable position. Some parents may be forced to move their children to less expensive schools, negotiate payment plans or reduce spending on other household essentials. Others may consider public schools, although availability, location, class sizes and perceptions about educational quality can influence such decisions.
Education stakeholders have warned parents against withdrawing children from school because of financial hardship. Hassan Akintoye, chairman of the Lagos State Council of the Nigeria Union of Teachers, acknowledged the difficult economic conditions but urged families to continue prioritising their children’s education.
The situation highlights a broader affordability crisis in Nigerian education. Private schools serve millions of families, including many whose communities do not have sufficient public-school places or whose parents require particular learning environments and services. When fees rise sharply, the consequences extend beyond individual households and can affect enrolment, attendance and educational continuity.
The new academic session is therefore beginning with difficult choices on both sides. Parents want affordable, dependable education, while school owners must meet increasing running costs without reducing teaching standards or closing their doors.
Finding a workable balance will require reasonable fee reviews, transparent communication, flexible payment arrangements and stronger investment in public education. Without such measures, the rising cost of schooling could place quality education beyond the reach of a growing number of Nigerian families.
Has your child’s school increased its fees or transport charges this term? Tell Podium News how the rising cost of education is affecting your family.
