Economic hardship: Parents move wards from private to public schools

Pupils

The economic situation in Nigeria has pushed many families into a tight financial corner and the impact is particularly severe for parents who can no longer afford private school tuition for their children. Not only are parents pulling their children out of private schools, some are also pushing their children into the workforce due to the high cost of living. Many children are now taking on roles as breadwinners by hawking goods or working in local factories among others. Parents who spoke to our correspondents expressed their frustration over the rising cost of education following the removal of fuel subsidies and the increase in transportation costs. Many have begun moving their children from expensive private schools to public institutions. For some families, education has come to a complete halt due to the costs associated with books, uniforms, and additional fees. This financial strain has compelled many children to engage in trading or manual labour to help support their families.

Parents speak

Education Manager, Mr Alake Ayo, opined that the cost of education has become unmanageable for the average family. He stated: “Tuition fees have increased, even for those families that could afford them before, while living expenses have surged four-fold. This makes it impossible for many to continue paying for their children’s education. An estimated five million Nigerian students have dropped out of school overall.”

In private schools, the situation is becoming increasingly desperate as enrollment numbers continue to decline. Mr Chris John, an observer, noted that higher taxes and the poor economy in 2026 are significantly impacting families. “Private schools depend on fees from families that can pay. However, enrollment is plummeting because of these higher taxes and the broader economic challenges. This elitist system is beginning to collapse under these pressures,” he said.

In Enugu State, the cost of technical education has also become a considerable barrier. Education Advocate, Mr Alex Onyia, pointed out that some government schools are now too expensive for low-income families. “The government allocated N30 billion for feeding school children, but fewer than 10 schools are actually benefiting from this funding. Fees at the Government Technical College exceed N300,000 per term, which is unmanageable for poor families. A lot of what is happening in the education system just doesn’t make sense anymore,” he stated.