As schools resumed on Monday, for the 2023/2024 academic session in Ilorin, Kwara State, parents have lamented the hike in school fees.
Nevertheless, some students and parents could be seen trouping into some of the schools to register for the new academic session.
It is a case of different strokes for different folks as the students looked keen on resuming school and meeting new friends, while parents struggled to pay their school fees, purchase prescribed textbooks, notebooks and sundry items.
Some of the parents lamented the increase in the school and book fees of some private schools, while others do not have any clue on how to transport their children to school with the hike in transportation fare following the removal of fuel subsidy.
At Flora Schools in Tanke, a parent, Abdulhakeem Oyawole, said his son’s school fees for Primary 4 was increased from N45,000 to N61,500 .
He said it was unfortunate that everything has increased in prices while his salary remains the same as a federal government worker.
He appealed to the federal government to consider increasing the minimum wage because there is nothing left to take home from the present salary due to the effects of fuel subsidy removal.
Another parent at Precious Pearls Primary and Secondary schools, Hajia Mariam Mohammed, said though the school fees was not increased, the transportation fare is now double the old amount.
She lamented that fees for the school bus was N5,000 before the end of last session, but it is now N10,000.
She appealed for a palliative measure from the government that would address transportation as that of food has been sorted out.
At Reputable International Nursery and Primary School, Kaure area, Kumbi Ajayi said his son’s fees at KG 2 was increased from N16,500 to N19,500.
He also called for the government’s intervention to enable them give their children basic education.
