Private school fees jump 25% to 100% as owners blame rising costs
By Aboki Forex —
Private school fees in Nigeria have risen by between 25% and 100%, squeezing parents already battling a broader cost-of-living crisis. Vanguard checks showed the increases affect tuition, school transportation, uniforms, textbooks and other compulsory levies.
School owners say higher expenses for electricity, diesel, staff salaries, maintenance and learning materials have made fee reviews unavoidable. They insist the adjustments are needed to keep their institutions running and maintain service quality.
What is driving the fee hikes
Operators told Vanguard that running costs have climbed sharply in recent months. Power and diesel bills, worker wages, school maintenance and educational materials now cost significantly more, forcing schools to pass on the burden to parents.
For many families, the added charges come on top of rising prices for food, transport and other essentials. Household budgets are already stretched, and the new school term has brought fresh financial pressure.
Parents explore cheaper options and instalments
Some parents are now looking for more affordable schools for their children. Others are considering payment-by-instalment arrangements to keep their children in their current institutions.
Families struggling to meet daily expenses face a difficult choice: maintain their children in familiar schools or transfer them to less expensive alternatives. The continued hikes have sparked fear among parents that private education could become increasingly unaffordable.
Balancing affordability and survival
Parents are demanding more manageable fees, while school proprietors are grappling with higher operational expenses. The situation highlights the growing challenge of balancing affordable education with the real cost of running private schools in Nigeria.