Parents Groan Over Rising Cost of Education as Schools Resume Today

By Yusuf Kazeem Kolawole

Economist and Public Affairs Analyst, Lagos

As schools resume for the new academic session today, many parents across Lagos and other parts of the country are facing another difficult financial season as the cost of educating their children continues to rise amid the high cost of living.

For many families, resumption goes beyond paying school fees. Parents must also provide new uniforms, school bags, sandals and textbooks, while meeting transport costs and other school-related expenses. These obligations come at a time when families are already struggling with the rising prices of food, rent, electricity, water and transportation.

Some parents say school fees for the new session have increased, while others are worried about additional charges introduced by schools. For low- and middle-income families, meeting these obligations can mean borrowing money, reducing household consumption or postponing other important expenses.

The situation is particularly challenging for parents whose incomes have not increased in line with inflation. Some workers are poorly paid, while others depend on informal businesses whose earnings fluctuate from day to day.

Preparing for resumption has therefore become a major financial exercise. Rather than simply looking forward to the return of their children to school, many parents are calculating how to spread limited resources across school fees and basic family needs.

Parents are appealing to school proprietors to show understanding by reviewing fees and reducing unnecessary charges. They are also calling for flexible payment arrangements that would enable families to pay school fees in instalments.

Government, on its part, must recognise education as a critical social investment. More public schools should be constructed, while existing ones should be properly equipped and maintained, particularly in densely populated communities where available public schools are insufficient.

The rising cost of education is not merely a problem for individual families; it is a broader social and economic issue. If education becomes increasingly unaffordable, vulnerable children may be forced out of school.

As another academic session begins, the challenge before parents, school owners and government is clear: how can quality education remain accessible to children without placing an unbearable financial burden on their families?