With the severe economic hardship affecting many households, parents have urged schools to consider a more subsidised model to ensure that no child is left behind during the academic break.

The current hike in fees for summer lessons in several private schools has become a source of concern among parents, as many struggle to enrol their wards.

With the long break, many parents are finding it difficult to pay for summer classes, citing the harsh economic situation in the country. Findings by The Guardian revealed that several schools have increased their fees for summer lessons, raising concerns about tuition fees for the new academic session in September.

For instance, at Sachel Schools, the fees for junior classes doubled from N5,000 to N10,000, while senior classes went from N10,000 to N20,000.
Similar hikes were reported at other private schools, including De-Bright College, Schema School, Sonic Private School, and Stepping Firm Montessori School. which has led to a huge reduction in enrolment, as parents can’t afford to cope with the rising costs, against their household budgets.

A parent, Mrs Tinuke Sanni, whose children attend De-Bright College, said the situation is disheartening.

“I’m already struggling to pay regular school fees, and now they’ve increased the summer lesson charges. I want my children to benefit from the extra academic support, but the cost is beyond my budget.

A staff member at Sachel Schools, who pleaded anonymity, attested to the decline in attendance, attributing it to increased fees.

“Parents are saying it’s too expensive. Many are either seeking cheaper alternatives or not enrolling their wards at all,” the source stated.

But some school administrators have defended the decision, citing operational challenges and the need to maintain instructional quality. A representative of Schema School, Grace Obunde, while justifying the increase, said: “We have to ensure our programmes remain top-notch, and this comes with increased costs, staff salaries, teaching materials, and electricity tariffs.”

But parents argued that such increments are ill-timed, considering the harsh economic situation. For Sanni and many others, the fee hike would reduce the number of children who registered for summer classes, invariably widening the educational gap among pupils who need academic reinforcement during the holidays.

“Summer lessons help children catch up and stay ahead academically, but if the cost keeps rising, fewer students will benefit, and that defeats the purpose,” she said.