Inflation, cost top challenges as schools resume

For a lot of parents and guardians, the thought of school resumption is always accompanied by anxiety because of the financial obligations that come with it. It was for this reason that some schools, particularly, those privately owned have developed strategies to help parents pay their children’s fees with less stress.

However, a good number of parents have lamented that in spite of plans made ahead of resumption, life has been tough in the face of current economic downturn.

Stakeholders expressed fear that increase in the cost of goods and services remains a major challenge that may impede the drive to reduce the number of out-of-school children in the country.

While critical academic materials needed for the new session are either not available or now very high, cost of goods and services has since spiraled almost out of control.

Educationists said the economic crunch is not only biting hard, but equally telling on their operations, fearing that parents would bear more burden in the new academic session.

Director, Grace Schools, Gbagada, Lagos, Tokunbo Edun, did not mince words in her overview of the current situation of the country and how it impacts the sector. Edun lamented that the cost of living as well as prices of items have hit the roof.

She said: “To be honest with you, we have never had it so bad. Prices of consumables, compared to a few years ago have quadrupled. The books, stationeries, cleaning materials, food we cook for students, gas, diesel and so on, are now unbearably expensive.

“We had to abandon our 500 KVA generator because the cost of diesel every five days was N1.7m. So, we went to buy small petrol generators to save costs. Utility bills like electricity are horrendous, our electricity bills range from N1.2m to over N2m every month, even when supply is epileptic.”

Edun said one of the factors giving school owners serious concern is government policy of multiple taxation. She also revealed that extortion by some staff of the local government and tax-collecting agencies leave much to be desired.

“In civilised countries, private schools are given subventions by the government, because they are rendering services that government should be responsible for. Here in Nigeria, it is not the case. We are often harassed, intimidated and exploited by some government agencies and their staff,” she lamented.

Speaking on issues of health and safety, the director acknowledged that these are equally important for the school and they still maintain strict COVID-19 prevention procedures of fumigation, hand washing and spacing, saying this has become a way of life for them.

“As regards security, we have CCTV cameras all over, we have police presence 24 hours on our premises. We have actually had this arrangement since 2008. A long time before the insecurity crisis that is more prevalent now,” she said.

Edun, who is not happy with what is happening in the sector, advised the government and politicians to live up to people’s expectations.

According to her, the leaders promised Nigerians a better life and improved living standards, expressing regrets that after elections, the reverse is the case.

“Living standards and safety of most Nigerians have actually worsened in the last five years. This has led to migration of a lot of people, particularly the middle class, to countries like Canada, United Kingdom, United States of America, Australia, New Zealand and others, where they feel that there is a better quality of life, health services, job satisfaction and safety from being kidnapped. There is a massive brain drain going on,” she said.

Administrative Manager and Public Relations Officer, Jextoban Secondary School, Ibafo, Ogun State, Dr. Solesi Abayomi, said the inflationary trend has affected virtually everything, noting that schools cannot afford to run at a loss.

“For instance, there is an increase in the cost of fabrics, power generation (cost of diesel, petrol, stationaries) and other incidental costs, which has a trickle down effect on all service provisions. Therefore, there is a need to effect marginal increments to be able to stay afloat.

“Inability to meet these demands sometimes hamper the health of almost all stakeholders in the sector. In fact, some have said if your car is ‘sick,’ you are also sick.

“On some of the challenges, the government is already taking the bull by the horn to mitigate the security challenges posed by the activities of okada riders, which are too numerous to highlight by outright banning of their operations. This will definitely boost the security architecture of the state, thereby, reducing parents’ anxieties.”

Abayomi, however, stressed that it is important for government to fulfill its promise of providing and improving the e-learning facilities promised.

He equally charged the state government not to fail in its promise to provide alternative channels of transportation to mitigate the ban on okada riders.

“Further, if it is possible, they should reduce levies and rates imposed on schools as bailout at this crucial time,” he pleaded.
Proprietor, Toyems School, Ijedodo, Lagos, Mr Tunde Sholanke, said as schools resume, private school owners are facing numerous challenges that others can’t notice at face value.

According to him, the cost of maintaining school infrastructures is extremely high, making things more difficult for them to operate or remain afloat.

Sholanke said due to the dire economic situation, many teachers and non-teaching staff are leaving the sector for other professions or trade, thus, becoming more expensive to recruit and retain existing ones. He lamented that inflation is biting hard and making things difficult for parents to discharge their responsibilities.

“Aside state levies and taxes on schools, the local governments are out to sap private schools on meaningless levies like radio and television, business premises, fumigation, gathering levy and so on. I only pray they don’t dent the good image of the state government that is people oriented. A lot of school owners are sick inside and hypertensive,” he said.

On the issue of insecurity in the country, Sholanke said no one is sure of safety, no matter the measures put in place. The educationist said attention should be focused on security and the economy to alleviate the problems being faced by the people at this time.

Early Learning Coordinator, Oyindamola Nursery and Primary School, Agege, Maria Emmanuel, said schools should continue to implement measures to safeguard health of students, including fumigation, sweeping, mopping and clearing of grasses to ensure cleaner environment.

She said her school has put in place security measures to protect the children and ensure that only authorised individuals pick up pupils. Schools should have buses to take students safely to their homes to prevent unsavoury individuals from taking away the children, she said.

Emmanuel stated that costs are higher than usual for both the school and even parents. She, therefore, advised that to mitigate this challenge, there is a need to plan and spend wisely.

HOWEVER, parents whose wards attend private schools are worried, with some contemplating changing them to public schools. Parents said they have been notified of increase in school fees, feeding, transportation and cost of uniforms.

While some parents said it has become a practice for most private schools to increase fees at the beginning of every session, some of the schools cited the prevailing economic situation occasioned by rising inflation and fall in the value of the naira.

They said if public schools were functioning well, they would have no reason to take their wards to private schools. Adeoye Adedoyin, an estate agent in Lagos, said the increment was meant to exploit parents.  “I don’t see any reason why schools are increasing their fees; there is nothing new about their service to our children to warrant any review,” Adedoyin said.

For Taiwo Olayori, a civil servant, his son’s school has increased the fee by over 15 per cent, and he has decided to withdraw his son since he cannot afford the fees.

A banker, Thomas Olaniyan, lamented that school fees take the highest portion of parents’ annual income and has reduced the standard of living for households.

A trader, Mrs Adejoke Moses, said the economic situation has made life difficult for her family.

“Sincerely, it is not easy for parents because even summer lesson fees were increased above 50 per cent compared to what we paid last time. We understand the situation of the country and economic challenges, but most of these schools are taking advantage of the situation to exploit parents,” she stated.

Another parent, Adeniyi Sunday said: “We used to pay N30, 000 but the school management wrote to inform us that the school fees will be increased to N50, 000 with effect from this new academic session.”

Meanwhile, checks by The Guardian showed that some schools have no plan to increase salaries of their teachers.  A teacher in a private school in Ikeja, Lagos, Kenneth Iloabu, said while schools are hiking fees, the increase is not in any way extended to teachers.

“They have increased fees in the school where I teach, using the economic situation as an excuse, but I want to let you know that my salary has remained the same without any increase,” he said.