Nightmare for Parents as Schools Resume

Getting children back to school in Nigeria has become an increasing financial burden for many households, as parents face surging costs in tuition, books, uniforms, transportation, feeding, and other school-related expenses with the start of a new academic term.

For many families, these rising costs are forcing difficult choices, such as considering changing schools, personally taking children to school to cut transport costs, and appealing to schools for payment instalments.

This challenge is especially acute when a larger percentage of Nigerians struggle to make ends meet, stretching limited disposable income across competing needs, including their children’s education. The pressure is visible and has contributed to the sense that Nigeria’s real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth has not translated into better living standards. Despite a reported 4.43 per cent year-on-year GDP expansion in Q2 2026, up from 3.89 per cent in Q1 and 4.23 per cent in Q2 2025, many households are not feeling the benefits.

Real-Life Stories: Parents and School Operators Under Pressure

Adewale Kunle, a Lagos transporter and father of two, shared how preparing for the new school year has stretched his finances. “I have two kids going to a new class, and I have paid N200,000 in tuition fees. Now the cost of fuel and ticketing fees is just crippling business,” he said. Balancing tuition payments with daily household expenses, especially food, has made it difficult for Kunle to complete the required school deposit.

School operators are also under pressure. Gbenga Oni, owner of Learning Garden School in Lagos, explained that even after reviewing and increasing tuition fees a year ago, many parents struggle to meet their obligations. Some have accumulated arrears covering an entire academic session.

At Lade College in Agbado Ijaye, school manager Abosede Modupe said, “Our tuition fee is a bit cheap here, about N25,000, and we have so much money outside that we have not recovered from parents.” Some parents with multiple children owe debts equivalent to a full academic session, putting stress on the school as they still need to pay teachers and cover operating costs.

For salaried workers, the pressure is no less intense. Olugbega James, an engineer, said, “Salary increment is not really showing at all. The challenging thing is that my daughter’s school increased the school fees; we’ll be paying a new price for my two children now. The half payment to deposit is not completed yet.”

Even public school parents, like Ahisat Rashidat, a Lagos trader, are not spared. While tuition is lower, rising food costs have become the major worry. “My children attend a public secondary school; the cost has been fair as the school resumes now. It is what they will eat that is making me scared,” she said.

For parents with children in higher institutions, the burden is heavier. Hostel bedspace can cost from N260,000 in public universities to N800,000 in private ones. Mr Obasi, whose son attends Redeemers University, could not buy his son a promised phone for research, diverting funds to other school needs instead.

In Abuja, Samuel Adeniyi, a civil servant, saw his children’s school fees rise from ₦180,000 to ₦210,000 each. The combined tuition and book costs for his two children now stand at ₦500,000, even before accounting for transportation, feeding, and uniforms. Similarly, businessman Nsikak Ulo faces a 67.4 per cent increase in his child’s school fees and is considering moving her to a nearby school to reduce transport costs.

Rising Costs, Stagnant Incomes

Beyond tuition, food inflation remains above 20 per cent, with a crate of eggs costing ₦6,500–₦8,000, a bag of rice ₦48,500–₦55,000, and beans about ₦90,000. The cost of keeping a child in school now extends far beyond school fees, challenging families to juggle essential expenses.

Schools, too, face increasing costs for materials, energy, and maintenance, which are often passed on to parents. Proprietors like Peace Darby of Darby International School and George Eta of Cornerstone Foundation Schools in Abuja highlighted the impact of rising taxes, energy costs, and recurrent expenses on their operations.

Macroeconomic Growth, Microeconomic Struggle

Chief Economist Dr Paul Alaje notes that Nigeria’s GDP growth does not reflect widespread improvement in household welfare. He emphasises that genuine progress must be measured by improvements in people’s living standards, not just headline economic indicators.

With headline inflation easing to 15.43 per cent in July 2026 from 15.91 per cent in June, but food inflation rising, the disconnect between macroeconomic growth and household realities persists. The World Bank has similarly observed that macroeconomic stability has not yet translated into stronger household incomes, with poverty remaining high.

The experiences of Nigerian parents as schools resume highlight the broader economic challenges facing families. While GDP and other indicators may be improving, the real test is whether these gains translate into higher incomes and purchasing power for ordinary Nigerians. For now, families are left making tough choices to keep their children in school, often at significant personal sacrifice.