There are growing concerns over what has been termed “extortion” of parents and guardians by private schools which charge huge amounts for extracurricular activities, VICTORIA AMADI reports
Some schools, especially private schools, are forcing parents to pay exorbitant fees for the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) and the Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) preparations without anything to show for it. Some schools are also forcing parents to pay for testimonials, parties and graduation’s ‘Aso-Ebi’ (occasion uniform) for pupils and parents. Some schools are charging pupils and parents between N200,000 and N450, 000 for the graduation’s ‘Aso-Ebi’.
The increase in commercialisation of education and prioritisation of profit over quality education has resulted in overcharging of parents and caregivers by some school owners. However, the rising cost of living has made it impossible for some parents to meet up with the demands of the schools, thereby mounting financial burdens on families.
This practice has created a gap between those who can afford private education and its cost, and those who cannot. Some of the schools employ these channels to extort money from parents, aside the termly school fee, science lesson, weekend lesson and extra lesson payments, thereby creating more burden for parents.
Notwithstanding, some private schools owners claimed they charge fees that are commensurate with the services they provide.
Parents react
According to a parent, Mr. Ikechukwu Onwuchekwe, extra money schools charge for JAMB and SSCE are for logistics; such as taking the children to JAMB centres. He added that the extra money is not bad, as he would prefer to pay for services than carry them himself.
“Those extra money are made for that. I don’t think the extra money is bad, but too much of it is bad. Some people charge three times the original amount for JAMB.
“In Nigeria, you have to use money to get things done as far as you can afford it. As a parent, since I can’t take my child to his JAMB centres, stay there for almost the whole day and I have somebody that can do it for me, I will pay the person,” he said.
Another parent, Mr. David Agbi, said that it is a rip-off of the parents, noting that at the end of the day, there’s no significant thing to show for the money paid. He opined that the organisers of JAMB lessons are taking advantage of parents who want their children to crawl without walking. He urged the government to close schools extorting parents.
Mrs. Irabor Ronke said: “My son’s school includes exam preparation as part of their normal academic programme. There’s no special or separate fee for JAMB or WAEC coaching; it’s all together. If any school is charging for something, they should clearly show the value. In our case, I’m satisfied because everything is upfront and transparent. The school has kept things simple. For graduation, they asked us to contribute modestly toward a small ceremony, but there was no mention of Aso Ebi or flashy expenses. I think they’re being very considerate of the times we’re in.”
Giving a first-hand experience, Mr. Ayinde Tijani, whose son recently wrote the JAMB examination and is about to sit for WAEC, lamented over his son’s poor performance after paying so much for his extra lessons.
Tijani noted that there is no such thing as Aso- Ebi levy, but were made to pay N30,000 for his son’s graduation party.
Mrs. Zainab Shakiru, a parent of a Junior Secondary School 1 (JSS1), said some schools are mounting financial pressure on parents and creating unhealthy competition among students who would want to feel among those wearing Aso Ebi attire.
A pupil’s grouse
A SS3 student, Dorcas Israel, who just wrote JAMB and is preparing for WAEC and NECO, revealed that they were asked to pay over N50,000 for JAMB and SSCE coaching classes.
However, she noted that the quality of the extra classes is not different from their usual school lessons, stating that sometimes their teachers don’t show up on time.
“My school organised weekend and evening lessons and they give us past question booklets. The effort is there, but I still feel like we are doing more reading at home than in school. Some of us even pay for extra lessons outside school.
“We were also mandated to buy Aso Ebi for both students and parents, pay N15,000 for a party, and another N5,000 for testimonial. My mum is not happy about it at all because things are hard and we are five children in school.
“We were also mandated to pay for graduation. But some of my classmates have already said they won’t attend because their parents can’t afford it. It’s sad because it makes us feel like only the rich students can celebrate,” she explained.
NAPPS: We won’t condone exploitation of parents
The National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS) Nigeria stated that irrespective of the economic strain, it would not condone parents’ exploitation by schools under its umbrella. It said other fees aside from school fees should not be imposed on parents in a worrisome manner, adding that schools must be guided by the principles of fairness, empathy and accountability.
Its National President, Chief Yomi Otubela, urged parents to always engage constructively with school managements, noting that education is a shared responsibility, and it is only through mutual understanding and collaboration between schools, parents, and communities that would help successful navigation of challenging times.
“Private schools, in particular, which receive no government subvention, are struggling to maintain standards in teaching, learning resources, staffing, infrastructure and student welfare. As a result, some of these costs are inevitably passed on to parents to keep schools operational.
“However, while we recognise these financial pressures, NAPPS Nigeria does not in any way condone the exploitation of parents. We strongly advise that fees for external examination preparations, graduation ceremonies, Aso Ebi, testimonials, and related events should never be imposed in a burdensome manner. Such charges must be clearly communicated and handled with sensitivity and flexibility. The school should work with the Parents Teachers Association in arriving at the best decisions that meet each school’s circumstances,” he said.
NAPTAN urges PTA to speak up
The Deputy National President of National Parent Teachers Association of Nigeria (NAPTAN), Chief Adeolu Ogunbanjo, advised Parent Teacher Association (PTA) to express themselves through the forum. And if their voices are not heard, they should write to the Ministry of Education.
“Every school has a PTA. The PTA should meet and condemn it. And if the school insists, they should go to the ministry to report the school. Because, there’s no way they will do that without a formal meeting of parents. If the schools prescribe and they pay, so be it. Schools are there for profit, but they should not exploit them. For us, the PTA has a lot of strength to report to the school principal. If he or she refuses, they should go to the ministry,” he said.
Our views, by school owners
Reacting to the issue, the Director, Platform Group of Schools, Dr. Adebola Obe, urged school owners to prioritise affordability, transparency, and fairness in their fee structures by clearly outlining what fees cover and providing options for families to choose from. Obe added that schools can help ensure that fees are reasonable and justified.
He added that while private schools have a right to charge fees that cover their costs, they should do so in a way that is fair, transparent and reasonable. “By working together, we can create a more inclusive and equitable education system that benefits all students, regardless of their background or financial situation.
“Private schools often provide high-quality services that justify the costs associated with them. These services include employing experienced and qualified teachers, maintaining small class sizes, and providing state-of-the-art facilities. Additionally, private schools often offer personalised attention and support to students, which can be instrumental in their academic success.
“However, it is essential for schools to be transparent about how fees are used and to ensure that they are reasonable and justified. In this regard, I strongly believe that charging N450,000 for Aso Ebi for pupils and parents, testimonials, and other graduation-related expenses is excessive and unreasonable. Whilst celebrations are important, they should not place an undue financial burden on families,” he said.
Principal, Mind Builders School, Mr. Adekunle Agbelu, described the practice as a strange one, adding that he had never experienced it.
“I have witnessed graduation ceremonies where students choose the colours of their suits themselves. I do not support the idea of schools charging exorbitant fees for such events. In my school, the only form of preparation we offer for SSCE is free extension classes focused on academic support.
“It is also worth noting that some parents actively seek opportunities to celebrate, and they may view these elaborate arrangements as part of the celebration. Unfortunately, this mindset can be exploited by some schools, which see it as an avenue to impose excessive charges and profit at the expense of families,” he said.
Govt cannot interfere in activities of private schools
But, the Director, Public Affairs, Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, Mr. Kayode Sutton, said government does not have full jurisdiction over the affairs of private schools, except on issues affecting curriculum and maltreatment of students.
“Private Schools are choice schools. We don’t dive into their affairs. The rules and regulations in those schools are binding on parents. They’re there to make profit and deliver services. They’re privately owned schools. As a government, we can’t dive into the private affairs of those schools, except if it has to do with curriculum or maltreatment of students and other things that affect the psycho motor, cognitive and the affective learning of those students,” he said.
Expert: close monitoring, regulation imperative
According to an educationist, Dr Ibrahim Mikailu, there is need for more regulation of the activities of private schools by relevant departments of state Ministries of Education. He added that there should be standards in fees for established services like UTME and SSCE.
“Similarly, there should be regulation around birthdays, cultural days, excursions and graduation on the accompanying burden they bring such as Aso Ebi, which bring untold cost financial hardship to parents. Beyond regulation, proprietors of private schools need to be engaged through workshops and training to understand the implications of such practices,” he said.
