Increase in school fees is not the fault of proprietors or a way to extort parents- Nigerian school owner says (video)

As schools in Nigeria resumed for a new academic session on Monday, September 8, many parents groaned as they were faced with the challenge of paying more for the school fees of their children and wards.

Many private schools across Nigeria increased their fees just before schools resumed on Monday.

In an interview with Arise TV on Monday, September 8, a school proprietor based in Enugu, Gladys Ajaero, said that the increase in school fees is not the fault of school proprietors nor was it done to extort money from parents but it was done based on the economic reality of the country.

In her words

‘’Private schools is a business venture. Everything you are doing to make money, definitely is a business. In business, you have standard. You may choose to put your child in a school where you can pay as much as N1 million, as much as N200, 000 but you can still get a standard of N50, 000 which is still a standard and if you cannot afford that much, why going for it?

The increase in school fees is caused by the economy of the country.

You have so many bills also to pay as a proprietor. You will pay your teachers, you will take care the environment, you will take care of non-academic staff, cleaners and others.

Now when you talk of the books, we do not manufacture the books nor do we produce it. We buy and give to students and a lot of times you find out that the books are so expensive that even if you decide to add just add N100, 000 on it, it is still very high.

I do not think the increment is a fault of the proprietors or a decision to extort parents but the economy actually affecting the whole system.

For example, as at last year, if you pay a private teacher N60, 000, N70, 000, he or she is happy and it can but things but today, the same person will not accept N100, 000 because of the cost of living.”

Her position has gotten mixed reactions from Nigerians. While some agreed with her that there is a need for an increase due to the increase in the cost of living, others kicked against the increase.