Beyond tuition, extra school charges deepen financial strain on Nigerian parents

By Qosim Suleiman, Aisha Yusufu, Ogalah Dunamis, Emmanuel Agbo, Manasseh Mbachii, Fortune Eromonsele, Kemi Adelagun

On the final Saturday of July, parents, academics and pupils of Megaliy International School gathered on the Apo Resettlement Town Hall in Abuja for the school’s end-of-session and commencement ceremony.

For Mrs Kuburat, a guardian on the school, the celebration got here with a further invoice of just about N100,000. Three of her kids had been graduating at completely different ranges. She mentioned the school charged N20,000 for the kid leaving nursery school, N25,000 for the one finishing Junior Secondary School and N50,000 for the kid ending Senior Secondary School. Even in years when none of her kids graduated, she mentioned she paid N10,000 for every youngster in direction of the school’s end-of-session ceremony.

The funds mirror a broader concern amongst parents interviewed by PREMIUM TIMES throughout a number of Nigerian states: tuition is more and more just one a part of the price of personal schooling.

From Abuja to c and Benue, parents described further payments for commencement ceremonies, textbooks, costumes, feeding, extra classes, images, events and different actions.

When the extra payments are taken collectively, and once they contain two or extra kids, parents mentioned the extra charges are placing additional strain on family budgets.

In some colleges, the funds are obligatory. In others, they’re described as elective, however kids whose parents don’t pay could also be excluded from ceremonies, actions or refreshments.

The complaints come as federal and state authorities more and more transfer to curb school practices they are saying impose pointless prices on households.

In January, the federal authorities restricted commencement ceremonies to pupils finishing Primary Six, JSS3 and SSS3 as a part of schooling reforms supposed to cut back financial strain on parents.

Yet interviews performed by PREMIUM TIMES counsel that further school charges stay widespread, whereas regulation and enforcement differ significantly throughout states.

The administration of Megaliy International School didn’t reply to PREMIUM TIMES’ request for an interview. At first, a member of the school’s administration who recognized herself as Mrs Udeoka mentioned the principal misplaced his father and was not accessible for an interview. When contacted once more on Tuesday, she mentioned the school administration has determined to not grant the interview request.

However, some school directors defended the charges, saying they’re to cater for the scholars and their parents at commencement ceremonies. They added that necessary buy of textbooks in colleges was to keep up uniformity.

Graduation payments past tuition

In Lagos, Damilola Ojuolape, a caterer and mom dwelling in Ojo, mentioned her nine-year-old daughter’s major school commencement turned a serious supply of financial stress.

The school charged N45,000 for the commencement, she mentioned, whereas pupils had been additionally anticipated to take part in dance performances and parents had been inspired to buy commemorative class portraits.

Beyond the school’s cost, Ms Ojuolape mentioned she spent N154,000 making ready her daughter for the occasion, together with shopping for a inexperienced costume to match the color chosen for the event, jewelry, a handbag, sun shades and a wristwatch.

Another Lagos guardian, Tolulope Eludini, mentioned her kids attend Fluorescent Private School, the place charges for commencement ceremonies and textbooks are included within the invoice issued to parents initially of the tutorial session.

Mrs Eludini mentioned graduating pupils are additionally anticipated to pay for commencement apparel, together with fits and clothes, along with contributing in direction of the end-of-session celebration.

“I think the graduation fee is about N50,000,” she mentioned, noting that the quantity was separate from the price of clothes and the commencement celebration.

In Katsina, the quantities could be significantly decrease, however parents say the charges nonetheless matter when measured in opposition to their school charges and different family bills.

Lawal Bishir mentioned Maryam Majiri Memorial International School charged him N3,000 for his kindergarten daughter’s speech and prize-giving day whereas he was struggling to boost her N27,000 school payment.

Pupils in graduating lessons paid N5,000, he mentioned.

The school’s head of high quality assurance, Ugwu Chinedu, confirmed that the fee decided who obtained the school’s refreshment package deal.

However, Mr Chinedu mentioned the school has since stopped commencement ceremonies for nursery, major and junior secondary pupils and now limits them to SS3 college students.

Murtala Gidado, whose kids attend Ayaks International School, a community-run secondary school in Katsina, mentioned he beforehand paid N5,000 for an SS3 pupil. The quantity represented one-quarter of the kid’s N20,000 termly school payment.

But the proprietor, Abubakar Yunus, mentioned the school charges a flat N6,000 per pupil per time period plus N500 for examinations.

In Kaduna State, Ifeoma Habila, whose 11-year-old youngster attends Wusasa Children’s School in Zaria, mentioned she paid N3,500 when her son accomplished major school this yr.

“My son told me that out of the N3,500 that the school is demanding, N2,000 would be used for speech and prize, graduation gown N1,000 and N500 for group picture,” Mrs Habila mentioned.

Her second son, an eight-year-old Primary Four pupil at St Francis Academy in Wusasa, additionally paid N3,000 in direction of the school’s commencement actions, she mentioned.

PREMIUM TIMES gathered that graduating pupils of ECWA Nursery and Primary School, Wusasa, had been required to pay N8,000, whereas Rodah Academy in Kamazo GRA charged N5,000.

When ‘optional’ doesn’t really feel elective

Some parents mentioned the issue shouldn’t be merely how a lot colleges cost, however what occurs once they determine to not pay.

Mrs Eludini mentioned the strain at her kids’s Lagos school doesn’t all the time come immediately from directors.

She mentioned the strain typically comes from the kids, who don’t wish to be neglected of commencement actions.

“They don’t exactly tell you to come and pay,” she mentioned. “But the children are already excited about the graduation and the party, so they begin to pressure you because they don’t want to be left out.”

Mrs Kuburat described the same state of affairs in Abuja, saying kids whose parents didn’t make some funds may very well be excluded from refreshments and actions.

In Katsina, Mr Bishir mentioned non-payment of the N3,000 cost at his daughter’s school didn’t have an effect on the issuance of certificates, however the school used a headcount to find out which kids would obtain refreshments.

“If you pay, they will give you a refreshment package. If you don’t pay, you will not have a refreshment package,” he mentioned.

Mr Gidado mentioned the N5,000 commencement fee at his youngster’s school was described as elective, however a pupil whose parents didn’t pay couldn’t attend the programme.

For him, that leaves parents weighing the financial value in opposition to the emotional influence on their kids.

“He might be affected emotionally while his contemporaries are celebrating and he is not celebrating,” he mentioned.

The proprietor of the school Mr Gidado’s youngsters attended, Abubakar Yunus, mentioned the commencement payment was for clothes, refreshments, souvenirs, invites, venue prices and cultural actions.

He mentioned the school finally cancelled the ceremony when contributions proved inadequate.

Textbooks add one other layer of value

Graduation ceremonies are just one a part of the extra bills parents described. Several parents mentioned colleges additionally required them to purchase textbooks immediately from the school.

Lois Ugbede, an assistant editor at DUBAWA whose kids attend a Catholic personal school in Abuja, mentioned parents usually are not allowed to purchase notebooks or textbooks elsewhere.

PREMIUM TIMES contacted the school’s principal, Afoma Chukwu, a reverend sister, a number of occasions to hunt her response to parents’ claims relating to further charges, together with alleged obligatory funds. However, the calls weren’t answered, and she or he had not responded as of the time of submitting this report.

In Lagos, Mrs Eludini mentioned parents at Fluorescent Private School are equally required to purchase their kids’s textbooks from the school.

“Yes, we are required to buy the children’s textbooks directly from the school, and they don’t give us any options,” she mentioned.

Although she had not in contrast the school’s costs with these charged by impartial bookstores, she questioned the standard of a few of the books provided.

The two phone numbers discovered for Fluorescent Private School, Lagos couldn’t be reached for feedback, regardless of repeated makes an attempt.

Mr Bishir mentioned parents of kindergarten pupils at Maryam Majiri Memorial International School in Katsina even have little flexibility.

“For those in kindergarten, it is compulsory. You must buy the pack book,” he mentioned.

He mentioned the school’s rationalization was that pupils wanted to make use of similar books with corresponding content material and web page numbers in order that kids wouldn’t fall behind throughout classes.

For pupils in increased lessons, he mentioned, parents are inspired to buy from the school however some purchase elsewhere to save cash.

Not all of the parents interviewed reported such restrictions. Mr Gidado mentioned neither of the colleges he offers with compelled him to buy textbooks immediately from them.

He estimated that he spent about N30,000 on books for one among his secondary-school kids, which he sourced independently although the school inspired parents to purchase internally.

Govt strikes to cut back spending

The federal authorities has moved to cut back recurrent spending on studying supplies.

In January, the federal government introduced the adoption of reusable textbooks, saying the coverage would permit studying supplies for use throughout a number of tutorial classes and handed between siblings.

“This approach is intended to ensure that learning materials can be reused across multiple academic sessions,” the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, had mentioned.

Feeding, picnics and different payments

For some parents, the checklist extends past commencement ceremonies and books.

Emem Paul, whose kids attend Ride-On Excellent Ville Nursery and Primary School on Lagos Island, mentioned further bills included textbooks, a N10,000 December picnic and a feeding levy. She mentioned pupils weren’t allowed to deliver meals from dwelling.

“I had to insist that my children should be exempted from eating the school’s food or I would withdraw them from the school,” she mentioned.

The school finally granted her request and exempted her kids from the feeding association.

Messages reviewed by PREMIUM TIMES present that the school commonly sends parents detailed directives protecting funds, pupils’ look and disciplinary necessities.

One discover instructed parents to pay school charges earlier than resumption and mentioned solely pupils whose parents had accomplished the required advance fee could be admitted initially of the time period. The identical discover mentioned participation within the school’s end-of-session celebration was obligatory for all learners.

Such bills, parents mentioned, could make it tough to find out the true value of personal education from tuition charges alone.

The proprietress, Latifat Ibrahim, informed PREMIUM TIMES that the school lumps up the sum for textbooks alongside the school charges.

Ms Ibrahim added that funds for meals and after-school classes are obligatory.

“If children choose to bring food to the school, they won’t eat in the class because I don’t want other children looking at them,” she mentioned.

But she careworn that the school’s extra-mural lessons are elective. Only pupils whose parents opted for the teachings are allowed to take part.

On the December deal with, Ms Ibrahim mentioned parents had been requested to pay as a result of the occasion was organised for the pupils. She, nevertheless, famous that the fee was not obligatory and that solely kids whose parents authorised their participation had been included.

Governments transfer in opposition to pricey commencement ceremonies

Concerns over the financial burden of school ceremonies have prompted interventions by the federal authorities and a few state governments.

In January, the federal authorities announced that commencement ceremonies ought to be restricted to pupils finishing Primary Six and college students finishing JSS3 and SSS3.

“Under the new guidelines, only pupils and students completing Primary 6, Junior Secondary School 3 (JSS3), and Senior Secondary School 3 (SSS3) are permitted to hold graduation ceremonies,” the federal government mentioned.

The measure was introduced alongside the reusable textbook coverage and different reforms the federal government mentioned had been supposed to cut back pointless financial strain on households.

Some states have gone additional.

In Ogun State, the federal government in June prohibited commencement ceremonies for nursery, kindergarten and different non-terminal lessons in private and non-private colleges.

Graduation ceremonies could also be held for Primary Six, JSS3 and SSS3 pupils, however the authorities directed that such occasions ought to be modest and organised at no financial value to parents or guardians.

The authorities additionally prohibited extravagant parts, together with customised apparel and different social shows that would create further bills for households.

The Anambra State Government exempted SSS3 college students from the ban on commencement ceremonies, however mentioned such ceremonies should stay elective and “must be conducted without any form of levy or financial demand on students and parents.”

The directive, issued on 24 July, applies to each private and non-private kindergarten, major and secondary colleges, together with ceremonies described as “passing out” or “cross over.”

The authorities warned that colleges that violate the directive may face sanctions, together with closure. It mentioned the measure was launched to cut back the financial burden such ceremonies place on parents.

Benue State launched related restrictions in August 2025.

The state prohibited obligatory commencement ceremonies, significantly for kindergarten, nursery and fundamental school pupils, and likewise moved in opposition to customised instructional supplies that can’t be transferred from one pupil to a different. The directive additionally prohibited obligatory prolonged classes after common school hours with out parental consent.

Yet PREMIUM TIMES discovered that textbook charges stay a part of the payments issued by some personal colleges in Makurdi, the Benue State capital.

One school administrator in Benue, who didn’t wish to be named, expressed issues in regards to the influence of enforcement measures on pupils and their households, significantly the place colleges are sealed for non-compliance.

The administrator added that some colleges had been involved in regards to the financial implications of the coverage, particularly the place that they had already bought textbooks for his or her pupils.

“When you seal a school, you also affect the children who are learning there. So, for us, what is the gap? Sealing a school, would there have been a better sanction for that than leaving the school sealed?” the administrator mentioned.

Visits to Towering Tots School, NADI Schools, Kings Quiver and Tender Feet School in Markurdi confirmed that books had been nonetheless included amongst charges offered to parents as the brand new tutorial session started. None of the colleges responded to PREMIUM TIMES’ enquiries in regards to the continued inclusion of textbook charges.

Complaints, however parents reluctant to put in writing

In Katsina, a senior official of the state Ministry of Education acquainted with the regulation of non-state colleges mentioned participation in and contributions in direction of commencement ceremonies should stay voluntary.

The official requested anonymity as a result of he was not authorised to talk publicly.

“You cannot force it on pupils and say everybody must contribute,” he mentioned.

The official mentioned the ministry had obtained verbal complaints from parents about commencement charges and obligatory textbook purchases.

But, in accordance with him, many parents who complain verbally are reluctant to place their complaints in writing as a result of they worry doable repercussions.

He mentioned state rules don’t authorise colleges to compel parents to buy textbooks solely from them.

The official additionally mentioned an inspection staff had been deployed to look at compliance amongst personal and neighborhood colleges.

PREMIUM TIMES couldn’t independently verify the inspection train.

In Lagos and the Federal Capital Territory, officers didn’t present responses to PREMIUM TIMES’ findings.

The spokesperson for the Department of Education, Federal Capital Territory Administration, Kabir Musa, directed our reporter to the Director of Quality Assurance, Hajarat Alayande.

Mrs Alayande declined to remark, saying she wanted permission from the Education Secretary earlier than talking.

The Lagos State Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Jamiu Alli-Balogun, didn’t reply to cellphone calls and messages searching for his feedback.

Private colleges defend charges

Private school directors who spoke to PREMIUM TIMES defended the extra charges, saying they cowl the price of school actions and different working bills.

The Vice-Principal, Academics, of St Martin de Porres Schools, Ozochi Anthonia, mentioned graduating pupils paid between N3,000 and N3,500 to cowl robes, certificates and fundamental refreshments.

A non-public school proprietor in Kaduna, who requested anonymity, mentioned colleges rely nearly completely on internally generated income.

“Some private schools operate from rented buildings and have to pay rent. They also pay government taxes which are becoming overwhelming, buy school supplies and pay staff salaries,” the proprietor mentioned.

“The running cost of a private school in Nigeria is very high. These schools receive no government funding; they fund themselves.”

The proprietor mentioned the sale of books, uniforms and writing supplies by colleges may additionally make purchases extra handy for parents.

Customised books, the proprietor argued, may assist colleges keep requirements and shield parents from buying pirated copies.

The proprietor referred to as on governments to supply larger assist to non-public colleges, together with workers coaching and reductions in taxes and regulatory charges.

Mary Odiba, proprietress of Wusasa Children’s School in Kaduna State, mentioned the charges had been essential to cowl the price of organising school actions.

She mentioned her school charges N2,500 per youngster for commencement, speech and prize-giving actions and makes use of the cash for pupils’ welfare throughout the occasions.

“If we want to organise a speech and prize-giving day and graduation, we have to rent chairs and canopies, provide refreshments for the children and buy prizes for outstanding pupils,” she mentioned.

Mrs Odiba additionally mentioned parents had been inspired to buy books from the school for comfort and to cut back the chance of shopping for pirated copies.

Maureen Nwaeke-Egbim, proprietress of JPEC Chimel Academy in GRA, Zaria, Kaduna State, mentioned commencement events at her school are initiated by pupils and parents.

She mentioned the school kinds a committee comprising academics and parents to plan such occasions.

“What the school does is to support, while the parents fund the whole thing,” she mentioned.

On textbooks, Mrs Nwaeke-Egbim mentioned books can be found on the market on the school, however parents are free to purchase elsewhere, offered they receive the required editions.

“The aim is to avoid pirated copies and ensure pupils have the required books, so that in a class of 30 students, at least 20 to 25 have the right textbooks,” she mentioned.

Private colleges affiliation responds

The Katsina State chairperson of the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS), Mansir Sani, mentioned obligatory commencement charges usually are not customary apply amongst most member colleges.

“I won’t tell you it is 100 per cent, but the majority of our schools do not charge anything called a graduation fee,” he mentioned.

Mr Sani mentioned most colleges cost customary examination charges somewhat than separate and extreme commencement charges.

“There is no compulsion in making students buy textbooks,” he mentioned, explaining what he described because the affiliation’s official place.

He additionally argued that personal colleges have tried to keep away from growing school charges on the identical tempo as taxes, regulatory charges and different working prices.

Kano tightens regulation of personal school charges

Beyond commencement and textbook charges, some states are additionally tightening oversight of personal school charges typically.

The Kano State House of Assembly in August handed the Kano State Private and Voluntary Institutions Board (Amendment) Bill, 2026, introducing further necessities governing school payment will increase.

Among different provisions, the laws requires session with parents by way of Parent-Teacher Associations earlier than personal colleges improve their charges.

Mustapha Yahaya, director of Special Duties on the Kano State Private and Voluntary Institutions Board, informed PREMIUM TIMES that the brand new provisions had been supposed to forestall colleges from growing charges with out discover and session.

“The work of this board is to regulate private and voluntary institutions,” he mentioned.

PREMIUM TIMES couldn’t independently confirm earlier than publication the official’s declare that the governor had assented to the modification on 4 August.

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Parents really feel the strain

For most of the parents interviewed for this report, the controversy over what colleges have to function in the end meets a less complicated actuality: there may be solely a lot cash accessible to pay the payments.

Ms Ugbede mentioned she had by no means defaulted on her kids’s school funds, however for the primary time this yr, financial constraints pressured her to pay their charges later than she usually would.

Mrs Eludini mentioned her household has additionally needed to postpone some funds.

“We’ve had to delay payment. Sometimes that’s the only option,” she mentioned.

She recalled an event when parents at her kids’s school collectively challenged an tried improve in tuition.

“The parents came together and challenged it,” she mentioned. “I think they even petitioned the Lagos State Government, and eventually the school brought the fees back down.”

But commencement charges, textbooks, feeding, clothes, events and different charges are extra fragmented and could be more durable for parents to problem collectively.

For households with a couple of youngster, the prices accumulate rapidly.

And whereas school house owners argue that most of the charges pay for reliable providers and rising working bills, the experiences of parents interviewed by PREMIUM TIMES present that the financial burden of personal schooling more and more extends past the determine written beside “school fees” on a toddler’s invoice.