With Nigeria’s biting economic hardship deepening, parents are calling on private schools to adopt a more subsidised approach to summer classes to ensure no child is left behind during the long academic break.

Many households say the sharp hike in fees for holiday lessons is making it increasingly difficult to enrol their children, raising fresh concerns about tuition costs for the upcoming September academic session.

Findings by The Guardian reveal that several private schools have doubled their summer fees. At Sachel Schools, for example, junior class fees jumped from ₦5,000 to ₦10,000, while senior classes rose from ₦10,000 to ₦20,000. Similar increases were reported at De-Bright College, Schema School, Sonic Private School, and Stepping Firm Montessori School, resulting in a noticeable drop in enrolment.

Mrs. Tinuke Sanni, whose children attend De-Bright College, described the situation as disheartening. “Summer lessons help children catch up and stay ahead academically, but if the cost keeps rising, fewer students will benefit, and that defeats the purpose,” she lamented.

A staff member at Sachel Schools, who requested anonymity, confirmed the decline in attendance, attributing it to the fee surge. “Parents are saying it’s too expensive. Many are either seeking cheaper alternatives or not enrolling their wards at all,” the source said.

However, some school administrators insist the hikes are unavoidable. Grace Obunde, a representative of Schema School, explained: “We have to ensure our programmes remain top-notch, and this comes with increased costs, staff salaries, teaching materials, and electricity tariffs.”

Parents, however, argue that such increments are ill-timed, warning that they could widen the educational gap for children who need academic reinforcement during the holidays but can no longer afford it.