Parents in Enugu are grappling with steep hikes in tuition fees and levies as many private and faith-based schools across the metropolis raised their charges by between 20 and 50 per cent this new academic session. The development has sparked frustration among families already battling the soaring cost of living.

Some parents told the News Agency of Nigeria that the new rates have become unbearable. Mr. John Ude, a parent, lamented that his daughter’s junior secondary school fees jumped from ₦100,000 last year to ₦150,000 this term. “I tried to ask the reason, but the principal said it was a directive from the proprietor,” he said, urging government intervention.

Mrs. Ngozi, a housewife, said her children’s faith-based school in Amechi hiked fees from ₦85,000 per child to ₦120,000. Similarly, civil servant Mrs. Juliet Ugwu said she had no choice but to withdraw her children after the school raised tuition from ₦95,000 to ₦150,000 per term. “I cannot cope with that considering my take-home salary,” she said.

Private school owners, however, defended the increases, citing rising operational costs. Proprietor Emeka Mbah said the adjustments were necessary to retain qualified teachers and maintain standards. Another school owner, Mr. Chris Agbo, stressed that private schools receive no government subvention yet shoulder the responsibility of bridging gaps in public education. He claimed many operators are “running at a loss” due to the capital-intensive nature of managing schools.

The controversy comes against the backdrop of an existing licensing and approval regime for private schools introduced by the Enugu State Government. While the official fee is pegged between ₦100,000 and ₦300,000 depending on school category, proprietors allege that in practice, they pay as high as ₦450,000 to ₦2.2 million.

The tuition crisis highlights the tension between households struggling to afford education and school owners battling economic realities. While parents demand urgent government regulation to curb what they describe as arbitrary hikes, proprietors insist that without adjustments, many schools may be forced to shut down.