September 25, (THEWILL) – Many parents in Kano are removing their children from private schools and enrolling them in public schools because of the current economic hardships occasioned by the withdrawal of subsidy on petrol.
Primary and secondary schools in the state resumed sessions two weeks ago, after the summer holiday during which parents grappled with soaring prices of goods and services that had depleted their incomes.
An investigation by THEWILL in the commercial city revealed that many other parents and guardians are relocating their children and wards to “cheaper” private schools because of the prevailing economic situation.
The investigation also found that some other parents have removed their children from “far away” schools to the ones nearby, so as to cut transportation costs.
One of the parents who simply gave his name as Sani Na Malam,said he had removed his daughter from a private secondary school and enrolled her in a public one,”not because the public school is better, but because I can no longer afford the N45,000 I have been paying as school fees per term, excluding books and transportation costs.”
Na Malam said he took “the hard decision” because he could not afford to bear such expenses again,as the current high prices of foodstuff and other essential commodities had depleted his resources.
“I know that the private school are better in terms of qualitative and quantitative education,but I can no longer afford it for my daughter because of the biting economic hardships in the country, so, I took the drastic measure,” he explained.
Another parent, Sadiya Ilu,a mother of four, said she had removed her son and daughter from private junior secondary school and private primary school, respectively, and took them to nearby public schools,as she could not afford their school fees,again.
Sadiya, a widow, said she resorted to the measure because “virtually all my income from my small business is channeled to feeding and other basic necessities.Not much is left with which to pay school fees, again.”
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A staff of one of the public schools in the capital city who pleaded anonymity, confirmed the development,adding that many of such parents had been enrolling their children in the Government schools,”and we are accepting them after following the necessary procedures.”
Abdullahi Yusuf is a seasoned journalist, communicator and was previously the Deputy Editor-In-Chief and Zonal Manager, News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, Jos, where he retired on December 15, 2021
