Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos has increased the boarding fee for public boarding schools in Lagos to N100,000 per term amid the ongoing economic hardship in the country.

The new fee, which is an upward review from the initial N35,000 payable in all public boarding schools in the state, represents an almost 300% increase.

In a circular released by the Lagos state government through the ministry of basic and secondary education, the government directed all boarding school principals to implement the new fee as students prepare for the 2024/2025 academic session.

Olufemi Asaolu, the director of basic education services in the ministry, signed the circular on behalf of the permanent secretary.

It read, “I have the directive of the Honourable Commissioner to inform all public boarding house schools in Lagos State that the state government has approved the review of the boarding fee payable in all public boarding house schools in Lagos state.

“The new approved fee is One Hundred Thousand Naira (100,000) only. I am further directed to inform you that no additional fees of any form should be collected by the schools.”

The circular added that “the resumption date remains 15th September 2024.”

The increase comes as parents struggle to cope with the rising prices of goods, particularly books and educational materials, in preparation for next week’s resumption in both public primary and secondary schools across the country.