Some parents in Bauchi have decried the increase in their children’s tuition fees as primary and secondary schools reopened after the third term holiday.

The parents expressed their concerns in separate interviews on Wednesday in Bauchi.

They warned that the development could force some children to drop out of school as some parents and guardians could no longer afford the fees.

Augustina Ofelo, a parent and trader at Yelwa Market, described the increase in her son’s tuition fee from N25,000 to N35,000 as alarming.

Ms Ofelo said the increase would affect her pap business, which she relied on to support her family.

“Before, I paid the school fees by instalment, but now I have to struggle harder to pay in three instalments so that the school does not send my son home,” she said.

Another parent, Haruna Umar, said he operates a tricycle, popularly known as Keke, to support his family.

He said that the increase in his daughter’s school fees was a major concern because he did not make enough from the tricycle business.

“I hire a tricycle to work from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the rate of N8,000, and I buy fuel for N10,000. I make around N18,000 to N20,000, which can hardly meet all my family’s needs and pay school fees. So, I decided that my daughter should stay at home and attend only lessons,” Mr Umar explained.

Mr Umar said that his daughter would resume school when his financial situation improved.

Salina Ali, a widow, said the school informed her by text message about a N10,000 increase in her son’s fees. She said she now had to pay N45,000 instead of the initial N35,000.

Ms Ali said as a widow, she catered for her children alone, adding that her N150,000 salary was no longer enough amid the current economic situation. She appealed to the government to intervene by helping parents cope with the burden through salary increases and lower petrol prices.

“The high cost of fuel is a major factor contributing to the rising costs of goods and services,” she said.

Yohana Zaka said he could no longer afford to buy snacks and juice for his children to take to school because he had to cut down on several expenses.

Mr Zaka said that urgent government intervention was needed to enable parents to provide proper education for their children and wards.

(NAN)