The National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS) has blamed the high rate of inflation and cost of living for the hike in tuition fees across private primary and secondary schools in the country.
ALSO READ: UNIMAID school fees hike may lead us into banditry, insurgency, students lament during protest
This was made known by the association’s President, Chief Yemi Otubela in a chat with QUEST TIMES on Wednesday.
According to Otubela, “There is inflation in the economy and the cost of doing business has increased too.”
He argued that the increase in the Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) by Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) coupled with other socio-economic conditions were affecting the private school proprietors in the country.
He noted, “The cost of maintaining the machinery we use, talking about diesel for vehicles, generators and computers in schools and the rising cost of sourcing for capital in the commercial banks and loans rate charges have also skyrocketed which elements making us to increase school fees.”
Otubela emphasized that the amounts paid to their teachers and other staff for welfare packages are sourced from the tuition parents pay.
He said “The private school managements are so magnanimous that the increase is still low when comparing the same proportion to the inflation rate in the country.
“If we apply the economic downturn burden on students several school fees would have gone to 200 percent like inflation but we’re considerate as many of these school fees are still less than 50 percent increase. Therefore we expect parents to reciprocate by appreciating us.”
While speaking on provision of quality education to the students, he noted that they are doing their best as government agencies conduct strict supervision and those schools falling below standard are sanction appropriately.
ALSO READ: As schools resume, parents lament increase in tuition fees in Ibadan
He said “In terms of ensuring quality assurance this is being implemented by the regulatory government agencies and by extension parents directly monitor the progressive performance of their children in various schools since they pay for the service.
“Another factor is that there is high competition in private schools in Nigeria considering the fact that we’re plenty so it is only those that meets the parents’ expectation that they will take their wards there.
The NAPPS boss reiterated that the schools which have been existing for years have their track records so parents are expected to ask questions from neighborhood and past students so that they don’t fall victims of taking their children to hands of unlicensed schools.