By Jumai Nwachukwu/Angel Adebowale
THE resumption of schools, once a time of excitement and new beginnings, has now become a source of anxiety for countless families. As economic hardship bites harder, parents across Delta State and beyond are left to wonder how they will continue to provide for their children in an environment where the cost of everything, from transportation to tuition, continues to climb with no relief in sight.
A week into the resumption of the 2024/2025 academic session, parents and guardians in Delta State are facing an increasingly harsh reality: soaring costs of education, transportation, and basic goods. The rising inflation and ongoing economic challenges, driven in part by the removal of the fuel subsidy, have pushed many families to the brink, forcing them to make difficult decisions about their children’s education. The struggle to keep up with rising costs has been felt across board, affecting not only parents but also school administrators, who are grappling with their own operational challenges.
The economic hardship has led to a significant strain on household budgets, with many parents having to adjust to the new financial realities. The Proprietress of Leocons Educational Centre in Asaba Mrs. Martina Osaji, shared her concern over the situation. She noted that many students may not return to school this academic year due to skyrocketing transportation costs. “Most parents who normally pay their children’s school fees before resumption are now finding it difficult,” she said, expressing worry about the drop in the number of early fee payments. She added that schools across the state are at risk of collapse if the economic crisis continues unchecked. The prices of books, school bus services, and teachers’ salaries are all expected to rise as a result of the deteriorating economic situation.
Similarly, the Principal of Hollywood International School, Asaba, Mrs Ifeoma Omaliko, noted a decline in enrollment in the primary section of her school, while observing an increase in the secondary section. Like Mrs. Osaji, she expressed concern about the future, stating that the transportation hike is a significant factor in many students not returning. Parents, faced with rising fuel costs, are being forced to withdraw their children and enroll them in schools closer to home. She also highlighted the difficulties schools face in retaining staff due to the economic situation, noting that private institutions that fail to adjust to the new minimum wage may lose their employees.
For many parents, the economic crunch has made even basic school expenses difficult to manage. Mrs. Celestina Ayodele, a widow, shared her struggles with her daughter’s schooling. Her daughter attends Government Model Secondary School, but commuting from Okpanam has become a challenge. Mrs. Ayodele said that to save on transportation costs, her daughter is often forced to walk to the junction, adding that rising costs have even led to her daughter occasionally missing school. The cost of school uniforms has also risen sharply. “I used to pay ₦16,000 for her uniform, but now it’s ₦21,000,” she lamented. As a widow, she finds it extremely difficult to juggle these expenses alongside the daily cost of living.
Other parents are also feeling the pinch, with some even contemplating withdrawing their children from private schools to reduce costs. Mr. Charles Okafor, who relies solely on his government salary, explained that his income is no longer sufficient to support his children’s education. The government’s frequent delays in salary payments only exacerbate the situation. “There’s no money to give my children for school,” he explained, adding that he now only goes to work three times a week to cut down on transportation costs. The promise of a new minimum wage remains unfulfilled, leaving him in a constant struggle to provide for his family.
Mrs. Lucky Favour, another parent, described the economic situation as “very hard and unbearable.” Rising transportation costs have forced her daughters to walk home from school daily. The school fees, too, have increased dramatically, from ₦70,000 to ₦120,000 per child. “I can’t even afford new clothes for them anymore,” she said, her frustration palpable. The rising cost of living has forced her to cut back on non-essential spending, but even that hasn’t been enough to ease the burden. “How long can we keep going like this?” she asked, echoing the concerns of many parents in the region.
For some families, the strain is even more overwhelming. MrObiazorNwata, another parent, described the country as a “suicidal place” for families trying to provide for their children. He lamented that his salary barely covers his children’s school fees, leaving little to nothing for transportation and feeding costs. “Only government officials who steal public funds for their selfish interests are coping,” he said, reflecting a deep sense of frustration with the system. For him and many others, the situation seems almost insurmountable, with no immediate relief in sight.
The rising cost of education and transportation is not only a burden for parents but also a constant worry for those trying to balance their weekly expenses. Mrs Treasure Ndidiamaka, a mother of two, said that the recent hikes in transportation and tuition fees have added a significant burden to her household budget.
Similarly, Mrs Amanda, a mother of three, expressed how the situation has forced her to take on extra work to make ends meet. “I’ve had to cut back on non-essential spending, but it’s still stressful,” she said, adding that despite the difficulties, she’s determined to give her children the best education possible.
Other parents, like Mr. Enweniwe, are barely getting by. “Coping? We are only surviving by God’s mercy,” he said, voicing a sentiment shared by many families across Delta State. For him, as for countless others, the rising costs have made life in the state—and the country at large—almost unbearable. “The situation is disheartening. It’s only God that’s helping us,” he added, summing up the deep sense of despair many parents feel as they try to navigate the ongoing economic crisis.
The economic hardship in Delta State mirrors the challenges faced by parents across Nigeria. In Lagos State, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu recently reviewed boarding school fees, increasing them from ₦35,000 per term to ₦100,000 per term—an almost 300 percent hike.
Meanwhile, in Edo State, the government has indefinitely suspended the resumption of schools, leaving parents and students in limbo as they await further developments. While Kano State has called for schools to resume today, after a week of postponement. Across the country, the rising cost of living has placed an unprecedented strain on families, particularly those with children in school.
For many parents, the current situation is unsustainable. As costs continue to rise, they are left with fewer options, often having to choose between their children’s education and basic survival. The once-simple task of sending children to school has become an immense financial challenge, one that many fear they may no longer be able to meet.
The toll is not just financial—it is emotional and psychological, as parents are forced to make increasingly difficult decisions about their children’s futures. For now, many are simply holding on, hoping for better days ahead.
