Parents Cry Out as Private School Fees Soar in Taraba, Demand Government Intervention

Parents and guardians across Taraba State have raised the alarm over the rising cost of private school education, as the new academic session begins with yet another round of tuition increases and additional compulsory charges. The development has placed unprecedented financial pressure on families already grappling with soaring costs of food, transportation, healthcare and other basic necessities, sparking urgent calls for government intervention.

The concerns, observed by DAILY POST, reflect a growing frustration among parents who say that repeated increases in tuition fees and other charges are making quality education increasingly difficult for low- and middle-income families to afford. Mary Pius, a mother of four, told our reporter that some schools introduce new charges or increase existing fees at the beginning of academic sessions without giving parents adequate opportunity to question the basis for such adjustments.

Beyond tuition fees, parents are also expected to pay for uniforms, textbooks, examination fees, development levies, technology charges, transportation and other school-related expenses, substantially increasing the overall financial burden of educating a child. An educationist, Katherine Wasa, noted that these numerous additional charges had made it increasingly difficult for families to plan their finances. "Beyond tuition fees, families are sometimes required to pay for uniforms, textbooks, examination fees, development levies, technology charges, transportation and other school-related expenses, further increasing the cost of educating a child," Wasa said.

For some families, the situation has become so dire that parents are being forced to reconsider their choice of schools, with some transferring their children to public schools as a means of reducing the financial burden. Adamu Ishaq, a parent, said the persistent financial pressure associated with private schools had compelled many families to enrol their children in public schools. "The situation has compelled most parents to go ahead and enrol their children and wards in public schools, but the financial burden from these private schools has continued to give most of us sleepless nights," Ishaq said.

While private schools have played an important role in complementing government-owned schools and expanding access to education across Taraba, parents believe that stronger regulatory measures are needed to prevent arbitrary increases in fees. They have urged the Taraba State Government, through the relevant education authorities, to engage proprietors of private schools and establish clearer guidelines governing tuition fees and other compulsory charges. Parents are also demanding greater transparency in the management of school fees, insisting that they should be informed in advance of the complete cost of educating their children before the commencement of each academic session.

Kabiru Hussain, another concerned parent, specifically called on the Taraba State House of Assembly to consider legislative measures that would protect parents from what he described as unreasonable increases in private school fees. "I believe the State House of Assembly has the power to intervene by regulating tuition fees in private schools, especially now that public schools are free across our dear state," Hussain said.

The parents further appealed to the government to establish an effective complaint mechanism through which they could report arbitrary fee increases, hidden charges and other practices capable of placing unnecessary financial pressure on families. They argued that the issue should not be viewed merely as a disagreement between parents and private school proprietors, noting that excessive school fees could have wider implications for access to education and the future of children across the state.

The situation in Taraba reflects a broader challenge facing families across Nigeria, where the cost of private education has continued to outpace inflation and wage growth. With public schools struggling with infrastructure deficits and teacher shortages, many parents have turned to private schools as an alternative, only to find themselves trapped in a cycle of escalating costs. The absence of a regulatory framework to govern fee structures has left parents at the mercy of school proprietors, who often introduce new charges without consultation or justification. As the new academic session gets underway, the voices of Taraba parents serve as a powerful reminder that access to quality education should not be determined by the depth of one's pocket. The government's response to this growing crisis will be a critical test of its commitment to protecting the rights of families and ensuring that every child, regardless of their background, has the opportunity to learn and thrive.