Back-to-School Struggles: Parents Battle Rising Fees and Inflation in Nigeria

As the 2025/2026 academic session begins across Nigeria, many parents are overwhelmed by the financial demands of sending their children back to school.

The new session has come with fresh waves of anxiety as families grapple with rising tuition fees, costly textbooks, uniforms and other essentials. This comes at a time when the cost of living continues to soar, leaving many households struggling to feed.

According to the National Bureau of Statistics, Nigeria’s inflation rate hit 21.88 percent in July 2025, making it increasingly difficult for families to meet basic needs, let alone education-related expenses.

Parents of private school students lament that fee hikes are becoming unbearable, while those in public schools face the challenge of poor infrastructure and overstretched teachers.

A single mother, Ngozi Okoro, shared that she once took pride in enrolling her children in a reputable private school. However, after a 30 percent increase in school fees, she is now preparing to transfer them to a cheaper school.
“I had to choose between feeding my children and paying their school fees” she said.

Similarly, a father of four, Abuh Ameh, expressed his frustration over the pressure of fees.
“Every term, the school sends reminders and sometimes my children are sent home. They cry because they don’t want to miss classes, but I cannot always afford to pay on time” he lamented.

Some parents are resorting to desperate measures. Investigations revealed families turning to crowdfunding on social media or selling personal belongings to keep their children in school. A widower, Nuhu Ahmed, admitted he had to part with cherished possessions just to cover tuition and buy textbooks.

Education experts warn that the situation could worsen Nigeria’s already dire education statistics. With over 17 million out-of-school children, one of the highest figures globally, analysts caution that rising costs threaten human capital development and the country’s long-term workforce capacity.

“Education is supposed to be a ladder out of poverty but when it becomes unaffordable, it pushes families deeper into hardship” said education expert Michael Akor.

Public affairs analyst Mazi Christian Idoko urged parents to make realistic choices.
“The most disturbing situation is that some parents insist on schools beyond their financial capacity. My advice is to put children in schools they can afford; this will reduce the pressure” he said.