By Admin
Rising economic hardship in Nigeria is forcing many parents to withdraw their children from private schools and enroll them in public institutions as the cost of education continues to increase.
Parents say the situation worsened following recent economic reforms, including the removal of fuel subsidies, which have driven up transportation costs and overall living expenses, making private school tuition increasingly unaffordable.
Education stakeholders note that many families are struggling to pay for tuition, books and uniforms, while some children have been forced to abandon schooling entirely and engage in petty trading or manual labour to support their households.
Observers also report a decline in enrollment in many private schools, while public schools are experiencing a surge in student numbers, stretching existing facilities and teaching resources.
Some teachers say classrooms in several public schools now accommodate more than 100 pupils, raising concerns about the quality of learning and the ability of schools to effectively manage the growing student population.
Education advocates have therefore called on government at all levels to strengthen support for the education sector, expand school infrastructure and implement policies that will ease the financial burden on families and prevent more children from dropping out of school.
