Nigeria’s education system in crisis amid rising petrol prices
By Muhammad Abdul-wahab
As Nigeria grapples with increasing petroleum costs and ongoing oil shortages, families, educators, and students are feeling the strain.
The anticipated rise in petrol prices from the Dangote Refinery is causing widespread concern about the potential impact on education, transportation, and the overall cost of living. Parents, school proprietors, and education stakeholders are anxious and uncertain about the future of schools and the fate of Nigerian youth.
In Akure, the deputy headmistress of an Islamic nursery and primary school expressed her frustrations. She explained that textbook prices have skyrocketed, while staff are demanding higher wages to cope with inflation.
“How can we meet these demands when parents themselves are struggling?” she asked.
“We fear the inevitable question: how will parents afford increased school fees?” Likewise, the proprietor emphasized that the increase in petroleum prices has created a ripple effect, driving up costs across almost every sector and putting schools at risk of closure as parents struggle to meet their financial obligations.
In Ibadan, a taxi driver and father of four, Mr Olatunji, shared his struggles. He explained how the oil shortage has prevented him from working for five consecutive days, leaving his family in a precarious financial situation.
“With the hike and scarcity of oil, my taxi business has come to a halt,” he said. His eldest child, now in their second year at a federal university, faces school fees nearing ₦100,000.
“My second child just graduated from secondary school and wants to attend university, but how will we manage the costs?” he wondered. His other two children are still in secondary school, where fees and textbook prices continue to rise. “We now eat just twice a day, sometimes, not at all,” he added.
Mrs Taiwo Kehinde, a civil servant and mother of three from Lagos, also expressed her concerns. Her youngest child is in a public secondary school, while the older two are in private schools.
She fears that another rise in petrol prices would force her to withdraw her children from private education.
“We are barely coping as it is. If prices go up again, I won’t be able to afford private schooling. Even public schools have their costs,” she said.
School administrators are similarly anxious. Mrs Folake Anifowose, a proprietor of a private primary school in Ilorin, described how the situation has made it difficult to maintain operations.
“Everything from fuel to food supplies for the students has become a challenge,” she said.
She has already had to cut back on extracurricular activities and school trips and is considering laying off non-essential staff.
“The reality is, we cannot sustain the school under these conditions,” she admitted.
The potential increase in petrol prices from the Dangote Refinery, combined with persistent oil shortages, poses a significant threat to the stability of Nigeria’s education system.
Stakeholders are proposing several potential solutions to alleviate the burden. According to Dr Kadiri, who spoke in an interview, “The government should provide subsidies for schools, especially in the areas of transportation and food services. Special grants could also help low-income families meet rising education costs.”
Moreover, stakeholders are urging the federal government to adjust the national minimum wage to reflect inflation. Such an adjustment, if implemented, could provide some relief to families struggling to meet basic needs, including education expenses.
Additionally, investment in renewable energy sources, such as solar power for schools, could reduce reliance on petroleum and ease the financial strain on parents and school operators, as engineer Adewale pointed out in an interview.
Local communities could also play a role by supporting schools through fundraising and donation initiatives. By building a sense of solidarity, communities could help offset rising costs and ensure that education remains accessible to all.
The current crisis is more than just an economic issue; it is a threat to the future of Nigeria’s youth. With many parents already struggling to pay school fees and school proprietors fearing closure, the outlook is uncertain. Without immediate intervention, the consequences could be devastating, leaving a generation of students without the means to continue their education.
As the country waits for the next development in fuel pricing, one thing is clear: Nigeria’s education system is at a tipping point.
