High School Fees and Hardship Keep Nasarawa Kids at Home

Five weeks into the new school year in Nasarawa State, many children are still at home due to tough economic times and high school fees.

In Lafia, the state capital, many school-aged kids were spotted on the streets early Monday morning when they should have been in class.

Some parents blame the current economic situation. They say it is becoming harder to pay for their children's education, especially school fees.

Reports show that some schools have raised their fees by over 30 percent. This increase adds more stress on parents, especially at the start of the term when many costs come up.

Paul Dangana, a civil servant in Nasarawa State, shared that his kids are still at home while he waits for his October salary. The new term has already started.

Mr Dangana worries about how to keep his children in school with the rising cost of living.

Abdulhamid Kwarra, a former Majority Leader of the Nasarawa State House of Assembly, advised parents to enroll their kids in schools they can afford. He said it is better than letting them stay home due to high fees.

Nuhu Jalal, a Point of Sale (POS) operator in Lafia, mentioned he paid his children's school fees early. He wanted to avoid the school sending them home.

He noted that while the school raised fees, he managed to save extra to pay them.

Some private school owners in Lafia told our correspondent that they increased school fees because of many taxes and levies from state and local governments. They also pointed out the rising costs of running their schools.

One school representative explained that school fees are their main source of income for covering operational costs.

"We rely on money from the school to pay our bills," the representative said.

"We cover salaries, taxes, and upkeep of facilities, including school resources and books."

The situation also affects students who started the term but could not pay their school fees.

Some were seen hanging around school grounds after reportedly being sent home by the school authorities.

This trend raises worries about how economic hardship and rising education costs affect school attendance and enrollment in Nasarawa State. Many kids may miss out on important classroom learning as the term continues.