Hidden Costs of Public Primary Education in Nigeria: What Parents Need to Know

Hidden Costs of Public Primary Education in Nigeria: What Parents Need to Know

Nigerian public primary education is supposed to be free and accessible to every child. Parents soon find out after sending their children to school that there are many hidden costs.

Because of unofficial educational expenses many low income families incur unnecessary expenses that cuts into their budget for their children education.

The combination of uniform, books and transportation and PTA fees add up to a lot of extra expenses that taxes public primary education in Nigeria.

High cost of school has forced many families into hardship and many children from low income background dropout from school.

Though the government is supposed to provide free education many families still need to pay school related expenses. Multiple secret educational expenses hinders learning and many students can’t finish school.

Hidden Costs of Public Primary Education in Nigeria: What Parents Need to Know

This article exposes the multiple hidden costs students face in public primary schools in Nigeria and the consequences for children and their families.

1. School Uniforms and Materials

Nigerian students in public primary education pay for school uniforms making it a huge hidden cost. The compulsory uniform policy of public schools forces parents to buy all items needed for school attire. Public school families spend big when buying school uniforms because prices vary based on school and area. Students need to buy three basic items which are uniforms, socks and shoes and physical education sportswear.

Students need exercise books, pens, pencils, rulers and erasers as well as uniforms for public primary education in Nigeria. Some schools ask parents to buy textbooks from them and parents have to buy the required materials. Government supplies limited number of textbooks to students but the number is not enough for students causing families to spend extra. School materials become expensive when added up thus creating barrier for low income families who want to provide school needs for their children.

2. PTA and Other Charges

Most Nigerian public primary schools have Parent-Teacher Associations (PTAs) that ask parents to pay participation fees. The levied funds are used to maintain schools through repairs and security as well as supply of extra educational materials. The charges asked from parents through school levies becomes heavy when parents have multiple children in school.

PTA levies is just one of the financial burden schools place on their students since they also ask for payment for exams and report cards as well as extracurricular activities. Some schools ask for extra payment to sustain their facilities which includes furniture and toilets and desking items. Over time many small school fees combined together becomes barrier to education for poor families.

3. Transportation Costs

Children who live far from their school need transportation to get to school. Children must use commercial buses, motorcycles or tricycles to get to school because walking to school is not feasible. Families consider transportation cost as small in the moment until they see the total cost for the year or term.

Parents with multiple children face big challenge when it comes to paying for transportation needs. Children stay at home when parents run out of money to pay for fares. Absenteeism combined with poor academic performance as a result of non attendance.

4. Feeding Expenses

Public primary education in Nigeria puts additional burden on families because of the need for student school meals. The long school hours require many students to take breaks to eat meals throughout the day. The feeding programs in some schools do not cater for all students. Students need money or homemade meals as parents must provide food for their children to eat during the day.

Feeding school children is another financial burden for those who can barely afford basic living expenses. Children that go to school without food experience poor concentration and poor learning outcomes. Children who lack food nutrients will experience poor concentration which results to low academic scores.

5. Cost of Extra Lessons

Teachers in public primary schools work too many hours and their classrooms are overpopulated. The quality of teaching is declining and students are not getting individualized attention from their teachers. Parents opt for private tutoring for their children to help them catch up with their school work. Students are taught by masters and teachers who lead lessons that help students grasp difficult school work while improving their grades.

Private lessons cost money from parents. The tuition fees vary depending on the educational service providers or the number of subjects they teach. The cost of extra school expenses is an added financial burden to families that are already managing other educational expenses.

6. Medical and Health-Related Expenses

School admission may require students to take medical examinations before and after admission. The cost of medical tests is borne by parents as they need to pay for eye tests and hearing examinations and general medical check-up. The need for medical attention after school sickness is necessary for children. Some schools require families to pay for first aid supplies and urgent medical attention.

The medical expenses that poor families need to pay is a big problem. Children get sick because parents sometimes refuse medical examination due to financial constraints which hinders their learning ability.

Impact of Hidden Costs on Education

The hidden costs of public primary education in Nigeria affects children and their families badly. Some of these effects are:

1. Many children don’t finish school because their parents can’t afford school expenses that are not publicly declared. Children who can’t pay fees and expenses can’t complete their education and face limited opportunities.
2. Students’ academic performance drops when they don’t have enough educational materials or can’t eat well. They face barriers to academic progress because of this.
3. School expenses force parents to make painful choices which means they have to cut down on essentials including food.
4. Better learning experiences are for children of the rich who can pay all the required school fees while poor children face limited financial resources.

Solutions

To reduce the burden of hidden costs on families, the government and other stakeholders can:

1. Give students free uniforms and books and stationery to reduce parental financial burden.
2. Expand free school meals so every child can eat well during the day and concentrate in class.
3. Rural area school children will benefit from government sponsored free or discounted transportation.
4. Increase public school funding by the government so PTA levies and other school fees can be abolished.
5. The government should monitor schools to stop unnecessary fees that make education costly for parents.

Conclusion

Public primary education in Nigeria charges families hidden expenses which makes the service expensive. Education is a barrier for low income families because they have to pay for uniforms and school supplies and PTA levies and transportation and feeding and additional lessons and medical expenses. Disadvantaged children face high rate of school abandonment and poor academic performance because of these hidden educational costs.

The government should take drastic measures to reduce hidden expenses that prevent children from getting quality education. Education can be free to all children when government supply free academic materials and expand their meal service schemes and provide transport assistance. The solution to these educational problems will lead to a better future for Nigerian children and improved national education standards.

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