As students and pupils in Osun State begin the third term of the 2023/2024 academic session, parents have raised alarm over the high school fees, increasing food prices, and soaring fuel costs.
Florence Oluwagbemiga, a banker and parent, shared her worries about the escalating cost of food items and the recent notification from the school regarding a hike in tuition fees for the new term.
Expressing her concerns, she remarked, “The continuous increase in school fees is a cause for concern. It’s challenging to keep up with these rising expenses, especially with the additional costs of providing for the children’s daily needs.”
Rashidat Jimoh, a fashion designer and another parent, highlighted the challenges of commuting her children to school, especially after the recent fuel scarcity that has led to a surge in transportation expenses.
She explained the tedious process of using public transportation to drop off and pick up her children, emphasizing the strain it puts on her and her children, especially with the current fuel situation.
Hussein Arogun, a civil servant, also shared his struggles of shuttling his six children to and from school daily due to the lack of quality schools in his community, compounded by the fuel scarcity adding to his financial burden.
Addressing the concerns raised by parents, a school proprietress named Florence cited various operational costs such as staff salaries, administrative expenses, fuel for generators, and other overheads as reasons for the adjustment in school fees.
She stressed the need for schools to sustain operations amidst economic challenges, affirming that the fee increment is necessary for their survival and quality service delivery.
Amidst the fuel scarcity affecting the state, the Osun State Government has warned petrol station owners against hoarding petroleum products to prevent artificial scarcity, emphasizing the need for fair pricing to alleviate the public’s economic strain.