By Mary Agidi

“Well, it is really on the high side considering the economic situation of the country. Aside from that, the schools are always designing new ways to collect money, targeting the children’s predisposition and interests, knowing fully well that nobody wants their kids to be left out. Imagine the whole class paying for something with the exception of your children?

“It doesn’t look good at all. Primary and secondary school education is now way more expensive than university education.”

The above was the reaction of a 45-year-old parent, Dr. Oluwadamilola Tagba, to the recent trend in Nigeria’s education system, especially in private schools, where parents now incur extra expenses for pupils’ graduations beginning from the kindergarten level.

Decades ago, end-of-year parties in public schools were celebrated with cultural dances and short dramas for only the graduating Primary Six pupils. The expenses incurred by parents were minimal as they only provided costumes such as aso-ofi and native beads for children participating in the activities. Other pupils simply wore their school uniforms. Almost every parent had these costumes at home, while those who didn’t could easily borrow from neighbours.

The cost parents bore then was next to nothing compared to today’s practice, which is predominant in private schools.

Since the proliferation of private schools in Nigeria, parents who seek quality education for their children—due to the poor conditions of many government schools—have been financially suffocated by extra expenses to cover avoidable but mandated extracurricular activities.

Given the current economic hardship that bites harder on low-income earners, recent end-of-year graduations in private schools have sparked complaints and groans among parents whose children are moving up classes. This shift has raised concerns as pupils in kindergarten, nursery, and primary levels are now being celebrated for merely advancing to another stage of basic education.

These celebrations, regardless of the pupils’ levels, mount extra pressure on parents, who run helter-skelter to offset the additional fees demanded by schools. The children, oblivious to their parents’ financial struggles, demand special treatment for the day—including new clothes, graduation gowns, shoes, and other expenses.

The just-concluded graduation ceremonies, however, drew more complaints than usual, probably because of the recent economic reforms accompanied by rising costs of living, including school fees.

“We run a capitalist economy,” says a 38-year-old father of one, Mr. Abidemi Brahimon. According to him, private schools enjoy too much freedom without adequate government regulation. “Whenever parents complain of extortion, schools will tell you to take your child elsewhere, knowing they all operate the same way.”

Calling on parents, especially mothers, to rise against this trend, he narrated how he managed the situation when his daughter was in primary school:

“I have been there several times. I rarely bothered about my child’s end-of-the-year ceremony. I think I only did it twice throughout her primary school. They even said she wouldn’t get gifts. I said no need. I told her she wouldn’t be there that day; she would be with me, and we would go out to have fun together.”


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Mothers Blamed

Fathers have, however, blamed women for supporting this idea without considering its financial consequences. Dr. Tagba lamented how mothers embrace this modern money-making tactic in private schools by joining teachers and children to compel fathers to fund avoidable expenses.

His words: “The kids, their mothers, and the teachers seem to enjoy it. I don’t though—perhaps because the bills are on me. If the kids put pressure on you ehn! You’ll cough out the money just for peace of mind and sanity.”

He also described it as a competition among parents, where some use the ceremonies as an opportunity to show off, reflecting the shallow “my farm is bigger than yours” mentality in society.

On his part, Mr. Abidemi said: “Women cause this problem. No bias. They say it’s so their children won’t feel bad seeing others celebrating.”


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What Applies in Developed Countries

Nigerians living abroad have described the trend as alien to the educational systems in their host countries.

“Nothing of such exists here in the early school grades,” says Mr. Niyi, a UK-based Nigerian. “Graduation in elementary classes isn’t real. Only high school and college graduations are recognised.”

Another UK-based Nigerian, Mrs. Funke, added: “For end-of-year parties, there’s nothing like paying. Schools organise simple parties, and all your child has to do is wear party clothes and bring a plate, maybe for one or two friends—totally voluntary. Sometimes they ask for just a pound or two for a sweet treat. That’s it. No pressure, no extortion.”

Similarly, a US-based Nigerian, Mr. Adegbehingbe, who relocated when his kids were under 10, affirmed that nothing of such happens there compared to what is trending in Nigerian schools.


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Stakeholders’ Roles in Curbing the Misplaced Priority

An investigation by The Hope revealed that a few private schools in Ondo State are against this trend.

The proprietor of St. Lawrence Model College, Ijoka Akure, Mr. Omobomi, described the practice as an avenue for schools to make illegal money.

“All these are indiscipline. I don’t do it in my school. Even for SS3 valedictory services, I don’t allow academic gowns because I see no reason for it. Must I be forced to do what others are doing? Where are KG students graduating to?”

He, however, blamed the government for failing to enforce regulations that would curtail excesses in private schools. According to him, many proprietors disregard government rules on school activities without facing penalties, leading to the rise of malpractices.

From stakeholders’ views, the responsibility of regulating the excesses of private schools lies with both parents and government. Parents have the right to decide which school activities to allow for their children in order to cut costs, provided it does not affect their academic performance.

Meanwhile, the Imo State Government recently announced an immediate ban on graduation parties for kindergarten, nursery, and junior secondary school pupils, saying the measure will reduce financial burdens on parents and redirect attention to children’s academic development.