Private school owners under the aegis of National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools have hinted at the likely increase in tuition to reduce some of the effects of the recent fuel subsidy removal.
The National President of the Association, Yomi Otubela, made this known during a virtual dialogue on Thursday on the topic: “Government Policies and Resultant Effects on Private School Administration: A Case Study on the Removal of Fuel Subsidy”.
According to Otubela, the high cost of running private schools in the country even before the removal of fuel subsidy and now has become unbearable for many of its members.
He stressed that the cost of goods and services, transportation, running generators and other educational needs has become very expensive, forcing many of the members to consider an increase in tuition if they must remain business.
Lamenting, the situation, the chairman said: “Now that fuel subsidy has been removed and the cost of goods and services including transportation and running generators and other educational needs have been on the rise, private schools may not have any option than to increase tuition fees, so that they can remain in business.”
However, the association noted that subsidy removal is not a totally bad idea but the provision of palliatives to cushion the effect of its removal would have been a welcome idea, so as to lessen the burden on their members.
Some of the palliatives suggested by the association include provision of school buses on lease agreement, training of teachers on termly basis, giving of educational grants to teachers and administrators, establishment of educational banks to grant soft loans to teachers, school owners and parents and also the granting of tax holiday to teachers and schools.
He added: “So, it is required that government give special consideration and support to us at this critical time to grow and develop, particularly because of our crucial role to human capital and national development.”
In his remarks, Mr. Bismarck Rewane, a financial and economic expert, who was a guest speaker at the forum noted that of a truth, fuel subsidy removal would surely have damaging effects on the smooth running of private schools, hence, he would not be surprised if private schools increase their fees.
Therefore, he urged private school owners and parents to seek help from the government in the provision of palliatives to ameliorate the resultant effects of the subsidy removal.