Back to school, back to bills: How Nigeria’s economy Is stretching parents beyond their limits

By Osordi Ayomide

School resumption used to come with excitement. New uniforms, new shoes, new books and the joy of seeing children return to the classroom. But for many Nigerian parents today, that excitement is gradually being replaced by anxiety. For the past two weeks, school resumption has been a major source of concern in many homes as parents struggle to meet the rising cost of school fees, textbooks, writing materials, uniforms and other requirements. For some, the question is no longer simply, “What does my child need for school?” but, “Where will the money come from?”

The pressure is particularly heavier for families with more than three children. Providing for one or two children is already demanding in an economy where food, transportation, rent and other basic necessities continue to take a large chunk of household income. But when the same expenses are multiplied across four, five or more children, the mathematics becomes frightening. A parent who may have been able to cope with one child’s school expenses can suddenly find himself or herself staring at a bill that is several times the monthly income.

This reality perhaps explains why the story of a woman reportedly caught stealing school materials from a stationery shop has generated so much conversation. Reports that she was caught with items including notebooks, pencils, crayons, biros and stockings have attracted condemnation, and rightly so. Stealing cannot be defended simply because someone is struggling. It further raises the question on what kind of economic pressure is capable of pushing a parent to risk her dignity and freedom just to provide school materials for her children? The question does not excuse stealing. It reminds us that behind some desperate decisions are people battling pressures many of us may never see.

However, school resumption should also be a moment for parents to take a hard look at their choices. There is nothing wrong with wanting the best education for one’s children, but the most expensive school is not automatically the best school. Some parents put themselves under enormous financial pressure because they want their children in schools that match their social status or because they do not want their neighbours to think they cannot afford it. But what is the point of sending a child to an expensive school if the fees leave the family struggling to eat, pay rent or meet other basic needs? Parents need to learn to cut their coat according to their cloth.

There is also a need to reconsider the growing list of materials demanded during resumption. Parents should be able to distinguish between what their children genuinely need and what can be postponed, substituted or obtained through other means. The internet has changed the way students learn. With access to credible educational websites, digital libraries, online lectures and research materials, students can now explore subjects far beyond what a single textbook can offer. Recommended textbooks remain important, but parents should not be pushed into financial distress simply because they cannot purchase every item on a long school list.

Schools also have a role to play. This is not the easiest economic period for Nigerian families, and school proprietors should recognise that reality. Where possible, schools should review their requirements, prioritise essential materials and give parents reasonable flexibility. Education should not become a contest over who can afford the longest book list or the most expensive school uniform. The goal should be to educate children, not to financially exhaust the people paying their fees.

Perhaps the larger conversation is one Nigerians need to have about family planning and responsible financial decisions. Having children comes with responsibilities that extend beyond giving birth; parents must also consider what they can realistically provide for them. Family planning should therefore be taken more seriously, particularly when making decisions about the size of a family. At the same time, parents must not allow schools, neighbours or society to pressure them into living above their means. Choose schools you can comfortably afford. Buy the most important learning materials first. Use available educational resources to supplement what you cannot immediately afford. A child’s future should matter more than appearances, and a family’s peace of mind should never be sacrificed just to prove that it can afford what it cannot.