Concerned parents of pupils in Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Welfare Primary Schools across the country have appealed to the Federal Government and the Nigerian Air Force authorities to reverse the recent increase in tuition fees.
Spokesman for the concerned parents, Mr. Saheed Akande, made the appeal in a statement made available to newsmen on Wednesday.
He described the increase as excessive and insensitive considering the prevailing economic realities in the country.
Akande said the tuition was increased from ₦46,875 to ₦134,000 per term, representing about a 186 per cent increase, a development he said would impose an unbearable burden on many parents.
He said the increase came at a time when families were already grappling with rising fuel, food, transportation and housing costs, while incomes had remained largely the same.
“No salary or business income has increased at the same rate.
“Many civilian parents may be forced to withdraw their children from the schools if the increase is allowed to stand,” he said.
Akande noted that the latest review was the second increase in four years.
According to him, tuition rose from ₦23,437.50 in 2023 to ₦46,875 in 2024 before the latest increase to ₦134,000 per term.
He described this recent increase as untimely, unreasonable and unsustainable.
He stressed that education required long-term financial planning and predictable school fees.
Akande appealed to the Nigerian Air Force authorities and the Federal Government to rescind the decision and engage parents and other stakeholders before implementing any future review of school fees.
Also speaking, Mrs. Ifedolapo Balogun, a civilian parent with two children at the Nigerian Air Force Primary School, Ibadan, Oyo State, acknowledged the quality of education provided by the school but appealed for a downward review of the fees.
“I commend the Nigerian Air Force for providing quality education, but the increase in tuition from ₦46,875 to ₦134,000 per child is too much for parents to bear under the current economic situation,” she said.
Balogun said paying ₦268,000 per term for two children, excluding other school-related expenses, had become a huge financial burden on her family.
She appealed to the Federal Government and the Nigerian Air Force authorities to reconsider the increase and reduce the fees to enable parents to keep their children in school.
“We are only pleading that the authorities review the fees downward so that our children can continue to enjoy quality education without placing unbearable pressure on their parents,” she said.
When contacted, the Chairman of the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Primary School, Alakia, Ibadan, Mr Olufemi Akinbiyi, said the association also got the news with a shock but it was working with the authority to get a middle ground.
Akinbiyi, who appealed to parents to stay calm, said that the President Bola Tinubu-led Federal Government through the school authority would address parents concerns over the upward review of tuition fees for Air Force primary schools across the country.
He admitted that parents were shocked by the increase in tuition from N44,000 to N134,000 per pupil, describing it as excessive in view of the current economic realities.
According to him, many parents contacted the PTA immediately after receiving the new school bills, to express their concern over their inability to cope with the increase.
“Some parents have two or three children in the school. Paying N134,000 per child amounts to over N300,000 in tuition alone, excluding other charges,” he said.
He noted that the tuition fee was separate from other mandatory payments such as PTA levies, club fees and the cost of school uniforms.
Akinbiyi said parents were not opposed to a review of school fees but insisted that any increase should be gradual and carried out after adequate consultation with stakeholders.
“We are appealing to the Air Force authorities to review the new tuition downward because parents were not carried along before the decision was taken,” he said.
He appealed to President Bola Tinubu, the National Assembly and other relevant government agencies to intervene and ensure that the fees were reviewed downward.
Akinbiyi recalled that public outcry had previously led to a review of increased examination fees, expressing optimism that government would also respond positively to the concerns of parents.
He said the tuition review affected all 17 Nigerian Air Force primary schools across the federation.
The PTA chairman added that some parents feared the sharp increase could discourage civilian enrolment in Air Force schools.
He, however, urged the authorities to reconsider the decision in the interest of parents, pupils and the continued accessibility of quality education.
(vitalnewsngr.com)
