The economic situation in Nigeria has pushed many families into a tight financial corner and the impact is particularly severe for parents who can no longer afford private school tuition for their children. Not only are parents pulling their children out of private schools, some are also pushing their children into the workforce due to the high cost of living. Many children are now taking on roles as breadwinners by hawking goods or working in local factories among others.

Parents who spoke to our correspondents expressed their frustration over the rising cost of education following the removal of fuel subsidies and the increase in transportation costs. Many have begun moving their children from expensive private schools to public institutions. For some families, education has come to a complete halt due to the costs associated with books, uniforms, and additional fees. This financial strain has compelled many children to engage in trading or manual labour to help support their families.

Parents speak

Education Manager, Mr Alake Ayo, opined that the cost of education has become unmanageable for the average family. He stated: “Tuition fees have increased, even for those families that could afford them before, while living expenses have surged four-fold. This makes it impossible for many to continue paying for their children’s education. An estimated five million Nigerian students have dropped out of school overall.”

In private schools, the situation is becoming increasingly desperate as enrollment numbers continue to decline. Mr Chris John, an observer, noted that higher taxes and the poor economy in 2026 are significantly impacting families. “Private schools depend on fees from families that can pay. However, enrollment is plummeting because of these higher taxes and the broader economic challenges. This elitist system is beginning to collapse under these pressures,” he said.

In Enugu State, the cost of technical education has also become a considerable barrier. Education Advocate, Mr Alex Onyia, pointed out that some government schools are now too expensive for low-income families. “The government allocated N30 billion for feeding school children, but fewer than 10 schools are actually benefiting from this funding. Fees at the Government Technical College exceed N300,000 per term, which is unmanageable for poor families. A lot of what is happening in the education system just doesn’t make sense anymore,” he stated.

The crisis is also affecting school management. School Administrator, Miss Akwa Ugo, noted that it is becoming increasingly difficult to keep schools operational, even with improvement of facilities. “It is not rewarding at all right now. Students keep leaving, and parents are constantly finding reasons not to pay fees. Even teachers are quitting without notice, despite receiving timely salaries. This reflects how unstable the situation has become,” she said.

For many teachers, their low salaries barely cover basic living expenses. Social Media Commentator, Mr Stanley Uzo, explained: “Life in Nigeria in 2026 is extremely tough. Schools charge exorbitant fees ranging from N200,000 to N500,000 per child, but they pay teachers very little. While the passion for teaching is commendable, it does not pay the bills. Teachers are building the future while being compensated as if they belong to the past.”

Children have now become breadwinners

A parent, who craved anonymity, expressed concern over the increase in the number of children abandoning school to work at local water factories in Okokomaiko, Lagos as a result of economic hardship. “Children as young as seven or eight, have left school to find work. If you visit Okokomaiko, you’ll see many children lining up, seeking jobs at a popular pure water company. Alarmingly, some parents are bringing their children to plead for work on their behalf. These jobs provide daily pay, which, according to them, can help meet immediate needs. I wish the authorities would come and see for themselves. If this trend is not addressed, the impact of these children not attending school will be devastating, not only for their families but for the nation as a whole.”

Impact on school enrollment

Mrs Blessing Uchenna, a primary school teacher in Ikotun, Lagos, reported that the economic situation has led several parents to withdraw their children from school. “Many children did not return for the second term. In one case, three siblings have stopped attending school and are now at home. When we inquired, their parents cited economic downturn as the reason,” she shared.

For some private primary schools, the economic situation has brought a boom for them. A teacher at a school in Igbo-Elerin, Lagos reported that their enrollment has increased. “We now have more intakes compared to what we had before. The owner of the school brought down the fees. And this made many parents bring their wards to school.”

When asked what the average fee per term was, the teacher stated that: “ In a term, the fee is not up to N30,000 per term. And parents could pay in instalments. “

Huge gains for public schools

Meanwhile, the impact of parents withdrawing their wards from private schools has taken a great toll on public schools, as many are stretched beyond their capacities. A teacher in one of the schools in Iba area of Lagos, who spoke in confidence, explained that despite being in the second term of the academic session, parents were still bringing their wards for enrollment.

His words: “As at two weeks ago, pupils were being admitted to our school. In a class, pupils now number over a hundred.” (Vanguard)

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