By FUNMILAYO ADEYEMI

As schools resumed for new academic year, parents have expressed mixed feelings of joy and concern, attributing rising cost of education to the economic situation in the country.

Speaking in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Monday, Mrs Ammy Elijah, a parent, said while she was excited to see her children return to school after the long holiday, school fee hike and related expenses remained a heavy burden.

“Now that school has resumed, we thank God, but the truth is the economic situation has made school fees and even house rent rise. We are just managing and trusting God,” she said.

Elijah added that while parents remained committed to their children’s education, the increasing costs were worrisome.

She urged parents not to resort to unlawful means of raising money but to embrace legitimate ways of supplementing their income, stressing that children should also be made to understand the realities of financial constraints.

Another parent, Mrs Akuchi Ahamba, said she was relieved to see her children return to school.

“My children are in Junior Secondary School Garki, Area 10. Thank God it is a government school, so the fees are affordable.

“For parents whose children are in private school will pay more because of the high cost of school fees in those schools.

“The Federal Government can come in to relieve parent by subsidising the fees. The economy is biting hard and it will take additional income to meet up with family needs which school fee is one,” she said.

Students also shared in the excitement of resumption after the long holiday, while setting fresh goals and aspiration for excellence in their studies.

Miracle Martins, an SS 2 student of Government Secondary School, Garki, said she was happy to reunite with friends after the six weeks holiday.

“I’m very happy because today is our first term of resumption after a long vacation. I met my friends, and we have already revised our previous subjects.

“My goal this term is to be promoted to the next class and make my parents proud as I work towards becoming a doctor,” Martins said.

Another student, Omobolanle Abu, expressed delight at returning to school.

“I want to put more effort in my studies this term. I don’t want to get B again; I want to get excellence in all my subjects to make my parents proud.

” I already wrote a test and scored 10 out of 10. My plan is to work hard and keep improving,” she said.

At the Junior Secondary School, Area 10, Andrew Saviour, emphasised personal development as the pathway to academic excellence.

“This term, I want to be more focused. Those subjects that gave me B, C, or D, I don’t want that anymore.

“I want excellence in everything, not just for my parents but to become the person I dream of becoming,” he said. (NAN)