Check private schools’ exorbitant fees, parents tell Tambuwal

Some parents in Sokoto State have called on Governor Aminu Tambuwal to hasten the implementation of his education reforms to bring relief to parents.

The call followed what they called exorbitant charges by private schools.

“They are charging between N40,000 and N50,000 as school fee per child not minding the prevailing economic situation in the country,” one of the residents, Engineer Aminu Nuhu told Daily Trust, suggesting need for government to regulate the activities of the private schools.

“These schools rely on public schools for some of their laboratory equipment and their teachers are not better than those in public schools. They also finish their examination weeks before the public schools and resume same time, meaning they are shortchanging parents,” he said.

He asked for improvement in reform being implemented under the state of emergency, saying, “I know many parents who withdrew their children from private schools because of school fees but could not enroll them in public schools because of their condition despite the current state of emergency over education in the state.”

Malam Bashir Rabe Mani said it was particularly challenging to have to face high school fees this particular time. “Parents are finding it difficult to cater for other needs of their families. I don’t know how they will cope with the two,” he said.