Private school operators in Nigeria are facing intensifying financial pressure as surging fuel prices, rising operational costs, and weakening household incomes strain their ability to sustain quality education.

National President of the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools, NAPPS, Yomi Otubela, in a detailed assessment of the sector, highlighted the severe financial strain facing school owners, warning that current coping mechanisms are unsustainable without urgent government intervention.

Otubela noted that energy and transport costs have surged dramatically, with many schools recording over a 100 percent increase in diesel and petrol expenses compared to the same period last year.

Schools, he said, are managing the impact through internal adjustments, postponement of projects, and, in some cases, dipping into reserves.

On staffing, Otubela described a “delicate situation,” as inflation drives higher expectations among workers while schools struggle to implement significant salary increases.

He added that a growing number of experienced teachers are exiting the system, worsened by migration trends, thereby intensifying retention challenges.

Instructional materials have also become significantly more expensive, with costs rising between 70 and 100 percent depending on sourcing, while maintenance expenses have climbed by as much as 80 percent due to increased transportation and material costs.

Despite these pressures, many schools have exercised caution in adjusting fees. Where increases have occurred, they range between 20 and 40 percent, as proprietors seek to avoid pricing parents out of the system. However, this has left some schools operating under considerable financial strain.

Transport services have not been spared. Bus fees have risen by 30 to 60 percent, leading some schools to reduce routes, consolidate pick-up points, or suspend operations entirely due to declining patronage and rising costs.

Otubela further revealed that parent payment defaults are on the rise, reaching between 25 and 35 percent in some areas. In response, schools have introduced flexible payment plans and incentives, though these measures have had limited impact.

Enrolment patterns are also shifting, with some parents withdrawing their children or transferring them to more affordable schools, reflecting broader economic realities.

To stay afloat, schools have implemented cost-cutting measures including scaling down extracurricular activities, postponing excursions, and halting expansion projects.

Beyond economic pressures, Otubela identified policy inconsistency as a major concern, noting that frequent changes and unclear directives undermine long-term planning and stability within the education sector.

He lamented the lack of direct government support to private schools, despite their significant contribution to education delivery nationwide.

To address the crisis, Otubela called for targeted interventions including tax waivers, access to single-digit interest loans, improved foreign exchange access for educational materials, and subsidised fuel for school transportation.

He emphasised that structured support for critical inputs such as fuel and teaching materials, alongside affordable financing, remains the most urgent priority.

“The reality is that private schools in Nigeria are operating under immense pressure,” he said. “What is required is a coordinated effort between government and stakeholders to sustain the sector and safeguard the future of our children.”