Parents Opt For Public, Less Expensive Private Schools In Osun

 

Yusuf Oketola

THREE weeks into the 2022/2023 academic session in the State of Osun, parents and guidance who have their children and wards in private schools are now opting for public and less expensive private schools, investigations have revealed.

According to findings, poor economic conditions of the parents and hyperinflation in the country, couple with increment in the fees of some private schools are responsible for the withdrawal of children from the relatively standard schools to public or less expensive private schools. 

OSUN DEFENDER visited Osogbo Government High School, Osogbo, venue of the Entrance Examinations for those seeking admission into Junior and Senior Secondary School classes at public schools on Tuesday.

The medium noted that majority of pupils and students who came to write the examinations are from private schools.

In spite of the third week into the new session with academic activities fully ongoing, the medium observed that parents are still withdrawing their child from private schools to enroll them in public schools as a result of their financial incapability.

The harsh economy currently being experienced by some of the people across the country is beginning to take a toll on the educational sector, according to some parents who spoke with OSUN DEFENDER.

In Osogbo, a good percentage of parents are currently withdrawing their children to cheaper private schools, or move them to public schools, accusing the ‘the standard private schools’ of charging exorbitant fees without giving quality education. 

The parents also accused the private schools of inflating price of books and other writing materials while mandating them to buy from the school.

Many of the private schools, according to the parents, ask their students to pay for sports fee without any provision or facility for such activities in the school.

Speaking with OSUN DEFENDER, a parent who brought her daughter for the entrance exam into public school, disclosed that she withdrew her child from a private school after completion of JSS III to start Senior Secondary School at the government school to reduce her financial commitment.

The woman who identified herself as Victoria Agboola said: “Many of the students who came for this examination are from private schools. Their parents withdrew them to continue their education in public schools based on their financial status. Many cannot continue to afford the huge amount they pay in the private schools.

“I have two children in private school. I have to withdraw one and leave the other. At least, I will be relieved on the payment. My daughter who is currently in JSS II at private school pays N40,000 and the school is still demanding for additional N10,000 as sport fee. Whereas, there is no sport facility in the school”. 

Findings by OSUN DEFENDER across the state capital reveals that the pressure to reduce spending has led some parents to take extreme measures like keeping their children at home pending the time they can afford to clear backlog of school fees and levies owed.

Commenting on the situation, the proprietor of a private school in the Kajoyo axis of Kobongbogboe, Mrs. Veronica Adelani, described as worrisome, the current trend in which parents are left with no other option than to jeopardise the education of their children as a result of the current economic downturn.

Adelani stressed that despite charging considerably low fees, parents are still withdrawing their children from her school.

She said: “Prior to the resumption date, some of our parents had informed us that their children would not be returning to our school due to financial constraints.”

Another parent, Mrs. Abibat Kolawole, told OSUN DEFENDER that she could no longer pay the fee of her children in private school because of the persistent economic hardship 

‘My monthly salary is no longer enough to feed my family, let alone pay school fees. I am left with no other choice than to move my children to a nearby public school”, the single mother stated.