More Parents Return Wards to Day Care, Private Classes as School Fees Soar

Rising school fees across private schools in Nigeria have forced many parents to withdraw their children and return them to Jeleosimi day care centres and home-based private lessons.

Jeleosimi, a Yoruba term meaning “let the household have peace,” refers to informal day care centres where children aged one to five years are kept and taught basic lessons until early afternoon, often at low cost.

Findings by Economy & Lifestyle show that the harsh economic situation, coupled with high inflation and declining purchasing power, has made it difficult for many families to afford private school fees.

In some schools, enrollment fees for pre-kindergarten and kindergarten pupils now range between ₦200,000 and ₦900,000, depending on the standard of the institution.

Parents with more than one child are said to be the worst affected by the rising costs.

A soup ingredient seller, Mrs. Chizoba Darlington, told Economy & Lifestyle that she moved her two-year-old son to a Jeleosimi lesson centre on her street, where she pays ₦20,000 per term.

“What does a two-year-old really learn in school? I only put him there because of my business,” she said. “I pick him up at 3 p.m. after work. These schools are just milking parents.”

She added that many parents in her neighborhood had done the same due to the rising cost of early education.

Similarly, a commercial driver, Mr. Olorunfemi Bamikale, said he had to enroll his three-year-old twins in a local Jeleosimi lesson after being given a list of ₦859,700 by a private school.

“That’s the kind of money one can use to buy land,” he lamented. “Even the teachers in that school don’t earn ₦100,000 monthly. My children will remain in the Jeleosimi class until they’re old enough for public school.”

Investigations also revealed that many private schools now include several charges in their fees, such as form fees, uniforms, sports levies, development levies, and health trust funds, among others.

However, school administrators have defended the fee hikes, citing inflation and the cost of maintaining government-approved standards.

A private school teacher, Mrs. Aduramigba Okunbor, explained that schools are struggling to cope with rising operational costs.

“It’s not the fault of the schools. Everything is expensive, and maintaining a conducive learning environment requires money,” she said.

As the economic situation worsens, many parents are opting for cheaper alternatives to formal education for toddlers, while others are considering public schools when their children reach primary level.

Education experts have warned that the trend, if sustained, could widen the learning gap between children from wealthy families and those from low-income backgrounds.