Encomium
2016/2017 academic session will commence in less than two month. Amazingly, most parents are not sure of meeting up with their responsibilities, most especially now that the country is going through economic recession.
ENCOMIUM Weekly sampled the opinion of parents on how they are preparing for the forthcoming academic session.
BOBBY
How are you preparing for your children’s resumption for the 2016/2017 academic session?
I have not started any form of preparations at all. I am likely to start next month. All the necessary things to buy such as socks, bags, pencils, food flasks, water bottles and the likes are yet to be bought. They have resumed summer lessons which will end in August.
Have your children’s school fees increased?
No, their school fees was not increased. One thing I like about my children’s school is that they don’t increase school fees anyhow. My son started with them three years ago and their fees have not increased since then.
How do you hope to cope with the current economic recession as regards payment of school fees?
I don’t even know how I will cope. I am paying our house rent the same time the children will resume. I have been saving but it is far from being enough.
DAVIDO ORJI
How are you preparing for your children’s resumption for the 2016/2017 academic session?
I have not started preparing. By this time last year, I had given my wife money to buy all the things the children would need for a session, even their school fees were available too.
Have your children’s school fees increased?
They increased their fees by N3,000. I have three children, they are all in primary school.
How do you hope to cope with the current economic recession as regards payment of school fees?
I don’t even know. Maybe I will take a loan or borrow from a friend. I will find a way round it.
NELSON FABIYI
How are you preparing for your children’s resumption for the 2016/2017 academic session?
My wife has started preparing. She bought new set of socks and under garments for two of them last week. She is the one responsible for those minor things.
Have your children’s school fees increased?
Yes, the school fees increased by N5,000 each. I have four of them. It is only the school fee of the one in secondary school that did not increase.
How do you hope to cope with the current economic recession as regards payment of school fees?
We have been coping. I believe we will still cope, even if it is to pay in installment. Do we have any choice than to cope.
AJAO NIYI
How are you preparing for your children’s resumption for the 2016/2017 academic session?
We thank God for life. Once there is hope, there is life. They have started summer lesson, that itself is another expenses, but it is keeping them busy.
Have your children’s school fees increased?
No, there was no increment in the school fees but there was increment in transport fees. I have four of them in the same school, one is in secondary section, others are in the primary. We are only paying for three. They gave us discount.
How do you hope to cope with the current economic recession as regards payment of school fees?
God is able. Once there is life, there is hope. We have been preparing ahead of time. At least, we can comfortably pay for two now. I believe we wouldn’t find it difficult.
YINKA ADEKOGA
How are you preparing for your children’s resumption for the 2016/2017 academic session?
We thank God for the success of the last session. God is still on His throne. He will do it again. We have not started any form of preparation. I am trusting God for provision.
Have your children’s school fees increased?
Their school fees was increased beyond my capacity. You can imagine an increment of N10,000 on each pupil. I can’t afford it again. I was paying N120,000 for the three of them, now it is N150,000. That is half payment for our house rent.
How do you hope to cope with the current economic recession as regards payment of school fees?
I have made up my mind to change their school because that money is too much for me. My wife has been checking out nearby schools that they can easily walk to without additional money for transport. At least, I will be paying about N75,000 for the three of them, that is half of their former school fees.
ADEWALE YINKA
How are you preparing for your children’s resumption for the 2016/2017 academic session?
We have gradually started. I have gone to my children’s school, bought some of the books they will need for the next session.
Have your children’s school fees increased?
No, there was no increment. We are still paying the same amount. We paid last session, except for my last born who is a fresher.
How do you hope to cope with the current economic recession as regards payment of school fees?
We have been preparing ahead as well. It has not been easy but I believe we will scale through.
SHODEINDE TAIWO
How are you preparing for your children’s resumption for the 2016/2017 academic session?
We are not preparing at all. The children didn’t go for summer coaching this year. It is just to save cost. If they have to go for summer coaching, we will have to pay for three children and also pay for our baby’s daycare. It is better they all stay at home.
Have your children’s school fees increased?
Yes, there was an increment of N10,000 for three of them.
How do you hope to cope with the current economic recession as regards payment of school fees?
I don’t even know how to go about it. My wife is also a student. We have her fees to pay too. I am already worried about the whole issue.
LADIPO SOGUNLE
How are you preparing for your children’s resumption for the 2016/2017 academic session?
We have not started any preparation. It is the person that has money that will prepare for such things. I am even afraid and praying July will not end.
Have your children’s school fees increased?
No, they didn’t.
How do you hope to cope with the current economic recession as regards payment of school fees?
I don’t have an answer yet. I have not been paid salary this year. I have been living off my wife who is a businesswoman. If they pay what they owe me, I will be able to afford their fees. If not, I may have to withdraw them.
LAI OMOWUNMI
How are you preparing for your children’s resumption for the 2016/2017 academic session?
Maybe my wife is preparing but for me, I have no preparation than to give them money which I cannot afford.
Have your children’s school fees increased?
Yes, there is an increment of N20,000.
How do you hope to cope with the current economic recession as regards payment of school fees?
I don’t know the way out than to depend on God for provision.
BABATUNDE TOYE
How are you preparing for your children’s resumption for the 2016/2017 academic session?
I have left the preparation for my wife. She too should afford to buy all those items the children need. She has also gone to their school to make enquiries about the textbooks we are to buy.
Have your children’s school fees increased?
No, there is no increment whatsoever. I was expecting them to increase the transport fees but they didn’t.
How do you hope to cope with the current economic recession as regards payment of school fees?
We are trusting God. I have some goods to sell, I hope I get a good buyer. If not, they all have to stay at home for a while.
TAYO ADEOKUN
How are you preparing for your children’s resumption for the 2016/2017 academic session?
We thank God for His faithfulness. We are preparing gradually. I look at their resumption date once in a while. I believe that it is part of preparations as well.
Have your children’s school fees increased?
Yes, it was increased beyond my capacity.
How do you hope to cope with the current economic recession as regards payment of school fees?
I have made up my mind to withdraw them and look for a school I can afford.
OKEKE JOHN
How are you preparing for your children’s resumption for the 2016/2017 academic session?
Thank God for His help and faithfulness last session. We hope things will work out well this session too. We are preparing.
Have your children’s school fees increased?
No, they didn’t increase their school fees. Their school management is quite understanding.
How do you hope to cope with the current economic recession as regards payment of school fees?
We are trusting God. I hope business will pick up and things will get better.
BENSON FUSI
How are you preparing for your children’s resumption for the 2016/2017 academic session?
We hope to start that next month. I usually buy provisions and all necessary things before resumption so that the burden will not be too much on me. My children are in boarding school.
Have your children’s school fees increased?
Yes, as a result of the economic recession, things are quite expensive now. Food stuff most especially. I have three of them in boarding school. There is an increment of N50,000 for each person.
How do you hope to cope with the current economic recession as regards payment of school fees?
God has been faithful. Business is slow compared to last year but we are coping.
OLADIMEJI SALAKO
How are you preparing for your children’s resumption for the 2016/2017 academic session?
I will thank God that another academic session is here. But the truth is, I have not started preparing at all. Even the summer lesson that has started, my children are not attending. So, I have just left everything to God to take control.
FRANK MONU
How are you preparing for your children’s resumption for the 2016/2017 academic session?
I am preparing. I won’t do more than myself because it has not been easy at all. Sometimes I wish I was still a bachelor because the problem of being a family man is not easy at all. I have started saving little by little for my children’s school fees.
IKENNA OSONDU
How are you preparing for your children’s resumption for the 2016/2017 academic session?
I am very much prepared for the 2016/2017 academic session. I am planning to go shopping for my daughter’s summer coaching. I am sure you will be surprised I am saying this. My daughter is still in crèche and their fee is very affordable, so it makes things easier for me and my wife.
JUDE WENIKE
How are you preparing for your children’s resumption for the 2016/2017 academic session?
2016/2017 academic session is here again and I thank God for that. I am not preparing too hard because I have taken my children to government school. I cannot afford the fees their former school was demanding so, their new school has made things easier and cheaper for me and my family.
TAYO ODUMADE
How are you preparing for your children’s resumption for the 2016/2017 academic session?
2016/2017 academic session is here again. God, in His mercies was able to see us through the last session and I know that same God will see us through this session, even though last session was not an easy one at all and I still have an outstanding of N12,850 to pay up. I know God will keep providing.
MRS. RONKE ADEDEJI
How are you preparing for your children’s resumption for the 2016/2017 academic session?
I am trying to make sure I am able to complete my children’s fees before their school resumes because I don’t like to owe school fees due to the embarrassment that comes with it.
RASHEED SANNI
How are you preparing for your children’s resumption for the 2016/2017 academic session?
2016/2017 academic session is here and I am doing my best and hoping God will crown my effort with success. Though it has not been an easy one for me because I have to pay double of what I am supposed to pay because of my daughter who is going to be in SS3 and the younger brother is going to be in SS1. I know that with God all things are possible.
MICHAEL ALAO
How are you preparing for your children’s resumption for the 2016/2017 academic session?
Another academic session is here and I am planning very well so that it won’t be difficult to settle bills when school finally resumes. I have started saving and I have explained to my children that anything that will make me spend extra money aside school fees, they should not tell me because of how the country is presently.
MRS. DAMILOLA JIMOH
How are you preparing for your children’s resumption for the 2016/2017 academic session?
I have not even started to prepare at all because everybody knows the country is very tough. So, the school authority will have to bear with us. But I am trying my best.
-SHADE WESLEY-METIBOGUN and GLORY OSIGWE
