Encomium
The economic situation has made it increasingly unbearable for parents to make ends meet, not to talk of paying their children’s and wards’ school fees. Many parents have withdrawn their children from expensive schools to cheaper schools or even to government-owned schools.
ENCOMIUM Weekly sampled opinion of parents on how they coped with the 2015/2016 academic session…
‘My wife was very supportive’ -MR. ABASS ONIFADE
How did you cope with payment of school fees for 2015/2016 session?
It wasn’t easy at all but we thank God the session is over and we were able to make the payment. My wife was very supportive. She understood that the economy is not what it used to be.
Do you pay your children’s school fees installmentally or once?
Installementlaly. I have four children. We paid for the first one in full, half for the next two. We balanced up and finally, paid for the last one.
Have your children been sent home because of school fees?
Yes, the last was sent home once.
‘It was really with much struggle’ -MR. LANRE APENA
How did you cope with payment of school fees for 2015/2016 session?
It was really with much struggle. I didn’t find it funny. I have not collected any salary this year. I thank God that my wife is a business woman. She shouldered the responsibilities.
Do you pay your children’s school fees installmentally or once?
God was faithful. I trusted Him to provide the money and business was just good for me. When it was time to pay their fees, I quickly did that. We paid once.
Have your children been sent home because of school fees?
We weren’t able to pay before they were sent home.
‘It was really tough’ -ALABA ABIODUN
How did you cope with payment of school fees for 2015/2016 session?
2016 has been a fantastic year, not to talk of the opposite. My wife lost her job, so everything was on me. Thank God she has started business now. It was really tough but we had no choice than to pay.
Do you pay your children’s school fees installmentally or once?
We paid installementally. In fact, three times.
Have your children been sent home because of school fees?
They were sent home twice and we kept on pleading with the school authority to give us time to pay.
‘I had to withdraw them’ -SHOLA ABISOLA
How did you cope with payment of school fees for 2015/2016 session?
We thank God for His mercies. I believe once there is life, hope still abound. It was not easy at all, I must confess. I had to withdraw two of my children from private school.
Do you pay your children’s school fees installmentally or once?
I paid twice.
Have your children been sent home because of school fees?
I didn’t wait to be disgraced before I withdrew them to government school. I left the eldest in a private school because he would be going to secondary school in September. I can’t even afford a private secondary school for the other two.
‘It wasn’t a smooth sail’ -ABUBAKAR AHMED
How did you cope with payment of school fees for 2015/2016 session?
My sister, it wasn’t a smooth sail like last year. it was paid with so much difficulty. Bills piled up and I was helpless. Before then, my wife wasn’t working. Nobody taught her before she started trading.
Do you pay your children’s school fees installmentally or once?
I still owe the school. My boy was not allowed to write the exam. I wasn’t bothered because he is just starting school, anyway.
Have your children been sent home because of school fees?
He was sent home once and I asked him to stay at home.
‘I had to take a loan’ -MRS. ADEBAYO
How did you cope with payment of school fees for 2015/2016 session?
Times are really hard. I had to take a loan, I don’t even know to pay back. I also had to do another business alongside my teaching job. I am a single mother. Their dad left home four years ago and we don’t know his whereabouts till now.
Do you pay your children’s school fees installmentally or once?
I paid once after taking a loan.
Have your children been sent home because of school fees?
No, I went to borrow on time to pay.
‘We paid once’ -OLAJUWON ADEKUNLE
How did you cope with payment of school fees for 2015/2016 session?
I thank God, my two boys won scholarship for three years. If not, I don’t think they would still be in that school. We only had to pay for the last child. We paid about N25,000 for the last child.
Do you pay your children’s school fees installmentally or once?
We paid once. I got N50,000 and my wife was able to add N10,000 to it.
Have your children been sent home because of school fees?
No, they were not sent home.
‘We were embarrassed once’ -AHMED RUFAI
How did you cope with payment of school fees for 2015/2016 session?
In all situations, we should thank God. The session has gone. We were able to cope by the grace of God. We were embarrassed once but we eventually paid.
Do you pay your children’s school fees installmentally or once?
Once.
Have your children been sent home because of school fees?
Yes, and it was the first time in the history of my family that my children were sent home.
‘Things have really gone bad’ -UCHE OMIEKE
How did you cope with payment of school fees for 2015/2016 session?
I don’t think anybody can say he’s coping. Nobody is coping. We are all just trying our best. Things have really gone bad in the country. Even the fittest and richest are complaining.
Do you pay your children’s school fees installmentally or once?
Two times and we still owe about N20,000.
Have your children been sent home because of school fees?
No, the school understood that it was a sign of changing times.
‘I struggled to pay’ -JULIUS AINA
How did you cope with payment of school fees for 2015/2016 session?
I didn’t cope, I struggled to pay and was fortunate enough to get money to pay. I know some families that have withdrawn their children to government schools. Some have even stopped school.
Do you pay your children’s school fees installmentally or once?
I paid once.
Have your children been sent home because of school fees?
No, God will never allow that to happen.
‘We thank God’ -ALEX ADEOKUN
How did you cope with payment of school fees for 2015/2016 session?
We thank God for seeing us through the session. We believe He will do much more than that next session.
Do you pay your children’s school fees installmentally or once?
We paid once but it was two months after resumption.
Have your children been sent home because of school fees?
No, I went to see the headmaster and explained the situation of things to them.
‘I had cut down on all expenses’ -FUNSHO ALI
How did you cope with payment of school fees for 2015/2016 session?
I don’t know what to say. It has not been as easy as it used to be. I had cut down on all expenses, yet, it is a struggle to pull through. I don’t understand the country again.
Do you pay your children’s school fees installmentally or once?
I couldn’t pay for any of them. My brother sent us some money and we paid for one of them. I completed payment for the others on the last day of exam. This is just primary school. What will happen when these children get to secondary school or university. Government should, please do something.
Have your children been sent home because of school fees?
They were sent home twice.
‘We are just trying to stay above board’ -FEMI BOLASODE
How did you cope with payment of school fees for 2015/2016 session?
We have not been paid for four months. Even my wife’s business has not been going on well. We are just trying to stay above board. I had to borrow to pay their fees.
Do you pay your children’s school fees installmentally or once?
I paid twice.
Have your children been sent home because of school fees?
No, they were not sent home.
