Costly Education ,No job for graduates: Nigerian Parents Lament

Graduation ceremony for pupils of Blossom Seeds School, Ikorodu, Lagos

It is now a fact that education is one area that is seriously draining the pockets of Nigerian parents.

The situation is even more worrisome in Lagos where establishment of private schools, has become a major business interest for many. 

With the harsh times biting harder, the suffering of parents in educating their children has increased tremendously.

Queen Nwoye, a mother at the IKorodu area of Lagos narrated her challenges.

“It is becoming really hard. Business is not moving, yet school fees are on the increase. 

"In this Lagos State, the lowest private school collects about #10,000 as school fees.

 And when you look at it, you see that we don’t really have other options but to comply, because education is the way to go", she said.

Another woman Cecelia Ademola in Kedu also shared her experience,"i have three children. Before, they were in one school.

" But when the school increased school fees from #15,000 to #23,000, we had to withdraw two and enrolled them in a lesser school while the most brilliant among the children continued in the big school. 

"We did so because we felt with his intelligence, he needed a good school that would bring out the best in him. At least, one person should be well educated to be able to get good job and liberate others",she said.

It is on record that some private schools in Lagos charge close to one million naira for children in nursery, primary, secondary, and tirtiary schools.

Such high paying schools are where you find the children of politicians, top government officials and high profile business moguls.

However, a lot of parents make deliberate efforts to send their children to such big schools, where in addition to acquiring solid education, their children would have the connections of rich children to help them to secure better jobs after leaving school.

But it is a lot of expenses and denial for parents.

"You cant imagine, i cant change my car for over 7 years.

"Every term which is just about three Months, i spend over one million naira on my three children. 

"School fee for one is #250,000, and by the time you add other expenses such as hostel fee, feeding, and others charged by the school, you see that you would be spending about half a million naira on one. 

"Multiply that by 3 children  you see that its such a huge sum of money.

"My wife had to start working so that we earn additional income to foot the bills. Yet, it is quite hard for us", said a civil servant in Ikoyi Area.

Low cost schools seem to be vanishing by the day.

 

Alleged out-of-school children hawking to contribute towards family upkeep .Photo by Nigerian eye

With many parents and guardians unable to cope with the high fees, some said the country is recording huge drop outs , much higher than the 10.5 million out-of-school children reported in 2015 by the United Nations International Children's Fund, UNICEF.

It is such that all throughout the year,  parents are spending on school for their children.

For instance, after the close of school for the day, children stay behind for extra-moral classes at additional cost.

And when school vacates officially for the term, children start another round of informal schooling called , holiday lesson or summer coaching.

Nigeria’s workers’ minimum wage fixed at  #18,000 (approximately $60 per Month) since 2011 can hardly be enough to see a child through first term in among least paying schools.

Yet in-spite of the stress, most university graduates hardly get job 10 years after graduation from the university, with so many unable to get a paid job in their lifetime.

"I graduated in 2009, and went for national service the following year. Since then , no job. 

"The only works i have done were during elections in which i was employed as adhoc staff. After election, work ended.

"I have applied in many places , all to no avail”.

“In Nigeria, getting job is based on who you know; if you do not have the connection of prominent people especially politicians, you are on your own", lamented Chidi Ibekwe, a jobless graduate.

"As it is, the desire of parents to deny themselves better life and use their slim resources to educate their children, in the belief that the children would care for them when they grow old,  is fast turning into a fruitless venture in Nigeria", so remarked a 72 year old retired civil, Mr. Nurudeen Adeoye.

He continued, " if not for my daughter who by Allah's divine grace got married to a capable man , who is now taking care of me and my wife, we would have long died of poverty.

“ Our two children are all graduates, but no job. After years of graduation from university without a job, one decided to travel abroad.

“ For more than ten years, he hasn't been able to stabilize.

 "The second boy went into private business , selling phone accessories. What kind of nation is this?"

Job opportunities in Nigeria are slim which experts blame it on government's inability to effectively manage oil revenue to develop other sectors of the economy, with potential of creating huge jobs. 

Also, due to bad power situation, industries which could have reduced the unemployment have closed up     

Experts have however advised that it was high time that Nigerians embraced skill acquisition, so that in the absence of formal employment, they would be able to establish small businesses and be self reliant.