Parents with children in federal unity schools across Nigeria have expressed displeasure over a sharp increase in the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) levy.
The Federal Ministry of Education recently announced that the levy would rise from N5,700 to N12,000 per term, starting from the third term of the 2024/2025 academic session.
This change was communicated through a circular signed by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Dr. Nasir Sani-Gwarzo, and sent to the principals of all federal unity colleges.
The decision, according to the circular, followed requests from PTA bodies in various unity schools, who claimed the increase was necessary to meet their financial obligations.
School principals were asked to inform parents about the adjustment.
However, this sudden increment has sparked concerns, as some parents argue they are already paying more than the new levy.
At King’s College, Lagos, parents are currently paying for various items, including an access card, diesel, waste management, education levies, and PTA teachers’ salaries.
Optional fees include laundry, barbing, and mid-day meals, which further add to their financial burden.
Many parents, already struggling with the rising cost of living, are worried about how they will handle the higher levy alongside existing school fees, feeding, and other expenses.
One parent with two children at King’s College described the situation as overwhelming, while another mother from Federal Government College, Ijanikin, said the fee hike has been the subject of heated discussions among parents.
In response to the announcement, the PTA at King’s College has reportedly called for an emergency meeting to address the issue.
This is not the first time parents have resisted such increments.
At Federal Government College, Ikot Ekpene, an attempt by the PTA to raise the levy last term was met with strong opposition, forcing the executive body to drop the plan after parents threatened to report them to the education ministry.
Parents in other unity schools, including those in Uyo and Mkpat Enin, have also voiced their frustration, questioning why the same ministry that had previously stopped an arbitrary levy hike is now enforcing this new increase.
Some parents are also calling for an investigation into how the approval was granted.
They argued that there are more pressing issues in unity schools that need attention, such as the employment of more teachers, improved student feeding, and the eradication of bullying and extortion.
There are also allegations of financial mismanagement by some PTA executives. One parent recounted how, at a PTA meeting, the executive claimed to have spent N700,000 on sachet water, raising suspicions about improper use of funds.
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