Lagos – Some parents in Lagos on Wednesday lamented the increase in school fees of their children in private nursery and primary schools in the state.

A cross session of parents said in Lagos that the school fees were increased at the commencement of the 2011 /2012 academic session without prior notice to them.

Mrs Abimbola Alabi, a trader, said that school fees, cost of uniform, transportation and textbooks had been increased by almost 50 per cent.

Alabi noted that the increments were done without any reason but just to exploit parents.

“ I don’t see any reason why the schools are increasing their fees; there is nothing new about their service to our children to warrant any review.

“The state government or the school regulating agency should come to the aid of parents and stop this act because we have too much expenses on our hand already,’’ she said.

Mrs Cecilia Nwosu, a civil servant, said that it had become habitual for private schools proprietors and proprietresses to increase school fees every session for no reason.

Nwosu explained that schools were becoming business ventures which the owners use to exploit parents for services that in some situation were below standard.

“I am not happy with the manner at which private schools proprietors and proprietresses increase fees every year and blame it on economic situation in the country.

“We have spent all we have on our three children in private schools; if the government schools are better we will not be spending so much money on education,’’ she said.

Mr Tunde Siwoku, a businessman, said that he was considering enrolling his children in public schools because of the arbitrary increase in fees in  private schools.

“I have been lamenting at home since I receive the information about the increment at this time when there is no money and business is not moving well,” he said.

An official of a private secondary school in Lagos said on condition of anonymity that the increment was normal because it was to deliver quality education to the pupils.

She said that school programmes changed every year and this led to a review in the fees.

“Nothing to lament or be surprise about it. Cost of commodities and services changes and the same thing also goes for education. It is mostly to give our best to our students,’’ she said.  (NAN)