Back to School Crisis: Nigerian Parents Skip Meals, Withdraw Children as Inflation Crushes Education

The 2025/2026 academic session has begun with unprecedented hardship for Nigerian families, as inflation drives up school fees, textbook costs, and basic living expenses, forcing parents, school owners, and businesses to make painful sacrifices.

From Lagos to Abuja, Bauchi to Kaduna, parents told Daily Times how they are struggling to keep their children in school while adjusting to an economy that has made tuition and educational supplies almost unaffordable.

Parents Forced to Cut Back

Many households said they are cutting food budgets, scaling down social expenses, and even tolerating poor school facilities just to manage tuition. Some families have transferred children from private to public schools, while others now pay fees in instalments.

“I had to withdraw my two children because fees went up by nearly 40%,” said Abuja journalist Emmanuel Ifehjina. “We moved them to a more affordable school. It was a tough decision, but survival comes first.”

For some, the pressure extends beyond education. Lagos parent Mr Kevin explained: “After paying for branded books and uniforms, there’s hardly money left for food. My family skips meals, and I barely fuel my car.”

Textbook Burden Sparks Anger

Parents also decried the rising cost of textbooks, with many schools compelling them to buy directly at inflated prices. The constant change of editions prevents families from reusing books, a practice critics say is exploitative.

To curb this, states like Abia have banned schools from assigning homework in textbooks, encouraging parents to reuse them among siblings.

Some Children Left Behind

For larger families, choices are even tougher. Apostle Chigozie Okonkwo in Abuja said his five children could not all resume at once. “We had to keep two at home and enroll them in lessons because resources are limited,” he admitted.

Parents like Elijah Bulus in Bauchi urged the government to step in. “The school fees nowadays are higher than expected. Job creation and economic empowerment are the only solutions.”

Private Schools Under Pressure

Proprietors themselves are walking a financial tightrope. Rising electricity bills, teacher salaries, and maintenance costs have forced many to increase fees. Yet withdrawals by parents are reducing student intake, making it harder to pay staff.

Mrs Blessing Okeke, who runs NEXYN GOLD Schools in Mararaba, Nasarawa, said: “We have to understand parents — many have multiple children. If we don’t adjust carefully, we’ll fall out of business.”

The Bigger Picture

Education experts warn that without urgent intervention, Nigeria risks a collapse in learning standards as both parents and schools buckle under financial strain.

The back-to-school season, once a time of excitement, now mirrors the painful choices millions of families face: survival versus education.