By Tina George, Minna
As public and private schools resume in Niger state on Monday, parents whose children attend private schools are lamenting over the demand that all children pay full school fees upon resumption.
While some of the schools are giving two weeks grace, others are demanding full payment as the children resume on Monday, October 5, 2020 while others are asking parents to pay half of the fees upon resumption.
Various parents who spoke to ASHENEWSONLINE lamented that they were cash-strapped as majority of them have had to turn to their various cooperatives to borrow money to pay the school fees.
The parents also expressed satisfaction over the safety measures taken by schools to prevent COVID-19 as majority of them have held sensitization meetings for parents to know the role they would play as their children and wards resume.
Parents who had paid third term fees for their children during the closure of schools are however reluctant in paying another fee for a third term unless the schools will start first term or waive the fee entirely.
Mr. Birtus Bala whose children attend NUT Endwell Model Science School in Chanchaga and Crestford Academy in Gidan Madara Minna, said that he is worried over paying double school fees.
“I am worried about paying double school fees and other spendings on third term for the year. My children wrote the third term examination online and repeating it again is time wasting and wasteful of resources.
“I believe the schools can use the first two weeks to tidy up third term results and continue with first time forthrightly,” Bala said.
He expressed satisfaction over the preparation of the schools as parents have been told to ensure their children have “Face masks, hand sanitizers, and new uniforms.”
“I am comfortable with the safety protocols put in place by the schools. Some measures by my children schools are compulsory wearing of face masks by all entering the schools, use of hand sanitizers, social distancing, no assembly ground and no breaks outside classes. With that, I can comfortably allow my children to resume school.”
For Sani Abubakar, his children school is demanding for school fees to stable basic things to be taken care of in the school.
“My Children school is demanding that payment of school fees should be a priority to parents so that teachers can be supported.
“They have demanded that school fees be made a priority but I think they might not demand full payment because most people are under financial constraint and besides, some civil servants have not been paid.”
He said that he had fears about his children resuming school but had to concur because the children are eager to get back to school.
Speaking about the safety measures taken by the school, Abubakar said, “we have been told that adults won’t be allowed into the school premises during school hours and any student showing signs of illness won’t be allowed into the school.
“They are asking students to resume with their face masks. Sanitisers and buckets of water and soap will be provided by the school. Social distance will also be observed.”
For Adebisi Rashidat, the parents in her children school, Ideal Royal Academy in Minna have been given three weeks to pay school fees after resumption and the school fees are to be paid in full.
She expressed dismay over this as they are usually given the option of paying half fees in the past but not now.
She also said that the children school is resuming third term despite the fact that they had written third term examinations.
On the safety measures by the school, she said that she is comfortable with the measures taken so far adding that the parents also have a role to play in ensuring their children stay safe from contacting the COVID-19.
