The recent surge in fuel prices has sparked widespread concern among school proprietors and teachers in Osun State, as the inflationary tide threatens the education sector.
In interviews with OIFM correspondents on Friday, stakeholders in Ila-Orangun town lamented the crippling effects of the fuel price hike on their operations, citing increased costs, reduced enrollment, and dwindling profits.
“The fuel price increase has inflated the expenses of schools and parents, making it difficult to maintain high-quality education.
“Administrators, teachers, parents, and students are struggling to cope,”said Rev. Dr. Fadun Peter, Proprietor, First Baptist Group of Schools(FBGS).
Mrs. Popoola Funmilayo, a teacher at Saint Micheal’s Primary School, echoed similar sentiments: “The situation is dire. Many students now come to school hungry because their parents cannot afford to feed them, shifting this responsibility to teachers who are also not finding things easy due to the high cost of living.”
A host of instructors in private learning centers across the area further expressed frustration over the rising cost of transportation.
“Transportation expenses have skyrocketed, eroding our take-home pay,” said Mr. Oyadipe Oluwole, Vice Principal, FBGS, Ila-Orangun.
On her part, Mrs. Agbolade F.F, a primary school head, noted that the inflationary ripple effects are far-reaching. She revealed that the situation has led to reduced enrollment and decreased teacher morale.
She urged the government to implement measures to stabilize fuel prices, provide subsidies for private schools, relief for educators and enact policies to mitigate inflation.
As the education sector teeters on the brink, stakeholders have said swift intervention is crucial to safeguard the future of Osun’s youth.
The hike in petrol prices from N897 to N1,030 per litre is exacerbating Nigeria’s already dire economic situation.
Experts warn this increase will push more citizens into poverty, intensifying the ongoing cost-of-living crisis.
With inflation soaring to 33.95 per cent, school fees have surged, leading to mass withdrawal of students from private institutions of learning.
