FCT's Proposed 5% Tax on Private Schools Faces Opposition from Owners and Parents
The proposed 5% tax on tuition fees per student per term has drawn strong opposition from school proprietors, who deem it unlawful and have demanded its cancellation. They argue that such charges would ultimately be passed on to parents, further burdening them amidst economic hardships.
AKACHI NOEL 
The decision by the FCT Educational Secretariat to revise operational charges for private schools has sparked criticism from both school owners and parents, who argue that the timing is inappropriate given the current economic challenges facing the country.
In a letter signed by the Head of Account, Mudi Mohammed, on behalf of the Director of Quality Assurance and obtained by Daily Trust, private schools were informed of the new review rate, which would be based on tuition fees and enrollment figures. Additionally, all applications would now incur a fee of N40,000.
The proposed 5% tax on tuition fees per student per term has drawn strong opposition from school proprietors, who deem it unlawful and have demanded its cancellation. They argue that such charges would ultimately be passed on to parents, further burdening them amidst economic hardships.
According to one proprietor who spoke on condition of anonymity, the proposal was presented during a meeting with the secretariat, where it was vehemently rejected by school owners. The proprietor expressed concerns over the financial strain this would impose on low-income schools and the potential impact on students' access to education.
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Another proprietor criticized the government's imposition of taxes on struggling schools, highlighting the challenges already faced by low-tuition schools in meeting existing financial obligations.
Parents have also voiced their opposition to the proposed tax, emphasizing that any additional charges imposed on schools would ultimately be transferred to them. They urged the FCT minister to reconsider the decision, citing the current economic difficulties faced by many families.
In light of these objections, the fate of the proposed tax on private schools remains uncertain, with stakeholders calling for a review of the decision to alleviate the financial burden on both schools and parents.
