Parents in Ondo Protest High Costs and Extortion by Schools Amid 2024 Resumption
As Ondo State's 2024-2025 academic session begins, parents are protesting against high costs and extortion by school principals. Despite state government warnings against unauthorized fees, many schools are still demanding that parents purchase books and uniforms from specified vendors, in violation of regulations.
Chris Oyeoku Okafor 
As the 2024-2025 academic session begins, parents and guardians in Ondo State are expressing outrage over the extortion and high costs imposed by school principals on educational materials. Reports from Akure, the state capital, indicate that numerous public and private secondary schools are disregarding state government directives and burdening families with excessive fees for books and uniforms.
The Ondo State Commissioner for Education, Science, and Technology, Laolu Akindolire, recently warned against such practices. During a briefing at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Press Centre in Akure, Akindolire emphasized that school principals must not collect unauthorized fees under the guise of educational expenses. The Commissioner assured that the state government would not tolerate any misconduct and reiterated that instructional materials and equipment are being provided to enhance learning in public schools.
Despite these assurances, many schools—including Oyemekun Grammar School, St. Louis Girls’ Grammar School, Akure High School, and others—are reportedly requiring parents to purchase books and uniforms from designated vendors. This practice is in direct violation of government regulations, which prohibit schools from selling these items directly.
Parents have voiced their frustration, urging the state government to take action against schools that engage in such practices. They highlight the added financial strain imposed by these practices, which exacerbates the economic hardship they are already facing.
In addition to the extortion concerns, a market survey conducted by BusinessDay in Akure revealed a significant increase in the prices of school materials. The survey found that book prices have surged by 30-70 percent, with some items seeing a 60 percent increase. Booksellers report a decrease in patronage as parents struggle to afford the rising costs, leading to concerns about the impact on literacy rates.
The economic challenges, exacerbated by inflation and fuel price hikes, have left many parents in a precarious financial situation. In response, they are calling on the state government to provide free shuttle buses for transporting their children to and from school, alleviating some of the financial burden.
As the new academic year gets underway, it remains crucial for both government authorities and educational institutions to address these issues promptly to ensure that the right to education is not compromised by financial constraints.
