Parents and guardians are reportedly apprehensive following rumours of massive hike in school fees ahead of September resumption in private schools in the State.
The planned hike in school fees by private schools may not be unconnected to the mandate given to the committee for approval of private schools set up Governor Nyesom Wike in the three senatorial zones in the state to ensure that all private schools operating in the State meet up set standards for operational approval.
National Network gathered that some private schools plan to hike the school fees under the guise that the schools have spent a lot of money in putting facilities in place that are required for the approval of such schools.
A parent, Esther Woke who spoke to National Network on the development, explained that the school which her daughter attends has hinted the parents to be prepared for about 40 percent hike in schools fees in September due to money that the school is putting in to upgrade the quality of the system in order to attain the status that will enable the institution to be approved.
The parent regretted that private schools are indirectly putting the burden of the money to be spent during the process of approval by the Rivers state Government on the guardians/parents.
A private school proprietor also confirmed that a hike in school fees is imminent because the institutions intend employing qualified and certified teachers which are one of the major criteria for the approval of the schools.
According to the proprietor, the school fees currently collected by some of the private institutions cannot sustain the payment of certified teachers let alone the resources required to ensure compliance before the schools can be approved by the Government.
Some of the criteria for a private school to be approved include but not limited to a playing field for students, qualified teachers, well equipped laboratory, and well equipped computer laboratory among others.
Governor Wike early July approved free education for all pupils and students of Government primary and secondary schools in the state.
He barred Head teachers and principals from collecting any kind of levy from pupils and students, vowing to deal decisively with any head teacher or principal caught collecting money from students in line with the law.
From the foregoing, it appears there may be massive increase in number of pupils and students who will be seeking admission into Government owned primary and secondary schools in September this year.
