Revealed: How Nigerian parents plan to crumble FG’s new education policy

A fresh battle is brewing between the federal government and the National Parents and Teachers Association (PTA) of federal government colleges over  what the latter thinks as ‘cut-throat’ increase in the unity schools.


The association which has accused the federal government of commercialising education in the country, warned that its members would now be forced to withdraw their children from such schools if the policy is not reversed.

The parents are angry that the government increased the tuition from N20,000 to N75,000 arguing that it was not sensitive of the government at a time Nigerians are groaning under a harsh economic environment.


National president of the association, Dr Gabriel Nnaji, while speaking after the end of a national executive council meeting, said members are kicking against the increase which commenced on June 1.

Punch reports that the association’s communiqué read: “The increase of school fees from about N20,000 to about N75,000 in unity colleges is most untimely and insensitive.

“An average Nigerian worker whose minimum wage is N18,000 and who has one or two children in the unity colleges will be unable to keep his or her child or children in the unity colleges.

“The recent increase is a negation of the policy or principle that established unity colleges which is to make basic and secondary education affordable and accessible to an average Nigerian student.”

While appealing to the National Assembly to force the education ministry to rescind the decision, the association reminded the government that education is a right, not a privilege.

Apart from this new policy, the education ministry also announced the cancellation of the National Common Entrance Examination (NCCE) into unity schools.

A statement issued signed by Bem Goong, the deputy director, in the ministry, said the cancellation of the test for NCCE would take effect from the 2017/2018 academic year.