As schools resume, many parents are deeply worried about the cost of transportation of their wards to respective destinations. The removal of fuel subsidy which led to sudden increase in petrol price has caused inflation in cost of goods and services.
According to findings by WITHIN NIGERIA, the majority of private schools have abandoned buses in favor of a new mode of transportation for their kids: negotiating with Korope drivers to pick students up at various locations while paying per head.
Additional research found that some parents continue to rely on school buses, while others approached Okada riders with whom they had personal relationships for a considerate charge. To save money, some parents changed their children’s schools to those in their area.
Mojisola, a single mother of three who lives in the Arimoro district, Ilesa couldn’t contain her joy when she received a leaflet (pamphlet) informing her that there is a new school in her neighborhood. She claimed that she has been looking for a school closer to her residence for her children to address the issue of transportation.
The 38-year-old woman disclosed that she spent more than N5,000 per week to transport her kids to school. She further disclosed that she struggled hard to transport fare for the third term because she did not want to disrupt the academic activities of her children.
‘I’ve been looking for other schools in my neighborhood since June because I can’t afford the transportation costs again. I looked about but couldn’t find one that was closer. I was overjoyed when I was given the flier. ‘Even though it’s a new school, I’m delighted it’s close to my house,’ she explained.
According to Mojisola, the previous school her children attended was of higher quality than the new school, but she has no choice but to accept the new modifications in order to save money.
Tope, also known as ‘Baba Ire’, revealed that he and his wife had decided to shift their two children to a school in their neighborhood in order to minimize the family’s monthly expenses.
Tope, who claimed that he has not recovered from the losses incurred in his business as a result of removal of petrol subsidy, added that he is going through a terrible time in his life.
“I am a laundry man.” Due to an epileptic power supply, I rely on a generator to meet the deadlines of my customers. I can’t afford to buy gas for work while also paying exorbitant bus prices. My wife is a small-scale merchant. ‘This economy is extremely terrible on me and my family,’ Tope lamented.
Tope admits that the decision to move his children’s schools was difficult because he dislikes changing schools like diapers.
‘I absolutely dislike moving schools since I read in a research project that it has an impact on children’s performance. But I don’t have any choice. Tope bemoaned.
“When I calculated the amount of money that would get my kids to school in a term, it was much larger than the tuition fees.”
Suleiman Eyebiokin is still swimming in a pool of remorse after moving his children’s schools due to an increase in bus cost.
Suleiman is dissatisfied with the new school to which his wife has sent his children, despite having paid the due bills.
In an interview with WITHIN NIGERIA, Suleiman revealed that he was in Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State, when his wife took the children to a new school due to a bus fee increase.
Suleiman, who said that he was aware of his wife’s decision to change the kids’ schools, claimed that the new school has a lower standard than the previous one.
“The new school is located on the second street. This is the only advantage I see. It crushes my heart to see my children leave their old school, but I have no control over it. If I wish to continue paying their former school’s bus ticket, I’ll need to find a new work, Suleiman lamented.
‘I can’t spend my earnings on bus fare when food and drugs are equally important, he added.
He also appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to consider the poor, the privileged and downtrodden in his reforms especially fuel subsidy removal.