By Gabriel Dike, Sharon Umeasalugo and Chinoneye
Pupils may not have the full complement of educational materials required for this academic session. The reason is not far fetched. Parents are unable to purchase the approved list of textbooks and other required materials due to hike in prices.
Bookshop owners told Daily Sun that parents only purchase “essential books” such as English, Mathematics, Biology, Physics, Chemistry and Further Mathematics. They lamented low sales as against last year due to the economic situation in the country.
Manager, Focus Bookshop, Ipaja, Lagos, Babatunde Atanda, said before he would have restocked his shop with new educational items: “Business is very low this year because of the economic situation in the country. By now I will have been smiling to the bank. Parents are only buying essential textbooks for their wards and fewer educational materials.”
Owner of Link Bookshop, Oshodi, Lagos, Festus Osuji, said: ” The situation in the country has forced many parents to limit their purchase to essential books such as English, Mathematics and few others. Before parents would buy every item on the school list. Now, they purchase only the necessary textbooks and fewer exercise books for their children.”
A parent with three children in school, Mr. Adegoke Badmus, didn’t patronise the children’s school to but books and writing materials: ” The books are cheaper in the open market. I met some parents at the bookshop. The school’s prices are SS1 General Mathematics, N5, 000 but N3, 000 at the bookshop; English N4, 000 in school but N3, 000 in the market.”
Owner of Obi’s bookshop, Lagos Mrs. Augusta, said: “Parents no longer buy everything on the list because of the high price. They buy Mathematics and English textbooks, and not minding the prices because the subjects are compulsory. Government should address the economic crisis, which has reduced the purchasing power of average Nigerians.”
Mrs. Uju of UJ’s Bookshop Lagos, said: “How can parents buy everything on their list when they haven’t fed properly? They just buy a few materials, including exercise books. Parents and students buy more of English textbooks than Mathematics due to their choices.”
Mrs. Franca Gwachi, a mother of three: “Why would I patronise school bookshops? Do you know the amount of money I would have saved if I had realised this earlier?
“Imagine a book being sold for N6,500 in the school’s bookshop, I bought it for N2,000 in the market. Initially, the vendor said 2,500 but I was able to bargain and brought it down to N2,000.
“This cannot be available in the school’s bookshop. It is a school setting, the prices are fixed which is why they are conveniently robbing parents of thousands of naira all in the name of school.
“I run a bakery, the cost of flour alone is not a joke. Since I started going to the market to look for the textbooks recommended by the school for my children, I have been able to save a lot. I initially budgeted N35,000 for books, I didn’t spend it all. I was able to buy the important books my children need for school.”
Another parent, Mrs. Victoria Orih: “I prefer to buy from the school because they will give you exactly the author the curriculum prefers. You may go to the market and not get the actual edition or the author prescribed and you end up spending double.
“The books in the school are not as expensive as you’re making it out to be because if you calculate the amount of money you would have spent on transportation going to the market, that would make up for the difference in prices.
“It is even stressful walking up and down in the market looking for a book when it is readily available in the school bookshop. I rather save myself the time and stress, also the extra money for transportation and patronise my son’s school’s bookshop.”
Mrs. Mojisola Ogunyoye agreed: “The stress of going to the market is a big drawback. Imagine leaving the comfort of your home and walking around the market under this hot Lagos sun in search for books that are already available in my children’s school? It doesn’t make sense.
“If we are to lay this issue on the table and compare prices maybe just 500 or N1,000 difference all of which will still be spent on transport.”
Mr. Martin Oyedele, a parent at Federal Government College, Ijanikin, Lagos, said: “The school bookshop often runs out of stock or doesn’t carry the specific books my child needs. I cannot leave my child without a specific book for the term. Market vendors have a wider range of books and materials, making it easier for me to find what I need.”
Daily Sun discovered that some teachers help authors to sell textbooks direct to students without the knowledge of the school owner. The teachers get commission on every sale made.
