Parents lament high cost of books, others

By Gabriel Dike, Rita Ugo, Esther Emmanuel, Blessing Iwuala

Four weeks after schools resumed for new session, parents are still struggling to purchase textbooks, exercise books and other materials for their children either due to high cost or lack of financial power. Also, affected are bookshop owners who are complaining of low patronage from parents and even from schools.

A widow, Mrs. Deborah Olabisi, with two children in private secondary school, told Daily Sun: “My two children are in SS11 and SS1, I bought the necessary ones for them. I hope to add more when my finances improve. Same thing with the exercise books. I got 20 big exercise books and shared it among them.

“As expected, the costs of educational items are too expensive. I went from one bookshop to another hoping to get cheaper prices. My sons complained but I had to tell them the situation of things and assured them that I will do the needful when my finances improved.”

Chief Dan Okafor, a businessman said he refused to purchase the textbooks and exercise books from his wards school because of the high cost.

Okafor told Daily Sun that he ignored the protest from his children’s secondary school and went to bookshops to purchase the recommended books at a better price.

“My children gave me the lists of recommended textbooks and the number of exercise books that they will require for this academic session. When I saw the prices, I went to the market to buy the available ones, though cheaper than the school’s own. I will complete the purchase this month because the focus now is to pay their school fee, ” he stated.

Mrs. Taiwo Ashafa, said the textbooks are out of reach due to the high cost and wondered how she and the husband will purchase the recommended books for their three children in different schools.

She said: “Our priority is to pay their school fee first. I have seen the lists of textbooks and exercise books, it is exorbitant. My husband tried some bookshops and the prices are slightly the same.

“The science textbooks are on the higher side. English Language and Mathematics books are essential but also costly. With this situation, we will buy the important ones and get others late.”

Mrs. Chika Ezeji, a fashion designer, says that she has bought new textbooks and exercise book for her child. .”Buying new textbooks every session is very demanding, as students aren’t allowed to roll over textbooks of older siblings in a family that has more than one child,” she said.

Ezeji also disclosed that the price of the books were high unlike before explaining that the prices have jumped up so high and It is becoming increasingly difficult for parents to afford them. “I think the schools should reconsider their approach to textbook buying and make it more affordable for parents,” she argued.

The woman said she had no choice but to buy the complete subjects. She wished that schools would allow students to reuse textbooks from older siblings as many parents are struggling to send their children to school coupled with the huge price of textbooks every session.

Another parent, Mr. Thomas Ezeh, a businessman, argued that the price of textbooks are becoming unnecessarily high, but he is not sure of the prices of books in other places because his child’s school only requires that the textbooks be bought from the school’s bookstore.

He explained that he only bought the core subjects that his child really needs, like Mathematics and English with a few others as there was no need to buy complete textbooks when there are a lot of unused textbooks at home.” I cannot keep paying for all the books when my child will end up not using all the textbooks,” he stated.

Another parent, Mrs. Angela Nnam, recalled that she bought textbooks for her child and the price was shocking.

She noted that schools have now become a business enterprise, and collaborate with publishers to extort money from parents, as it is not about providing quality education anymore but about making money.

Nnam observed that she had no option than to buy complete textbooks because of the sake of her child’s education. Being a family with two children, she believes that textbooks should be reusable, and schools should allow students to pass down textbooks to younger siblings, as it is a more sustainable and cost-effective approach.

Another parent, Mrs. Bukola, told Daily Sun that she hasn’t bought books for her wards because they are expensive and with the little salary she earns, it’s difficult for her to get books for all her children.

Mr. Taiwo, disclosed that he has bought textbooks for his wards because it is essential for them to have complete books as they resume.

For Mrs. Benjamin, the situation is not much different and revealed that she purchases the complete books for her child but noted that the prices are high.

“It’s high. You don’t expect the price to remain the same and everything is now expensive,” she said.

Evangelist Ngozi Chinese Joy, expressed similar concerns and that the cost of books is making it harder for parents to purchase them.

“I barely buy all the books because of the cost “she said, adding that the schools insist on parents buying directly from them, which means there is no room to find cheaper ones elsewhere.

Booksellers

Booksellers are complaining about the high cost of textbooks this academic session, the price has affected the way parents patronize them.

According to Mrs. Titilayo Awori, a bookseller, she explained that parents still buy books because it’s important but acknowledged the difference in prices compared to last year.

“Yes, they are buying but the price of last year is lower than this year. For example, New General Mathematics is now ₦3,500, before it was ₦2,500. Both for primary and secondary, the books are higher,” she stressed.

Awori said that many parents now prioritize only the most essential books. “Parents do pick important books for their children, the ones they know are important.”

Mrs. Alason said that the high cost has made it difficult for most parents to buy complete sets of textbooks or exercise books as they did in previous years.

Miss Stephanie, another bookseller, shared a similar experience; adding that while patronage still remains the same but price difference remains a major concern, ‘’It’s the aspect of price that varies, it’s more expensive than last year.”

According to her, most schools do not allow students to buy textbooks outside, making it harder for sellers, and when parents do come, “they buy important ones, not all.”

Mrs. Rosetta Umearoka, a bookseller, explained that patronage is fine because they are in the season. 

According to her, parents are more selective about which textbooks they will buy, unlike before. “They are prioritizing core subjects like Maths and English,” she added.

Mr. Ozioma Ohagwa, a bookseller said despite the country’s hardship, some parents still prefer buying complete textbooks for their children. “They believe it is essential for their child’s academic success,” he explains.

Mrs. Ogochukwu, a bookseller said that parents are not buying because the books she purchased from the factory are still in the bookstore due to high cost and must parents are not happy with the situation in the country.

She explained that only few parents patronize them and that they don’t even buy to their expectations because they select essential ones to purchase.

Aside, from purchasing educational materials for their wards, many parents are battling to pay school fees.