Parents lament 100% hike in PTA levy in Federal Unity Colleges, seek upgrade of education across the board

Parents lament 100% hike in PTA levy in Federal Unity Colleges, cite hardship amid rises in other taxes and levies

By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor

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“This is uncalled for. Not at this point in time. People are already burdened by taxes, levies and other payments to the government in many ways and the economic crunch is weighing down on people heavily.

“In many Unity Colleges, the issue of the administration of the PTA levy has created trouble” – parent.

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A hike of more than 100 per cent in Parents/Teachers Association (PTA) levy in Federal Unity Colleges (FUCs) – formerly Federal Government Colleges (FGCs) – has aroused anger and protest in parents struggling to provide basic household necessities in the throes of countrywide economic hardship.

A circular dated March 18 and signed by Federal Education Ministry Permanent Secretary, Nasir Sani-Gwarzo, announced that Abuja has increased PTA levy from N5,700 to N12,000 per term.

The circular is addressed to all Principals, Federal Unity Colleges.

It reads: “Following the receipt of multiple requests from various PTA bodies in Federal Unity Colleges (FUCs) seeking an increase in the PTA levy to enable them fulfil their obligations within the colleges, the ministry has approved a revised PTA levy.

“The new levy will take effect from the third term of the 2024/2025 academic session.’’

But parents from across the colleges are upset by the development, describing it as a clever way of raising tuition fees in FUCs which were increased from N45,000 to N100,000 per session only a few months ago.

The Guardian reports that a parent (name withheld) whose daughter attends Federal Government College, Ijanikin, Lagos, wondered why the government took such a decision at this point in time.

“This is uncalled for. Not at this point in time. People are already burdened by taxes, levies and other payments to the government in many ways and the economic crunch is weighing down on people heavily.

“In many Unity Colleges, the issue of the administration of the PTA levy has created trouble,” the parent lamented.

“Only recently, the manner the levy was administered here by the then PTA executive resulted into court cases and even became a matter of discussion in the media.

“How are we sure that funds generated through the new rate would be judiciously managed? Some principals are just feasting on the levy by conniving with PTA leaders.”

Apart from the levy approved by the government, most FUCs also impose sundry levies on students which are paid by parents.

For instance, PTA levies paid by parents at King’s College, Lagos, include access card  (N1,000), diesel/waste (N4,000), education (N2,000), feeding support (N2, 000), PTA (N5, 000), and PTA teachers’ wages (N5,700).

Optional PTA levies are laundry (N9, 000), barbing (N1,000), and mid-day meal (N15,000).

NAPTAN seeks quality upgrade in FUCs, other schools

The National Parents/Teachers Association of Nigeria (NAPTAN) expressed disgust at the state of facilities in FUCs and other schools across the country.

NAPTAN National President Haruna Danjuma said if Kings College, an elite school among Unity Colleges, could be in such a bad situation, the conditions of other colleges should be better imagined.

His words: “We have been calling for adequate attention to education in the country. No nation can develop beyond the level and state of its education system. If Unity Colleges that are deemed to be special schools are in such deplorable state, what do we expect to see in other schools?

“A visit to any of our public schools would reveal overcrowded classrooms, broken down and inadequate furniture and other items. The teachers are not enough and it has been the PTA in many instances that employ teachers to fill the gap.

“When they are talking about the state of facilities, that affects the welfare of students and their teachers too.

“We are appealing to the government to please pay adequate attention to the education sector. We appreciate some steps being taken by the government but more efforts must be put in place to make things better.

“The food being served the students in the hostels is not good enough. We are also using this opportunity to call on the state governments to cooperate with the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) in the funding of projects and the payment of counterpart funding.”

Danjuma also charged the management of colleges to make judicious use of allocated funds.

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