As schools reopen across Rivers State this September, many parents in Port Harcourt say the thought of resumption is no longer a source of joy but of worry. They describe the rising costs of school fees, uniforms, and textbooks as overwhelming, adding that the burden could be eased if schools allowed siblings to reuse textbooks.
Mrs. Gold Wobo, a trader at Mile 3 Market, expressed concern over what she called an “unfair school pattern” that forces parents to buy new books each term.
“Growing up, our younger ones used our textbooks, but today that is no longer an option. I am not happy with the attitude of school owners. They are making life more difficult, especially in this harsh economy,” she lamented.
Mr. Obinna Okpara, a laundry operator in Rumurolumeni, shared the same frustration.
“As school is about to resume, my heart is skipping. I am worried about how to cope this term. School owners don’t allow younger siblings to use textbooks from their elder ones. It is bad. They should understand that people are struggling to survive,” he said.
For civil servants, the pressure is even more intense. Mrs. Justina Jaja, a mother of four and a government worker, explained that many of her colleagues resort to bank loans to meet up with school expenses.
“If you want to put your child in a good school, you are looking at above ₦200,000. With four kids in secondary school, you spend over ₦800,000. The problem is worse because textbooks cannot be reused. Most parents, especially civil servants, end up borrowing money just to cope,” she explained.
The parents appealed to the Rivers State Government to step in by enacting a policy that would allow textbook reuse, citing Imo State as an example where such a system is already in place.
“Government needs to intervene to help parents. Imo State has already implemented this policy, and parents there are relieved. Rivers State should also take that step so parents can breathe easier,” one parent urged.
Another parent added: “When our governor, Sim, comes back, that is one area he should focus on. Let Rivers State ban this one-term-one-book-per-child system. It will go a long way in reducing the burden on parents.”
