Don’t Send Your Children To School You Can’t Afford

While schools are pulling out all the stops to welcome new and old students to another academic session, some parents are already losing sleep on how to balance their children’s last term’s school fees and also take blood, sweat and tears to pay fees for the coming session.

From all indications, many parents have been running from pillar to post to figure out how to raise money to pay school fees for new school year and also get stationeries, school bags, shoes, sportwear, and for some pupils, new school uniforms ready.

While I commend parents for keeping their noses to grindstones to give their children good education (after all, it is your responsibility to give your children the best education within your reach); but let me ask you, can you really afford the school fees? Or you just “want to feel among” without considering your pocket?!

Last term, I heard the story of a secondary school students who was denied graduation gown and eventually missed graduation ceremony because his parents could not meet up with deadline to balance his school fees. The boy will no doubt suffered a low self-esteem among his peers. Do you think that child will ever forget such bitter experience in a hurry? Will he forgive his parents?

I doubt if many parents are aware of the embarrassment and psychological trauma their children pass through when they are sent home or out of class during ‘operation school fees drive’ for failure to meet up with their financial commitment with the school management.

Parents, another academic session is almost here; PLEASE don’t give yourself high blood pressure because you want to fit in. You don’t need to break the bank to send your children to good school! It is not too late neither is it too early to start searching for good school in your neighbourhood that align with your family values and income. After all, going to a ‘big school’ doesn’t translate to success in life.

Understandably, you want to give your child the best opportunities you didn’t have while growing up, nevertheless, don’t give yourself financial and self-imposed pressure and also make your child lose self-esteem because of your inability to meet up with school fees settlement this coming academic session.

An adage in Yoruba says, “Se b’otimo Elewa Sapon.” Meaning, cut your coat according to the size of your clothe.

Need I say more?! I don’t think so.