The Kaduna State government has warned private school owners across the state against arbitrarily increasing tuition fees without first obtaining official approval from the Kaduna State Schools Quality Assurance Authority, (KSSQAA).
In a circular dated September 7, 2023, the authority said it had observed that some proprietors were adjusting fees in violation of existing regulations.
The letter, with reference number KSSQAA/GEN.37/VOL.I, reminded school proprietors that their initial approval documents explicitly prohibit any fee increment or institutional upgrade without clearance from the regulator.
The directive, signed by the Director of the Private Schools Department, Mercy Bainta Kude, stated, “No proprietor/proprietress should increase school fees or upgrade his/her institution without the approval of KSSQAA. Private Schools’ proprietors/proprietresses are enjoined to strictly abide by the extant regulatory requirements on upward review of fees, especially at a time when the State Government is reducing school fees in state-owned institutions of learning.
“It is the responsibility of all proprietors/proprietresses to keep abreast of the government’s regulations in the education sector, which are inherently dynamic”.
The circular went further to spell out the procedure guiding any fee increment, stressing that: Any previous increment must have lasted at least three years; approval for increment must originate from a Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) meeting with an acceptable quorum, express approval of the Director-General of KSSQAA is mandatory, following an application letter specifying the proposed increase; typed minutes of the PTA meeting and handwritten attendance sheets must be attached to the application; and reasons for the increment must be clearly stated.
It also noted that the current enrolment strength across all levels (Pre-Basic, Lower/Middle Basic, Upper Basic, and Post-Basic) must be indicated and that both old and new school fees for all levels must be included in the application.
