Tinubu’s Govt Vows To End Extortion Of Nigerian Parents

According to Ireporter Online, the Federal Government under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has declared its resolve to put an end to all forms of exploitation of Nigerian parents by schools across the country.

The Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, made this known during an interview on a national television programme, where he condemned what he described as widespread extortion of parents through unnecessary school charges and practices.

Alausa disclosed that the ministry has banned several activities, including the compulsory sale of textbooks and nursery school graduation ceremonies, which he said have been turned into avenues for exploiting parents. He explained that while celebrating children’s achievements is important, organising graduations for pupils who have barely spent a year or two in school is unacceptable and financially burdensome for families.

He noted that the government now recognises only meaningful academic milestones, such as the completion of primary school, junior secondary school, and senior secondary school, stressing that these stages provide more tangible and educationally relevant achievements for students.

The minister further criticised the manipulation of textbook policies by some schools and publishers, recalling how textbooks were previously reused by younger siblings to reduce costs for parents. He lamented that workbooks were deliberately merged with core textbooks to prevent reuse, forcing parents to buy new books every academic year, even when the content remained largely unchanged.

According to him, some publishers merely altered page numbering or redesigned book covers while presenting them as new editions, thereby compelling parents to make unnecessary purchases. He said the government has now stopped this practice by mandating that workbooks must be completely separated from core textbooks.

Alausa reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to protecting parents from such exploitation, stating clearly that the government would no longer tolerate practices that place undue financial pressure on Nigerian families.

The minister also announced the reinstatement of Nigerian history into the school curriculum, describing its previous removal as unjustifiable. He explained that history was removed from primary and junior secondary school curricula in 2007, a decision the current administration considers a serious mistake.

He said President Tinubu directed a comprehensive curriculum review to address the issue, adding that the absence of history in schools had disconnected many young Nigerians from the nation’s past. Alausa confirmed that Nigerian history has now been fully reintegrated into the curriculum to ensure students gain a proper understanding of the country’s heritage and identity.