KADUNA GOVT CAUTIONS PRIVATE SCHOOLS AGAINST UNAPPROVED FEE HIKES. (PHOTO)

 Kaduna Govt Cautions Private Schools Against Unapproved Fee Hikes

The Kaduna State Government has warned private school owners not to increase tuition fees without official clearance from the Kaduna State Schools Quality Assurance Authority (KSSQAA).

In a circular dated September 7, 2023, with reference number KSSQAA/GEN.37/VOL.I, the authority noted that some proprietors had been raising fees in violation of regulations. The letter, signed by Mercy Bainta Kude, Director of the Private Schools Department, stressed that approval documents clearly prohibit such changes without regulatory consent.

“No proprietor or proprietress should increase school fees or upgrade their institution without the approval of KSSQAA,” the directive stated, adding that operators must strictly adhere to rules, particularly at a time when the government is reducing fees in public schools.

The circular also reminded proprietors that procedures for reviewing fees are clearly spelt out. It explained that no increase would be considered unless at least three years had passed since the last one. Any proposal, it added, must first originate from a Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) meeting with an adequate quorum, followed by an official application to KSSQAA. The application must include minutes of the PTA meeting, attendance records, the current and proposed fees across all school levels, and clear reasons for the adjustment.

The government further directed that schools provide details of their enrolment strength from Pre-Basic to Post-Basic levels before any request for approval would be processed.

The circular warned that non-compliance would be treated as a breach of regulatory guidelines.