The soaring cost of living has made its way into the end-of-year celebrations at schools, leaving many parents and children opting out of this year’s festivities. Traditionally, end-of-year parties are a chance for schools to celebrate their achievements, with modest fees collected to cover gifts, food, and drinks. It’s a time for children to show off new outfits and share their accomplishments. But this year, the story is different.
Many parents, already stretched thin with Christmas expenses, back-to-school supplies, and upcoming term fees, have decided to skip the party. Schools, feeling the pressure of inflation, have hiked party fees by over 50%, which has made it unaffordable for families, especially those with multiple children.
Take Mrs. Folakemi Ifaleke, for example. Her children’s school raised the party fee from N5,000 to N15,000 per child, a jump that she found unreasonable. With three children at the same school, she would have to spend N45,000 just for the party. Faced with this, she told her kids to choose between new clothes for Christmas or the party—and they chose the clothes. In the end, they weren’t interested in the party anyway, since many other children hadn’t paid either.
Mr. Jerry Nwokoma, a motor parts trader, had a similar experience. His children’s school asked for N20,000 per child, totaling N90,000 for his four kids. In response, he decided to cancel the party altogether, promising them a special Christmas outing instead.
Some schools, like the one where Mrs. Chisom Akpota works, tried to reduce the financial burden by lowering the fee to N3,000, but even then, only a small fraction of students were able to pay. Instead of a lavish party, they held a simpler event with snacks and soft drinks for the top performers.
Though many schools understand the financial strain on parents, some, like Mrs. Omosefunmi Grace, who runs a school, justify the fee hikes as a necessity to cover rising costs. She pointed out that parents would complain if the gifts didn’t match what they paid, so they had to raise the fees. But even she admitted that it’s a tough time for families, and many simply can’t afford the extra costs for what has traditionally been a fun, end-of-year tradition.
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