By Patrick Idowu
With FCT-owned primary schools shut since March due to an ongoing teachers’ strike, many parents are now turning to affordable private schools to keep their children in class.
The strike, declared by primary school teachers over the implementation of the ₦70,000 national minimum wage and unpaid arrears owed by the six area councils, has left pupils at home for over seven weeks, missing the entire third term academic calendar and second term examinations.
Although the area councils began payment of the new wage in April, teachers have refused to resume, demanding full settlement of their arrears, which they claim span seven months.
In areas such as Karu, Jikwoyi, Kurudu, and Karshi, parents told Abuja City Journal that they have started seeking affordable alternatives in the private education sector.
Angela Ekueme, a petty trader at Karu Market, said she visited a private school on Monday to inquire about fees and plans to enroll her children after the Sallah holiday.
Mrs. Adewunmi Samuel, a civil servant, has already withdrawn two of her three children from LEA Jikwoyi and enrolled them in a nearby private school.
“I have told their father in Kaduna. One child still has to wait. We’re just praying the schools reopen soon,” she said.
In Karshi, another FCT suburb, Usman Barko, a father of four, lamented the lack of affordable private options.
“My wife and I searched, but couldn’t find any we can afford. The FCT Minister must urgently intervene,” he said.
Similarly, in Pegi, Shola Taiwo shared that he recently moved his two children to a private school after consulting with his wife and older children.
“It’s going to stretch us financially. We even had to forgo buying a ram for Eid-el-Kabir. But keeping the children idle is worse,” he noted.
Most parents interviewed are appealing to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, to step in and resolve the impasse, so public schools can reopen without further delay.
