Hardship: Parents Protest As Federal Gov’t Hikes PTA Levies In Unity Schools

Angry parents across all unity schools in Akwa Ibom State have protested the Federal Ministry of Education (FME) ‘s unilateral increase of the Parent/ Teacher Association (PTA) levy by 120 per cent.

It was gathered that the fee had been N5,000 per term, but according to a circular dated 18th March 2025 and signed by the permanent secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, Dr Nasir  Sani-Gwarzo, it was jacked up to a maximum of N12,000, sparking outrage by distraught parents, who lamented that “such unilateral increase was insensitive, considering the hard times currently facing most parents.”

One of the parents, Victor Effiong, said the federal government should make proper consultations with parents before taking such a decision, adding that such monies are always embezzled by the PTA executives without supporting the welfare of the students.

He recalled that the PTA executive at Federal Government College (FGC), Ikot Ekpene, had attempted to increase the levy last term. Still, parents resisted and threatened to petition the Exco to the FME before the decision was rescinded.

“What do they (the PTA Exco) spend such monies on?” he queried, noting that many of the supporting staff only earn about N40,000 without recruiting more Ad-hoc staff to complement the few ones in the school.

Another parent, Udeme Archibong, wondered why such approval should be allowed “when the PTA officials are only interested in fleecing the parents to line their pockets, without supporting the school with educational materials, to augment the federal government provision.”

“I paid money for my children’s books and clothes, but up till now, they have not been able to complete the books and other items, so what are the so-called PTA officials doing with our money?” he asked.

In the same vein, our correspondent learnt that other unity schools in the state, including the all-girls College at Ukana Offo, Uyo, and Ikot Obio Itong, in Mkpat Enin LGAs, have also rejected the decision, calling it “fraudulent.”

With an overcrowded population of about 5,000 students and between 55 and 60 students per class, another parent, Ita Ekong, lamented that the standard of teaching and learning has become ridiculously low, given the teacher-student ratio compared to the carrying capacity per class.

“This is the area that the PTA should have intervened in the provision of complementary teachers, but what they do is generate the funds from parents and stash their pockets every term,” he stressed.

He recalled that such controversy had caused the PTA executive to shut down the parents’ WhatsApp platform for many months, only for them to reopen a few days later and announce the increment.

He disclosed, “During one of the PTA meetings, a few of us were served snacks and water, and they later told us that N700,000 was spent on such an event.”

Another parent from Unity School in Ikot Obio Itong Mkpat Enin LGA area who pleaded anonymity appealed to the federal government to investigate how the permanent secretary in the Federal Ministry of Education approved a request for the increment of PTA levies without any recourse to the parents to reach a consensus.