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The short answer
Back-to-school costs go well beyond tuition: uniforms, shoes, textbooks, exercise books, levies, feeding, transport and supplies. List them early, ask the school for a full breakdown, spread purchases over the holiday, and use credit only for a known gap. Where the school is a Spaces merchant and sells uniforms or books, Loans on Spaces can cover those items after you accept the agreement.
Why the first weeks of a session cost so much
The start of a school year in September is usually the most expensive moment for Nigerian parents. Tuition is only one part. Children outgrow uniforms and shoes, new classes need new textbooks, and schools charge levies for things such as development, sports, examinations or ICT. If you have more than one child, every item multiplies.
Many of these costs are known months ahead, which means they can be planned for. The difficulty is that they all land at once.
The full checklist
| Category | Items | Who sells it |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition and levies | Tuition, development levy, exam fees, PTA dues | School |
| Uniforms | Day uniform, sportswear, cardigan, cultural day wear | Often the school, sometimes a set supplier |
| Footwear and bags | School shoes, sandals, school bag | Shops and markets |
| Books | Textbooks, workbooks, exercise books, reading books | School bookshop or approved vendors |
| Supplies | Stationery, mathematical set, art materials | Shops |
| Feeding | Lunch plan or packed lunch | School or home |
| Transport | School bus or daily fares | School or transport operator |
Ask the school for the full list in writing before the holiday ends. Some schools insist that uniforms and books are bought only from them, while others publish a list you can buy anywhere. Knowing which applies tells you where you can shop around.
A worked budget
Example only. Mrs Okafor has a child entering JSS1 at a private school in Abuja that is a Spaces merchant.
| Item | Example amount | Payable with Loans on Spaces? |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition and levies | ₦350,000 | Yes, paid to the school |
| Uniforms from the school | ₦60,000 | Yes, if sold by the school |
| Textbooks from the school bookshop | ₦75,000 | Yes, if sold by the school |
| Shoes and bag | ₦35,000 | Only at a Spaces retailer |
| Stationery and supplies | ₦15,000 | Only at a Spaces retailer |
| School bus for the term | ₦90,000 | Yes, if run by the school or a Spaces transport merchant |
| Total | ₦625,000 |
She saved ₦450,000 over the third term. She pays tuition and levies plus the shoes, bag and stationery from savings, ₦400,000 in total, and has ₦50,000 left as a buffer. The remaining ₦225,000 for uniforms, books and the bus is due in the first week. If a Loans on Spaces limit is offered and the repayment date falls after her next two months of income, she could cover that gap. If repaying it would squeeze food and rent, she could ask the school whether books can be paid for in the second week, or whether the bus fee can be paid monthly.
A holiday timeline that spreads the cost
Most of the back-to-school list can be bought in stages during the long holiday rather than in the last week. Spreading purchases means each month carries part of the cost, and you avoid the rush when prices tend to rise.
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| End of third term | Get the new session's fee schedule and book list from the school |
| Early holiday | Check last year's uniforms and shoes for fit; list what must be replaced |
| Mid holiday | Buy shoes, bags and stationery; arrange second-hand textbooks |
| Two weeks before resumption | Buy uniforms and books from the school; confirm transport |
| Resumption week | Pay tuition and levies; keep every receipt |
Keeping receipts matters more than many parents think. If a payment is disputed, or the school asks for proof that a levy was paid, a clear record saves time.
Ways to reduce the bill
- Buy uniforms a size up where the school allows it, so they last two years.
- Ask about second-hand textbooks from older pupils if the edition has not changed.
- Buy shoes and stationery early in the holiday, before prices rise with demand.
- Check which levies are compulsory and which are optional.
- Coordinate with other parents on transport: a shared drop-off can cost less than a school bus.
When to use credit, and when not to
Credit makes sense for a fixed, known shortfall that you can repay from regular income soon after. It does not make sense if you will need to borrow again for second-term fees before the first loan is repaid. Under the CBN's Consumer Protection Regulations, regulated institutions must disclose terms clearly; take the time to read every agreement before accepting, and compare it with the school's own instalment terms. See school fees loan vs instalment plan.
For next session, start now. Divide the expected total by the number of months until September and put that aside each month; see saving for school fees: a term-by-term plan.
Where Pryme fits
If your child's school is a Spaces merchant and sells uniforms or books, a Loans on Spaces limit offered in your Pryme app can cover those items, after you read and accept the agreement. A Fixed Savings Box can hold next session's money until you need it; see Savings Boxes. For tuition itself, read paying school fees with Loans on Spaces.
Questions people ask
How much do parents spend on back-to-school in Nigeria?
It varies widely by school and city. Get the school's full list for tuition, levies, uniforms and books, then add shoes, supplies, feeding and transport.
Can I buy school uniforms on credit?
If the school sells uniforms and is a Spaces merchant, you can use Loans on Spaces after accepting the agreement in the Pryme app. Uniforms sold elsewhere can only be paid with the credit if that seller is in Spaces.
How can I reduce the cost of school books?
Ask about second-hand copies from older pupils, check the edition has not changed, and buy early.
Are school levies compulsory?
Some are and some are not. Ask the school for a written breakdown and which items are optional.
Sources
- CBN Consumer Protection Regulations 2019 · accessed Oct 2026
- FCCPC: Consumer rights and responsibilities · accessed Oct 2026
- Mondaq: A glimpse into the Credit Reporting Act 2017 · accessed Oct 2026
This article is general information, not financial, legal or tax advice. Products described are provided under the terms on this site and are subject to regulation and eligibility.