In my previous articles, I have tried to discuss the challenges and prospects of economic migration to the UK. I believe some people are misguided or lack information to decide if the student route is best for them. Today, my reflection is on parents with teenage dependants from Nigeria.
In the UK, kids start school full-time in September after their fourth birthday. This means they’ll turn 5 during their first school year. For instance, if a child’s fourth birthday is between 1st September 2021 and 31st August 2022, they will usually start school in September 2022. Many Nigerian parents speed up their children’s education by sending them to secondary school at the age of nine.
While in the UK secondary school is from 11 to 16. students will enter secondary school for key stages three and four and to start preparing for GCSE. Students progressing to study at the University must be at least 17 years old on the date of registration. In Nigeria, we have kids finishing secondary school at 14/15 years. So, when you take your children to Japa, they will be placed in their age-appropriate class. Education at primary and secondary levels is free in the UK, but at university level it is not. As you “japa”, keep in mind that your teenage children who will be attending university soon will have to pay international student fees.
The current trend is for international students to borrow money from agents in order to show proof of funds for their living costs when applying for a student visa. After arriving in the U.K., they work to pay their tuition fees installmentally. Most international students struggle to afford tuition fees. Those with dependants also need to cater for their families with limited resources. In two or three years, skilled workers or international students arriving in the UK with teenage dependants will be forced to pay high tuition fees. So in the next few years, you may be paying over £15,000 in tuition fees for a child at university. The purpose of this is not to scare people, but to let those who aren’t aware prepare and plan for high tuition fees. Even if you have a tier 2 work visa, you have to pay high tuition fees until you receive indefinite leave to remain.
University in Scotland is free, but if you are on a visa you will have to pay international tuition, whereas in England students can apply for student loans to pay for tuition and end up with huge debt. If you “japa” with teenagers that are entering University, you need to think about the cost of school fees and make adequate plans. In the near future some Nigerian teenagers may not progress to university. Some of these kids can work to contribute to their school fees, parents need to start thinking ahead. For high income earners, this may not be a problem, but I think people should at least factor all these in their plans. After secondary school, some kids will stop their education and join the workforce. We need to ensure that they have the right skills for them to thrive.
Recently, BBC reported the story of Ola Jasim from Iran, who has lived in Scotland since she was 11 yet could not access free tuition because she was two months short of the 10 years period required for ILR was a reminder that many “Japarians” from Nigeria and their kids will be faced with this harsh reality of high tuition fees.
If you are struggling to pay up your tuition fees for your master’s programme, what is the plan to cover the fees for your child who will be going to University soon? I think you don’t need to wait for that time to think and plan how you will cover fees. You can start by equipping your kids with the skills they need to get high paying jobs. Digital skills are in high demand, so getting your kids involved in tech coding bootcamp can be a great start. You can encourage them to do a lot of online learning.
If they intend to pursue a university degree, they may be able to acquire skills that will help them pay their tuition. Some people may not pursue a university degree but it helps to prepare them for adulthood through skill development. Importantly, start having the conversation early so that these teenagers may transition into adulthood with the right support. It is our hope that rushed “japa” decisions do not negatively affect kids who may lose school years or stop their education
#JapaSerie #japa
