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Niger Orders 20% Tuition Fee Cut in Private Schools from 2025

 

 

The Nigerien government has announced a 20% reduction in tuition fees in private schools and vocational training institutions starting with the 2025–2026 academic year.

 

The measure, enacted under Decree No. 2025-391 signed by President General Abdourahamane Tchiani in July, aims to make education more affordable in the face of a challenging economic climate.

 

The regulation applies to all private educational and professional training institutions, but includes a safeguard: fees cannot be reduced below 50,000 CFA francs, except for charitable or aid-based organisations, which may charge less.

 

Authorities have warned that non-compliance will result in the closure of offending institutions. While many families have welcomed the move as a relief from rising educational costs, it has also sparked concern among school proprietors.

 

The decree provides for an evaluation after its first year of implementation, leaving room for adjustments. Similar measures have been seen as vital social interventions in countries such as Burkina Faso, where education is constitutionally recognised as a fundamental right.

 

In Niger, the challenge will be ensuring that easing the financial burden on parents does not compromise educational standards.