FG launches policy to regulate non-state schools nationwide
The Federal government has inaugurated a National policy on non-state schools in Nigeria to standardize, support and regulate their operations.
Non State schools are educational institutions that are not directly funded or managed by the government which include, faith based schools, private, home schooling, adult learning centers, charity schools and community schools.
The National Policy on Non state schools in Nigeria, approved by the National Council for Education in October last year, was borne out of the need to address the challenges of this category of schools in complementing government efforts to provide access to quality, equitable and inclusive education to Nigerians.
Some of the challenges are, inconsistent quality, increase of non state schools as against public school, limited Finance and inadequate data.
At the event in Abuja, the Minister of Education, Dr Olatunji Alausa highlighted their critical role in bridging the education gap in the country
Dr Olatunji Alausa explained that non state schools had assisted in the expansion of access to education irrespective of location and there was a need to leverage public Private partnership to ensure effective service delivery in the sector.
“By harnessing the potential of non-state schools, we can increase access to quality education, improve learning outcomes, and promote economic growth.” He noted.
Dr Alausa said the Policy outlined clear guidelines for non-state schools such as infrastructure, teacher quality, curriculum delivery, and stronger accountability measures in line with national frameworks to ensure standards.
The Minister of Education also announced some incentives to provide reimbursement to private schools for every out of school child registered from the next academic session, Direct grant to privately owned early child development centres in the States and the Public private partnership arrangement on concessioning of unity schools.
The Federal Lead, Partnership for Learning for All Nigeria, PLANE, Abiola Sanusi called for the full implementation of the policy.
“so the call to action is endorsement and recognition of non-state schools as strategic partners, streamline regulatory processes, invest in inclusive data-driven models.”
The Senior education Advisor, British High Commission, Ian attfield promised more support for Nigeria’s reforms in the education sector.
The Coalition of non state schools, represented by Mr Saleh Adamu expressed readiness to implement the policy and called for more collaboration to deliver quality education.
There were goodwill messages from State Commissioners of Education, the Universal Basic Education Commission, Teachers Registration Council, Nigerian Educational Research Council and development partners pledging support and full domestication of the Policy.
The Policy was developed in collaboration with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and the Partnership for Learning for All in Nigeria, PLANE.
Editing by Tijjani Ibrahim
