There seems to be rays of hope for out-of-school children following the recent announcement by the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Olatunji Alausa, on providing support to Non-State Schools in Nigeria (NSN) with vouchers for each out-of-school child enrolled. A non-state school is a school that is not publicly funded or run by the government. It is typically a privately owned and operated institution. VICTORIA AMADI reports about stakeholders’ stance on the fresh policy.
Twelve-year-old Etido Godswill, who couldn’t communicate in simple English Language, has never seen the walls of a school, let alone understanding simple arithmetic and English words. She can only communicate in her local language and Pidgin English.
According to the little Godswill, who is from a family of 10 -comprising eight siblings, a mother and a father who are into menial jobs, the main focus of her family is to have at least a meal a day, rather than the kids attending schools. Alongside her siblings, Etido hawks sachet water to help support their parents in catering for the family.
The likes of Godswill are an example of millions of Nigerian children, who lack access to education and literacy.
The United Nations Children’s Fund estimated that 18.3 million children in Nigeria are out of school. Approximately 10.2 million children at the primary level and 8.1 million at the junior secondary school level are reported to be out of school, placing Nigeria as one of the countries with the highest out of school children globally. This has contributed to the menace caused by illiteracy in the country. With a 31 per cent illiteracy rate in the country, there have been worries about the future of Nigeria in terms of development and overall well-being of the populace.
According to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), illiteracy has posed an obstacle to health literacy, influencing people’s ability to make health-related decisions, thereby resulting in reduced life expectancy and other health hazards that could be prevented. This has further led to insecurity and factors such as poverty, cultural norms, lack of access to quality education, gender inequality, learning disability, corruption, among others.
Hope shines for out-of-school children
Just last week, the Federal Government unveiled a comprehensive policy on non-state schools by setting clear guidelines for infrastructure, teachers’ quality, curriculum delivery, and accountability standards.
A non-state school is a school that is not publicly funded or run by the government. It is typically a privately owned and operated institution, often referred to as a private school or independent school. These schools rely on tuition fees, donations or endowments for their funding, rather than government allocations.
The policy entails the government’s rolling out practical incentives for private school operators, including indirect reimbursement for enrolling out-of-school children, with implementation slated for the 2025–2026 academic session.
The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, at the event in Abuja on Wednesday, noted that this would help to increase access to quality education, improve learning outcomes and promote economic growth.
This policy was developed with support from the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) under the Partnership for Learning for All in Nigeria (PLANE) programme.
Alausa highlighted the contribution of non-state schools in expanding access to education
According to him, between 2017 and 2022, non-state schools grew by approximately 39 per cent, compared to 3.5 per cent and 6.3 per cent growth in government primary and junior secondary schools.
“As our population continues to grow, non-state schools are helping to fill the gap. Additionally, direct grants and vouchers will be made available through the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) to support privately owned early childhood development centres,” he said.
Non-State Schools includes faith-based schools, private schools, home schooling, tutorial/adult learning centres, Voluntary/Charity schools and community schools.
Stakeholders’ stance
The National President, National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS) Nigeria, Chief Yomi Otubela, described the development as a welcomed initiative, adding that it signals an important recognition of the role private and other non-state actors have consistently played in the advancement of education across Nigeria.
He affirmed that non-state schools have filled critical gaps in education provision, especially in areas where public education has struggled to meet growing demand.
According to Otubela, it is also important to note that the minister’s reference to a 39% growth in non-state schools from 2017 to 2022 only reinforces the undeniable fact that non-state education providers are central to achieving national education goals.
He stated that NAPPS Nigeria was particularly encouraged by the policy’s proposed incentives, describing it as a step in the right direction.
“In fact, long before now, many of the NAPPS-registered schools have been actively supporting government’s efforts by offering various forms of scholarships to indigent children, especially in low-income and marginalised communities. This self-initiated gesture by our members has been our way of contributing to national efforts to reduce the number of out-of-school children in the country,” he said.
NAPPS boss further believes that the successful implementation of this policy would require an inclusive and balanced approach. He also recommended that its regulation should be firm but fair, to promote quality without stifling innovation or adding to the burdens already shouldered by private schools’ operators.
He also expressed worry over the potential, regulation and the unintended consequences of what he described as “one-size-fits-all standards”.
Otubela, therefore, urged the government to adopt a participatory model that takes into account the realities of diverse school settings across the country. He added that its success would depend on sustained stakeholders’ engagement, adequate funding, clear implementation timelines and a genuine spirit of partnership. Which if are upheld, could mark a turning-point in the collective efforts to reduce illiteracy, improve learning outcomes, and bring every Nigerian child, regardless of background, into the classroom.
“We welcome the planned collaboration with TRCN in ensuring that all non-state school teachers are registered, certified and licensed. NAPPS has long supported the professionalisation of the teaching workforce, and we are prepared to work closely with the relevant agencies to ensure this process is seamless and cost-effective for our members,” he added.
President, Coalition of Non-State Schools in Nigeria, who also participated in the development of the policy, Dr. Saleh Adamu Kwaru, noted that the policy showcases shared responsibility and reinforces readiness to implement solutions that cover the nation’s most vulnerable children.
On the way forward in tackling out-of-school children, Dr. Kwaru noted that the government cannot tackle it alone. He added that it demands collective action from all stakeholders and strategic collaboration with non-state school actors.
“The statistics shared by the Honourable Minister of Education are telling—highlighting how rapid population growth and emerging settlements consistently outpace available government resources. In the light of this, private sector involvement, particularly by non-state schools, becomes vital in addressing these pressing challenges,” Kwaru said.
The National President of the Association For Formidable Educational Development (AFED), and the Secretary of the National Non State School Policy Committee that developed the new policy on non-state schools, Emmanuel Orji, while lauding the development, noted that the education minister had created different ministerial committees that would be launched in few days to support the initiatives and commitment to the various challenges facing the education sector.
Orji described the policy as a testament to the power of collaboration and stakeholder engagement
“The demographic reality of our urban areas demands innovative solutions. As our population continues to grow, non-state schools have filled the gap in providing access to education. This policy acknowledges the importance of these schools and provides a framework for collaboration between non-state schools and the government.
“As we move forward with implementation, we look forward to working with various agencies, MDAs, and parastatals at the national and state levels. We are eager to support the government in ensuring that this policy achieves its intended goals and improves the quality of education for all Nigerian children,” he said.
According to the National Deputy President, Association of Private School Owners of Nigeria (APSON), Hajiya Maryam Magaji, by incentivising non-state schools to enroll out-of-school children, the policy would help increase access to education for marginalised children. She added that it would also help set standards for non-state schools to improve education quality, which can help reduce illiteracy.
“It would help improve education access and quality,” she said.
The Director of Platform Schools, Lagos, Dr. Bola Obe (FCIB), also lauded the policy.
Dr. Obe noted that this would not only improve the quality of education provided by these schools, but would also enhance the overall learning experience for students.
However, he stated that the success of this policy would depend on effective implementation and monitoring, adding that the government would need to ensure that non-state schools complied with the new regulations and standards, and that the reimbursement scheme and grants were disbursed efficiently.
“Moreover, the policy’s sustainability would depend on adequate funding and support from the government and other stakeholders.
“As the Director of Platform Schools, Lagos, I look forward to working with the government and other stakeholders to ensure the successful implementation of this policy and to making a positive impact on the education sector in Nigeria,” he said.
