A new National Policy on Non-State Schools has been introduced by the Federal Government of Nigeria (FG) to oversee and assist community-based, private, and religiously affiliated educational establishments throughout Nigeria.
National standards for curriculum, accountability, teacher quality, and infrastructure are established by the policy. The policy, which was approved in October 2024 and created with UK assistance through the Partnership for Learning for All in Nigeria (PLANE), was unveiled in Abuja by Education Minister Olatunji Alausa.
“As our population continues to grow, non-state schools are helping to fill the gap. While we appreciate their role, we are determined to ensure better regulation, accountability, and support so they can deliver higher-quality education to our children,”
“By harnessing the potential of non-state schools, we can increase access to quality education, improve learning outcomes, and promote economic growth,” the FG Minister said. He pointed out that the growth of non-state schools surpassed that of public schools by 39% between 2017 and 2022.
Incentives include payments to schools that enroll out-of-school children beginning in the 2025-2026 school year and grants for private early childhood centers in an effort to increase access and compliance. Public-private partnerships may also be used to concession unity schools.
Citing the need for efficient supervision of growing education providers and the country’s fast urbanization, Ian Attfield, senior education adviser at the British High Commission supported the initiative. The Coalition of Non-State Schools also applauded the action and called for continued cooperation.
Over 85% of teachers in non-state schools are unregistered, according to Ronke Soyombo, registrar of the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN), which promised to streamline certification across the country.
“TRCN is taking concrete steps to simplify and expand registration processes nationwide, ensuring that qualified teachers support learning across all sectors” she said.
The policy is linked by analysts to worries about the quality of education declining. More than 70% of applicants received scores below 200 out of 400 on the 2025 UTME. Experts worry that quality is being compromised for wider access, even though JAMB raised the minimum university entrance score to 150.
As demonstrated in nations like Singapore, South Korea, and Japan, stakeholders support a merit-based system that is in line with international educational standards.
