State governments across Nigeria have responded to growing concerns about the rising fees charged by private schools, with a clear message: they cannot stop private schools from setting high fees. However, they emphasized that while they cannot directly control fee structures, they are committed to regulating the establishment and operation of private schools to ensure minimum standards.
In a recent statement, the government of Enugu State clarified that the state, through the Ministry of Education, had passed and circulated a policy aimed at establishing minimum standards for the establishment and running of private schools. This policy is designed to ensure that while private schools operate autonomously, they adhere to set guidelines for quality education, infrastructure, and staff qualifications, among other factors.
While the state cannot interfere with the pricing decisions of private institutions, officials stressed the importance of maintaining a balance between affordability and quality. The policy aims to ensure that private schools provide quality education and meet necessary standards for the benefit of students, without overburdening parents with excessive fees.
The stance of the state governments reflects a broader challenge of regulating private sector activities without infringing on the rights of these institutions to determine their business models. As private schools continue to grow in number and influence, the challenge remains for governments to ensure that the quality of education remains high while also ensuring that fees remain reasonable and within reach for most families.
With this policy in place, Enugu State hopes to create a more structured and accountable framework for private schools, while continuing to provide parents with options for quality education.