There is a growing call for the Nigerian government to strengthen its regulatory control over private schools, given the alarming incidents occurring in some of these institutions. This perspective is expressed by Tilova for Africa (TFA), a U.S.-based non-profit and advocacy organization, which highlighted the recent case of a three-year-old girl in Enugu who was severely beaten by her teacher, resulting in visible injuries on her legs.
TFA pointed out that many private schools, particularly at the nursery and primary levels, are not operating to a high standard. As a result, the organization is urging the government to establish uniform standards for private and community-based educational institutions across the country.
In a statement, Mr. Martin Nwabueze, co-founder of TFA and a pharmacist from Anambra State, urged the government to standardize the operations of all non-state schools, including private, community, and faith-based institutions. He emphasized that this would ensure these schools meet national standards in terms of infrastructure, teacher qualifications, curriculum, and accountability.
TFA criticized the poor conditions in some private schools, describing classroom facilities as “poultry sheds” due to their inadequate state. They also noted that many teachers are illiterate and not properly qualified to teach. The organization warned that the rapid growth of private schools in Nigeria is a sign of deeper problems in the education sector. It argued that many individuals, regardless of their background, are establishing schools as a way to launder money or make quick profits by charging high tuition fees.
TFA further stated that the lack of proper vetting for teachers has led to situations where unqualified individuals are teaching children, sometimes even abusing them. The organization stressed that education should not come at the expense of a child’s safety. Therefore, they called on the government to tighten the regulatory framework to protect children and ensure quality education.
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