Kano Orders Annual Licence Renewals for Private Schools

Private schools in Nigeria’s Kano State must now renew their operating licences every year under a recent legal amendment, the state’s Private and Voluntary Institutions Board said.

The board’s executive secretary, Baba Abubakar-Umar, said the annual licence fee is N6,000. Schools that previously renewed their permits every three years must now complete the process annually. Proprietors with expired licences were told to renew them before the end of the month or face immediate sanctions.

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We check benches, chairs, safety and welfare of the children, equipment, and the number of qualified teachers.

The board also outlined the requirements for opening a new school. Applicants must submit a formal application, after which inspectors assess the proposed facilities. The inspection covers qualified staff, adequate facilities and compliance with the approved curriculum.

Officials check benches and chairs, safety and child welfare, equipment and the number of qualified teachers, Abubakar-Umar said. He linked the legal change to Governor Abba Kabir-Yusuf’s drive to improve education quality.

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Under Governor Abba Kabir-Yusuf’s drive for quality education, the law was amended to mandate for annual license renewals.

He also warned private schools against raising fees without valid justification. “You cannot just start running a school and then increase fees every term; we will not accept any increment beyond parents’ capacity, considering current economic realities,” he said.

According to the board, any necessary fee review should involve an active Parent-Teacher Association, which can negotiate fair terms between school authorities and guardians. Abubakar-Umar urged proprietors to meet all requirements so pupils can receive safe, affordable and quality education.

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You cannot just start running a school and then increase fees every term; we will not accept any increment beyond parents’ capacity, considering current economic realities.