NAPPS faults states over non-state schools policy

The National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS) has voiced concern over the slow domestication of the National Policy on Non-State Schools, one year after its federal launch. NAPPS warns that a lack of political will among state governments is significantly delaying reforms intended to enhance both the quality and accessibility of education nationwide.

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The policy itself was not fundamentally misplaced; rather, the challenge has been translating its objectives into concrete action at the state level.

NAPPS National President Yomi Otubela acknowledged the federal government's policy as a commendable initiative. However, he stressed that its objectives will remain unfulfilled unless states actively adopt and implement it. Launched on July 16, 2025, the policy provides a framework for regulating and supporting various non-state schools, recognizing their crucial role in expanding educational access.

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Without deliberate commitment from state governments, national policies will remain largely aspirational.

Otubela explained that the policy's core issue lies not in its design but in the translation of its objectives into actionable steps at the state level. He highlighted that education's placement on the Concurrent Legislative List necessitates deliberate commitment from state governments for national policies to move beyond aspiration. NAPPS advocates for sustained engagement with proprietors, state chapters, regulators, parents, and development partners to ensure successful implementation.

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Private schools should be partners in national development, not merely as entities to be regulated.

Furthermore, NAPPS calls for a shift from mere regulation to a collaborative partnership model. This includes advocating for concessionary financing, reduced multiple taxation, capacity-building programs, and greater inclusion of private schools in government interventions. Otubela asserted that private schools should be viewed as partners in national development, not just entities subject to regulation. Helen Idiong of Plan International echoed these concerns, citing competing priorities and weak political will as primary implementation barriers at the state level.

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The bigger challenge, like in most policies in Nigeria, is implementation, especially at the state level. Most states are dealing with competing priorities and have low political will to implement or even domesticate it.