Abuja, July 28, 2025 — Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu, Director of GEMSland Private School in Abuja and a prominent educationist, has urged the Federal Government to initiate urgent reforms to the country’s education policies to ensure the sustainability and growth of private schools.
Aliyu made the call during an education stakeholders’ dialogue held in the nation’s capital, where she highlighted the growing challenges facing private educational institutions, especially in the current economic climate.
According to her, outdated regulatory frameworks, multiple levies, and insufficient policy incentives are stifling the ability of private schools to deliver quality and affordable education. She stressed the need for the government to streamline regulations, reduce bureaucratic bottlenecks, and establish support mechanisms such as grants, low-interest loans, and training for teachers.
“Private schools are not just businesses; they are partners in nation-building,” Aliyu said. “We complement the government’s efforts in educating Nigeria’s children, yet many schools are closing down because the operating environment is too harsh.”
She also advocated for a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model that will see greater collaboration between the Ministry of Education and the private education sector, especially in curriculum development, infrastructure improvement, and digital learning integration.
Stakeholders at the event echoed her concerns, calling for a comprehensive policy review that prioritizes the role of private schools in expanding access to quality education across Nigeria. Many pointed to the COVID-19 era as a lesson in the need for flexible, inclusive, and technology-driven education policies.
Aliyu concluded by emphasizing that if Nigeria must achieve its education targets under the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), private schools must be empowered to thrive through deliberate and supportive government actions.