Private school owners in Edo State say at least 10 proprietors have put up their schools for sale, citing what they describe as excessive taxation by the state government.
The concern was raised at a one-day town hall meeting in Benin City, convened by the Coalition of Association of Private Schools (CAPS) to discuss new education policies introduced by the Ministry of Education.
Dr Ngozi Christy Emuen, chair of the Association of Private School Owners of Nigeria (APSON), told the gathering that schools are struggling under nearly nine different levies, including registration and fumigation fees. “Many can no longer survive,” she said.
Beyond taxation, proprietors are alarmed by the government’s directive to shift junior secondary education towards skills training. From this session, students in JSS3 will undergo compulsory entrepreneurship courses and graduate with a Skills Acquisition Certificate alongside their Basic Education Certificate Examination.
The coalition – made up of APSON, AFED, NAPPS and the Association of Model Islamic Schools – insists the change cannot be imposed without consultation.
“No policy is a policy until it passes the tests of objectivity, inclusivity and practicality,” said Dr Osagie Erhunmwunse of AFED. “How do we move from formal to skills-based education without support? It cannot be imposed as a decree.”
While the government argues the reforms will equip pupils with practical tools for the future, proprietors warn that unless their concerns are addressed, more schools may close – raising fears for the survival of private education in Edo State.
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