Kano orders annual licence renewal for private schools

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The Kano State Private and Voluntary Institutions Board has mandated annual operating licence renewals for all private schools operating in the state.

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The Executive Secretary of the board, Baba Abubakar-Umar, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Kano.

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According to him, the annual operating licence fee is N6,000.

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He said the schools were also expected to maintain strict educational standards.

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Abubakar-Umar explained that the criteria for establishing a new school required a formal application, followed by a comprehensive inspection of the proposed facilities.

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During the inspection, he said, emphasis was placed on qualified manpower, adequate facilities and adherence to the approved curriculum.

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“We check benches, chairs, safety and welfare of the children, equipment, and the number of qualified teachers,” the executive secretary stated.

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He noted that operating licences previously required triennial renewal before a recent legal amendment.

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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 said.

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He urged proprietors with expired permits to complete the renewal process before the end of the month, warning that defaulters would face immediate sanctions.

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The executive secretary further warned private schools against arbitrary fee increases without valid justification.

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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,” he warned.

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He added that necessary fee reviews required an active Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) structure to negotiate fair terms between school authorities and guardians.

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Abubakar-Umar urged proprietors to comply with all requirements to ensure safe, affordable and quality education for pupils in the state.

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