Nigeria Union of Teachers Warns Against Unchecked Commercialisation of Education

The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) has issued a strong warning against the unchecked commercialisation of education in Nigeria. This concern was raised in light of the escalating school fees and other charges imposed by private educational institutions, which are making education increasingly inaccessible to poor and underprivileged families.

During a capacity-building workshop in Abuja on Thursday, NUT National President Comrade Audu Titus Amba highlighted the detrimental effects of underfunding and neglect of public primary and secondary schools. This neglect has allowed private providers to impose exorbitant fees, exacerbating the disparity between wealthy and less-privileged students.

The workshop, held in collaboration with Education International (EI) and Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES) as part of the Global Response to Privatisation and Commercialisation of Education project, also marked the launch of the “Go Public! Fund Education” campaign. This initiative calls for increased funding for education to ensure quality public education is available to all.

Amba emphasized the need for the Federal Government to boost education financing to meet international standards, recommending a minimum of 6% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and 20% of the national budget. He criticized the current trend of relying on private providers to fill gaps in the public education system, which has led to a rise in private schools and a decline in public investment.

According to UNICEF (2022), Nigeria has over 18 million out-of-school children in the basic education sector. The Union of Bureaux of Education and Curriculum (UBEC) reported a shortage of 194,876 teachers in public primary schools. This shortage, coupled with the proliferation of private schools, threatens the quality and accessibility of public education.

Amba also voiced concerns about the increasing influence of non-state actors driven by profit motives, which he argued leads to educational stratification and social inequality. He stressed the importance of free, quality public education for sustainable development and national prosperity.

In response to these concerns, Dr. Yusuf Sununu, Minister of State for Education, acknowledged the challenges faced by the education sector. He assured that the current administration, led by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is committed to addressing these issues and improving the welfare of teachers.

Keynote speaker Dr. Dennis Sinyolo, Regional Director at Education International Africa Regional Office, underscored Nigeria's troubling status as having the highest number of out-of-school children globally. He advocated for increased investment in education, enhanced teacher welfare, and the integration of technology into classrooms.

The NUT's call for action highlights the urgent need for comprehensive reforms to ensure that education in Nigeria remains a fundamental right accessible to all, regardless of socio-economic status.