When I first wrote an article on school property as a small-scale industry, I had in mind that the latest was not yet known on this progressive business of the day.
People who have the opportunity to review the records of the Ministries of Education will agree with me that the rate at which new permits are requested to open, operate or manage schools is quite alarming.
In recent years, the Nigerian government took the decision to close the illegal schools operating in the country. However, this helped open up a vast but level playing field for traders and potential investors. It became a great opportunity for anyone to excel and earn money. The plan is not intended to oust private school operators, but to make them feel good about meeting the requirements and standards necessary to operate such a high-tech business.
Educational institutions have emerged today as one of the most lucrative businesses operating in the country. While there are bankruptcies of companies in other sectors, educational institutions continue to move. This is the reason why military retirees, churches, mosques, government organizations and most of the people are investing massively in the education sector.
As Nigeria’s population skyrockets daily, it becomes more and more difficult for the existing number of schools to contain the equally growing school enrollments of pupils and students seeking admission to nursery, primary, secondary or tertiary institutions. With the government not ready to satisfactorily provide the necessary social services, it becomes imperative that without private participation in the already declining education sector, things will get even worse and spiral out of control. Thus, private participation becomes necessary to enhance the image of the sector, leaving the government the role of regulator. In this way, the government through its education ministries helps sensitize the education system, sets proper standards, and helps protect the masses from dubious employers.
An owner can prevent his institution from becoming one of the small-scale start-up business enterprises masquerading as hubs of academic activity to become a place of academic excellence by providing all the necessary facilities for conducive learning. Owning a school does not only mean collecting school fees, school uniform charges, book supply, lesson fees, school bus fee, development tax, etc., but assuming the duty of giving the school the face lift it requires. When you invest the time and money to build your school to the required standard, he can be sure he’ll get there in no time. The Nigerian population is large enough to guarantee it a considerable amount of pupil/student enrollment.