The Edo House of Assembly says it has begun consolidating the 39 extant education laws in the state into a single comprehensive framework to bridge the dichotomy between public and private schools.

The chairman of the House Committee on Education, Donald Okogbe, disclosed this at a legislative roundtable on education reform organised by the committee in Benin on Friday.

Mr Okogbe, who represents Akoko-Edo Constituency II, said private schools now accounted for close to 60 per cent of enrolment at the primary and secondary levels in the state.

He cited WAEC records, saying that legislative provisions for private schools were inadequate.

He said the assembly had noticed dwindling facilities and declining quality, hence the need to define and legislate on what constitutes a school, including the number of teachers, facilities, sports facilities and other basic requirements.

According to Mr Okogbe, the initiative would ensure a holistic standard in terms of institutions, quality and governing laws for both public and private schools.

He said that with many students in basic and senior secondary schools below the age of 18, “certain acts that should not be tolerated are being tolerated”.

He emphasised the need to strengthen oversight by the assembly.

The lawmaker said principals, teachers and owners of private tutorial centres involved in organised examination malpractice should be criminalised beyond the application of civil service rules.

He warned that reliance on malpractice put the future of education, the civil service, the private sector and the state at risk.

Mr Okogbe said the reform would also address emerging issues such as artificial intelligence, inject private finance into public education and create a legal framework for partnerships.

He said the law would recognise such contributions and provide for concession models of 10 to 20 years for private sector involvement in funding public schools.

He cited examples of alumni interventions at Edo College, Maria Goretti Secondary School, Anglican Girls Grammar School (Adesuwa Grammar School), Auchi Polytechnic and Annunciation Catholic College, Irrua, as well as the Danjuma Foundation’s intervention.

He explained that the framework would spell out conditions, including whether fees could be increased or names changed, and address the governor’s proposal to return schools to their legacy missionary owners.

Mr Okogbe said the reform would introduce merit-driven incentives and grants for public schools, as opposed to the current system in which everyone received the same or nothing, and address infrastructure and teacher quality.

He disclosed that the law would provide for reporting and oversight, including an annual State of Education report by the Commissioner for Education.

“It will also provide Key Performance Indicators for the ministry, Edo State University and Ambrose Alli University, and review the law establishing the Advisory Council on Education.”

He said the committee had given stakeholders two weeks to submit memoranda from agencies and members of the public.

The lawmaker admitted that the election season would affect the pace of the process but said the technical committee, consultants and the legal department of the House would continue their work.

He expressed the hope that the bill would be passed before the end of the 8th Assembly.

Stakeholders discussed the review, harmonisation and modernisation of education laws.

Richard Edosa (Oredo West), who spoke on behalf of the Speaker, Yekini Idaiye, commended the committee for initiating the exercise.

Mr Edosa said the legislature had a responsibility to review and strengthen education laws.

The former Commissioner for Education, Paddy Iyamu, highlighted efforts to curb examination malpractice, improve funding, clear outstanding liabilities owed to retired education workers and equip junior secondary school graduates with vocational skills.

Delivering a keynote address entitled “Reimagining Education Governance for the Future,” the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Benin, Edoba Omoregie, represented by Michael Attah, emphasised the need for effective legislation, institutional autonomy and accountability.

He also called for sustainable funding, relevant curricula, improved infrastructure and stronger partnerships to strengthen education governance. 

(NAN)