When I first wrote an article on school property as a small-scale industry, I had in mind that the latest was still out 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 expel private school operators, but rather to make them feel good and comply with 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 business failures in other sectors, educational institutions are still on the move. This is why military retirees, churches, mosques, government organizations and most people are massively investing in the education sector.
As the population of Nigeria soars daily, it becomes increasingly 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. Since the government is 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 get 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 ministries of education helps sensitize the education system, sets proper standards and helps protect the masses from dubious entrepreneurs.
An owner can prevent his institution from becoming one of the small-scale start-up business ventures masquerading as centers of academic activity to become a place of academic excellence by providing all the necessary facilities that enable conducive learning. Owning a school means not only collecting school fees, school uniform charges, book supply, lesson fees, school bus fare, development tax, etc., but taking on the duty of give the school the facelift it requires. When he invests time and money to build his school to the required standard, he can be sure that he will achieve it in a very short time. The Nigerian population is large enough to warrant a considerable number of pupil/student enrollment.