The Executive Secretary of Africa Community School and Africa International College, Caroline Yakubu, under the leadership of former head of state Yakubu Gowon, has voiced her dismay at the proliferation of taxes and levies affecting private schools across the country.
He pointed out that private schools’ contributions to enhancing the education sector in Nigeria are immeasurable.
Yakubu has made a plea to the government, urging the removal of the various taxes burdening private schools, highlighting how these charges have become a substantial impediment to the daily functioning of such educational facilities.
Speaking to the press at a conference organized to kickstart the 20th-anniversary festivities of the schools, Yakubu recounted instances where the government had previously attempted to nationalise private and mission schools, with varying degrees of success.
‘The place and role of private schools in our educational system cannot be over-emphasised. During the military era, they tried to nationalise many private schools, including mission schools. How did it end?’
‘Unquantifiable losses were the experiences and we are still paying heavily for the errors.’
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‘In the FCT alone, there are over 2,400 private schools and about 830 public schools. Again, imagine an FCT where there are no privately run schools. What would be the implications all around?’ she asked.
While discussing the influence of Africa Community School and Africa International College, the school administrator also underscored that these institutions have provided scholarships to at least 109 students, involving a sum of roughly N70 million.
Additionally, she indicated that the schools have partnered with nearby public schools, offering materials to assist students in their learning.
‘The items include furniture, books and other learning materials. Besides, the folks and indigenes that reside around our locations have been employed within their appropriate skills. More importantly, God has helped us to positively impact the educational pursuit of many learners who have passed through our schools.’
‘In Africa Community School, over 109 students have benefited from our internal scholarship and support schemes totaling nearly N70 million and still counting.’
‘At the other end, in Africa International College, we have reached out to over 92 students totaling about N90 million. For the two schools, God has enabled us to support the training of more than 200 learners with over N160 million spent on them.’
‘These are verifiable persons and figures. These were students who, through no fault of theirs, lost one or both parents, while they were with us or children from proven economically disadvantaged families,’ she said.
Yakubu highlighted that the school has instituted a policy where a child, upon admission, will not be withdrawn from the school in case of the loss of one or both parents, regardless of their ability to pay school fees.