March 28, 2025
In March 2025, the Partnership for Learning for All in Nigeria (PLANE), through its implementing partners—SEED Care & Support Foundation and DAWN Commission—convened a pivotal two-day workshop in Ibadan, Oyo State. This gathering brought together educational experts, policymakers, and development partners to enhance the effectiveness of Quality Assurance (QA) in basic non-state education across Southwest Nigeria.
With the theme “Strengthening Quality Assurance for Effective Basic Non-State Education Delivery,” the workshop, held from Thursday, March 20 to Friday, March 21, 2025, was far from a routine training. It provided a dynamic platform for Directors of Quality Assurance, government officials, and education stakeholders to critically examine current practices, share innovative strategies, and reimagine the future of quality education in Nigeria’s non-state sector.
Opening Reflections & Regional Commitments
The workshop opened with powerful messages from key stakeholders. The Director of Quality Assurance at the Federal Ministry of Education highlighted the strategic importance of QA in Nigeria’s broader education reforms.
Prof. Salihu Adelabu, Oyo State’s Commissioner for Education, Science, and Technology, welcomed participants and applauded partner organizations for their enduring commitment to educational development. He stressed education’s role in national progress and called for sustained, collective efforts to raise standards across the region.
Goodwill messages followed from the DAWN Commission, SEED Care & Support Foundation, and Mrs. Abiola Sanusi, the Federal Lead for PLANE. An overview of PLANE’s strategy for Southwest Nigeria was also shared by Dr. James Fadokun, offering key insights into the program’s vision.
Day One: Cross-State SWOT Analysis and Understanding Barriers
SEED Care & Support Foundation kicked off Day One with a cross-state SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) analysis. Participants from Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ekiti, and Ondo States shared insights into their existing QA systems. Across the board, opportunities such as public-private partnerships, community engagement, and donor support emerged as promising levers to drive progress.
A focused session then explored the barriers preventing non-state schools from achieving formal approval and registration. Participants identified key challenges including financial constraints, limited information on government procedures, infrastructural deficits, and regulatory ambiguities. The discussions revealed a fragmented regulatory landscape and underscored the urgent need for transparent, supportive, and context-aware regulatory frameworks.
Introducing the RISE Framework: A New Lens for Non-State School Regulation
One of the most impactful sessions introduced the RISE Framework—an approach developed by SEED Care & Support Foundation to promote a more inclusive and supportive regulatory model for non-state schools. RISE stands for Recognise, Include, Support, and Engage, and it challenges the conventional punitive approach to regulation.
Instead, it calls for collaboration between regulators and schools, acknowledging the crucial role that affordable non-state schools play in expanding access and improving quality for underserved learners.
E-PPP Readiness: Evaluating Partnerships for Better Outcomes
Working with Global Schools Forum, SEED supported the six Southwest states in evaluating their readiness for Education Public-Private Partnerships (E-PPP) using an adapted version of the Government & Non-State Partnership Toolkit. The assessment guided states through identifying challenges, stakeholder roles, risk management, and other core components of a successful E-PPP strategy.
This hands-on session enabled each state to self-assess its systems and readiness to collaborate more effectively with non-state education providers—especially around QA, school registration, and approval.
Day Two: Tools, Technology & Training for Quality Assurance of the Non-State Sector
Day Two centered on practical tools for QA in the non-state education sector. Participants were introduced to frameworks such as the Graded Assessment of Private Schools (GAPS) and SEED’s own SEED Quality Assessment Tool (SQAT). These models offer clear, measurable, and context-sensitive approaches to assessing school performance.
The training also explored the power of technology in QA, including real-time data collection and visualization tools such as ODK, Survey CTO, and Google Forms. Facilitators demonstrated how digital platforms can reduce bureaucracy, enable faster feedback loops, and foster greater transparency in QA processes.
Forward-looking discussions also touched on how Artificial Intelligence (AI) could enhance QA systems by generating deeper, data-driven insights for policy and practice.
Charting a Roadmap for Reform and Results
By the close of the workshop, a collective vision had emerged—one rooted in collaboration, innovation, and inclusion. It was clear that improving Quality Assurance in non-state education demands more than policies; it requires practical tools, sustained capacity-building, and a mindset shift—from regulation to support.
SEED Care & Support Foundation remains at the forefront of this transformation, working with governments and partners to pilot and scale solutions that are inclusive, sustainable, and learner-centered. As these initiatives take root, the goal is to build a more equitable, resilient, and high-quality education system—one that ensures every child, regardless of the school they attend, can thrive.
A Call to Action
The future of basic education in Nigeria depends on bold partnerships, inclusive policies, and scalable solutions—especially for the affordable non-state education sector serving our most vulnerable learners.
Are you a policymaker, donor, development partner, school association, or education advocate?
Now is the time to act. Together, we can strengthen the backbone of Quality Assurance in Nigeria’s education system—and deliver the learning outcomes every child deserves.
