The Edo House of Assembly says it has begun to consolidate the 39 extant education laws in the state into a single comprehensive framework to bridge the dichotomy between public and private schools.
The Chairman, House Committee on Education, Donald Okogbe, disclosed this at a Legislative Roundtable on Education Reform organised by the committee in Benin,on Friday.
Okogbe, who represents Akoko-Edo Constituency II, said private schools now accounted for close to 60 per cent of enrollment at primary and secondary levels in the state.
He cited the WAEC records, saying that legislative provision for private schools was inadequate.
He said the Assembly had noticed dwindling facilities and 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 Okogbe, the initiative will ensure one holistic standard in terms of institution, quality and governing laws for both public and private schools.
He said that with many students in basic and senior secondary schools below 18 years, “certain acts that should not be tolerated are being tolerated”.
He emphasised the need to strengthen oversight by the Assembly.
The lawmaker said that principals and teachers, as well as owners of private tutorial centres involved in organised examination malpractices, should be criminalised beyond civil service rules.
He warned that reliance on malpractice puts the future of education, civil service, private sector and the state at risk.
Okogbe said the reform will 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 years to 20 years for private sector involvement in public schools funding.
He cited examples of alumni interventions in 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 can be increased or names changed, and address the governor’s proposal on returning schools to legacy missionary owners.
Okogbe said the reform would introduce merit-driven incentives and grants for public schools, as against the current system where everyone gets 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 two weeks to receive memoranda from agencies and the public.
The lawmaker admitted that the election season would affect speed, but said the technical committee, consultants and legal department of the House would continue work.
He expressed the hope that the bill would be passed before the end of the 8th Assembly.
The stakeholders discussed the review, harmonisation and modernisation of education laws.
Dr Richard Edosa (Oredo West ), who spoke on behalf of the Speaker, Yekini Idaiye, commended the committee for initiating the exercise.
Edosa said that the legislature had a responsibility to review and strengthen education laws.
The former Commissioner for Education, Dr 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, Prof. Edoba Omoregie, represented by Prof. 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.