The African Centre for Innovative Research and Development (AFRI-CIRD) has praised the Kano State House of Assembly for passing the Kano State Private and Voluntary Institutions Board (Amendment) Bill, 2026, describing the legislation as a major step towards making private education more affordable and accountable.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the organisation said the bill, passed on August 4, introduces mandatory regulatory oversight of private school fees, limits annual tuition increases to 10 per cent and seeks to prevent excessive charges for external examinations.
AFRI-CIRD said one of the most significant provisions of the bill is the requirement for private schools to consult Parent-Teacher Associations (PTAs) before reviewing school fees. According to the group, many private schools have either failed to establish PTAs or deliberately sidelined them, leaving parents with little say in decisions affecting school charges.
The organisation said the amendment gives such schools an opportunity to establish functional PTAs and adopt a more transparent and participatory system of governance, warning that institutions that fail to comply could face sanctions once the bill becomes law.
AFRI-CIRD noted that findings from its education policy engagements and research across several states showed that unpredictable fee increases often force parents to delay school enrolment or withdraw children from school, contributing to higher dropout rates and undermining learning outcomes.
It said the new framework would help reduce financial pressure on families by making fee adjustments more predictable, lowering statutory board levies from 15 per cent to five per cent and preventing exploitative examination charges.
The organisation called on Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf to grant swift assent to the bill so that the reforms can take effect before the next academic session.
It also urged civil society organisations, education stakeholders and the media to support advocacy efforts aimed at ensuring the governor signs the legislation without delay.
AFRI-CIRD further recommended that the state government establish a deadline for all private schools to register functional PTAs, create a transparent complaints platform for parents, set up multi-stakeholder monitoring teams to enforce compliance and launch public awareness campaigns to educate families about their rights under the new law.
The organisation also called for strict enforcement against schools that violate the proposed regulations and urged the government to ensure that the leadership of the Private and Voluntary Institutions Board is based on merit and professional competence.
AFRI-CIRD reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the Kano State Government and other stakeholders in promoting an inclusive, quality and financially sustainable education system for children across the state.
