The Katsina State Government has revoked the operational licences of all private and community schools across the state.
The decision was announced in a circular issued by the Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Zainab Musa-Musawa, and made public in Katsina on Saturday by the ministry’s Public Relations Officer, Sani Danjuma, according to the News Agency of Nigeria.
“The ministry hereby notifies the public, proprietors and administrators of all private and community schools that all the previously issued operational licences have been officially terminated,” the commissioner stated.
She explained that the move followed the state’s educational reform agenda aimed at strengthening quality assurance, standardisation, and effective regulation of schools.
“On June 2, 2025, the ministry conducted sensitisation for key stakeholders regarding the new state policy for private and community schools. This policy aligns with the state’s educational reform agenda, aimed at ensuring quality assurance, standardisation, and effective regulation of teaching and learning across Katsina,” she added.
According to Musa-Musawa, the State Executive Council approved that “all existing licences were terminated effective from August 13, 2025.”
She also announced adjustments to licensing procedures and costs. “The public is hereby informed that the state government has revised the licence application, registration, annual renewal, and school upgrade fees,” she said.
The commissioner further directed that, “All affected schools should submit payment receipts for application and registration fees for new licences to the ministry via the Department of Private and Community Schools, based on school categorisation. And also, all payments must be made exclusively to the Katsina state’s single treasury account, on or before September 30, 2025.”
She emphasised that the measure was part of the state’s drive to improve supervision and accountability in the education sector. “The exercise is designed to enhance supervision, promote accountability, and ensure the delivery of quality education, in line with the state government’s commitment to educational excellence,” she noted.
Musa-Musawa reaffirmed the government’s dedication to children’s welfare. “The ministry’s dedication to safeguarding the future of the children by upholding global best practices in education delivery across Katsina,” she said.
She clarified that schools would continue operations while the re-licensing process was underway. “Schools were expected to resume normal operations while the process of registration and annual renewal of licences was ongoing.”
The commissioner also warned against arbitrary fee hikes by proprietors. “Stakeholders in private and community schools are advised that the revised fees must not lead to an increase in school fees without explicit approval from the ministry as stipulated in the new policy,” she said.
She added that additional details would soon be provided. “Further details, including the list of schools’ categorisations and a breakdown of the revised fees will be officially communicated to the National Association of Proprietors of private and community schools,” Musa-Musawa stated.
