School business in Nigeria has over the passing years proved to be a very lucrative enterprise; this is certainly not only owing to the consciousness that formal education is a necessary legacy for national and personal development but also due to the necessity that follows, as a fact, from the exponential increase that daily beset the nation’s population growth.
Since the lever that allows for the popularity of the privatization of the education sector has been pulled as a result of the Tai Solarin struggle against the federal government over what he saw as noticeable lapses in public education around the 1950s, several business men and women, educators and civil servants have turned in droves to the school business, carting away into their various coffers millions at the end of every session, even as they contribute considerable quota to building national capacity.
There is barely any neighbourhood without a number of private schools – ranging from crèche, primary and secondary – in it; this however does not overrule the possibility of having a new school that should still find the chance to thrive in the midst of this observable competition.
How to Start School Business in Nigeria (All You Need To Know)
However, before one can begin to enjoy all the profits that starting school business may yield or one really hopes to relish huge turnover at the end of every academic term or session, there are things to truly pay attention to.
The couple of steps to take are highlighted and explained below:
1. ACQUIRE AN EDUCATIONAL CERTIFICATE OR QUALIFICATION
Anyone seeking to start school business in Nigeria must have had some professional certificate and academic qualifications on Education before the idea of establishing a school business can ever see or survive the light of day.
2. CREATE THE TYPE OF SCHOOL YOU DESIRE TO MAN
Just like the conception of idea as in the mind of any artist which later attains the expected form in reality, so is the necessity which demands that any business person or educator diving into the school business in Nigeria should have created in his or her mind some standard on which his or her is built.
3. FIND A CONDUCIVE ENVIRONMENT
The importance of environment or the influence of it on almost any venture or process cannot be underrated since it is the environment that at the end of the day shapes or determines the result. It is against this possibility that anybody who aims to start the school business in Nigeria must first get a conducive environment ready before setting off.
4. SET UP YOUR SCHOOL STRUCTURE AND FACILITIES
Facilities such as enough Classes, Toilet, Running Water System, Living Room for Entertainment, Sick Bay, Science Laboratory, Library, Adequate Writing and Reading Materials, Toys, Open Field for Playing, etc. must be available within the established structure of the school. The lack of these and many more is not encouragement to parents who want to make sure their children are under proper care and sufficiency.
5. ADOPT THE BEST ACADEMIC STANDARD OR CURRICULUM
Many schools have been depopularised because of the inadequacies noticed in these schools’ adopted curriculum. This problem is not just capable of wreaking disaster against the business but also negatively affect the academic growth of the children who patronise the school; and on the large scale, it will also disrupt the potential promises that they hold for the nation as a whole.
6. GET YOUR SCHOOL REGISTERED AND APPROVED
Just as this is the right and duty of any business organisation that envisions massive growth and uninterrupted achievement, a school must also be registered with the government through CAC, and make sure facilities are put in place enough for it to get government approval. The former, as the latter, will allow students of such school sit national exams and also inject sense of confidence in the parents with whom it is trading.
Being government-approved in Nigerian school business environment is another lucrative means to earn millions of Naira at the end of every exam year. This is because there are many schools that are not yet approved let alone capable to conduct national exams.
8. MAINTAIN AFFORDABLE FEE
Schools with affordable charges always get an edge over others in terms of turnouts which in the long run will numerically enlarge their population. With school business in Nigeria, an increase in population drives home an increase in turnover.
9. SECURE AND MAINTAIN THE LOYALTY OF QUALIFIED TEACHING AND ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF
One of the biggest problems faced by schools and which adversely taunt owners’ brand and standard is the instability of its qualified teachers. This instability is a proven bottleneck to the growth of any school as it brings about its distrust from the side of the parents and children.
Therefore, schools must learn to secure its teaching and administrative staff by maintaining consistency with a good pay or, in the case of start ups be a bit more transparent to the staff for them to understand your plight.
10. ADVERTISE YOUR SCHOOL
Lastly, engaging in constant visibility and advertisement about the standard of the school which of course includes its affordability, etc. is a necessary step to grow in school business in Nigeria.
