By Elizabeth Osayande & Ifunanya Ndigwe 

The Association of Early Childhood and Basic Education Instructors in Nigeria, AECBEIN has launched a nationwide campaign urging the federal government to enforce the 1-9-3-4 education system to protect parents from financial exploitation.

According to the association, a lack of public awareness regarding this policy has allowed many school proprietors to continue charging illegal fees for unnecessary examinations and outdated certificates.

The National Council on Education formally adopted the 1-9-3-4 structure in 2013 during the tenure of the then Minister of Education for State, Professor Rukkayat Rufai, as the approved national framework for basic and secondary education. Under this arrangement, basic education is a single, continuous, and uninterrupted nine-year programme, rather than separate educational stages. The structure comprises one year of early childhood care, nine years of compulsory basic education, three years of senior secondary education, and four years of university education.

In an official statement released on May 24, AECBEIN stated that the use of common entrance examinations for movement from primary six to junior secondary school contradicts the spirit of the national policy.

The association said, ‘The transition from middle basic education to upper basic education is expected to occur through continuous assessment and internal school processes within the same basic education framework. The common entrance examination after primary six is no longer necessary within basic education, and the lack of awareness has encouraged the unnecessary examinations, unlawful charges, and exploitative practices against parents and pupils.’

The body also clarified that the traditional Primary School Leaving Certificate has lost its previous relevance because the major recognized certification point within basic education is now the Basic Education Certificate Examination, BECE, conducted at the end of junior secondary school three.

Speaking on the financial burden on families, the association added, ‘Many parents are still being compelled to pay for common entrance registration fees, extra coaching classes, and the issuance of primary school leaving certificates. Schools should therefore avoid imposing excessive or unnecessary charges on parents for certificates that no longer serve as major transition requirements within the national framework. These practices place avoidable financial burdens on families and undermine public trust.’

AECBEIN made a direct appeal to the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, to intensify nationwide sensitization on the implementation of the policy.

They also urged Alausa, State Ministries of Education, and State Universal Basic Education Boards to monitor and regulate schools engaging in non-compliant practices.

The statement noted, ‘We respectfully urge Dr Tunji Alausa and all education stakeholders to intensify nationwide sensitization on the implementation of the 1-9-3-4 education policy. The goals of the reform, which include accessibility, continuity, affordability, and educational efficiency, can only be achieved when citizens are properly informed and schools are effectively monitored. We need nationwide public enlightenment campaigns through radio, television, and digital media, alongside clear implementation guidelines for public and private schools.’

They further encouraged recruitment agencies and employers to update their documentation requirements by placing emphasis on BECE results and secondary school credentials rather than an outdated dependence on primary school certificates.

Parents were also advised to demand transparency in school fee structures and report exploitative practices to the education authorities.