NAPTAN Demands Parent Representation on WAEC, NECO Boards

The National Parent-Teacher Association of Nigeria (NAPTAN) has called on the Federal Government to reinstate parents into the decision-making structures of major education agencies, saying their exclusion has limited the participation of key stakeholders in policies affecting students and families.

The association’s National President, Haruna Danjuma, made the call in an interview, stressing that parents should have formal representation on the governing boards and policy consultation platforms of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), National Examinations Council (NECO), Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), and National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB).

Preparing to sit for NECO or WAEC? Download ExamGuide SSCE Practice App from https://examguide.com/offline/products/ssce

NAPTAN, the umbrella body representing parents and teachers across Nigerian schools, argued that parents remain central stakeholders in the education system and should not be left out of decisions that directly affect learners.

“Parents are major stakeholders and cannot be sidelined in decisions that affect our children,” Danjuma said.

He explained that the demand was based on the association’s previous involvement in the administration of key education institutions, noting that parent representatives once had recognised positions on the boards of some agencies.

“In the past, especially during the tenure of the late Alhaji Babs Animashaun, founder and first National President of the group. PTA/NAPTAN had automatic representation on the decision-making bodies of institutions such as WAEC, UBEC, and NABTEB, among others.”

Danjuma maintained that parents’ financial contributions to education, including school fees, levies, and examination charges, make their involvement in policy discussions necessary.

Are you a NECO, WAEC, and NABTEB CANDIDATE? Thousands of candidates prepare smarter with the ExamGuide SSCE CBT App. Join them today by downloading the app NOW -  https://www.examguide.com/offline/products/ssce

He called on the Federal Ministry of Education to establish a framework that would guarantee parental participation before major decisions on examinations, curriculum development, and school fees are implemented.

“NAPTAN is specifically asking the Federal Ministry of Education to create a structure that guarantees parental input ahead of any new policy on examinations, curriculum, or school fees.

“This means we want to be part of consultations before any future policies on examinations, curriculum, or school fees are finalised,” Danjuma said.

The association also renewed its call for the government to continue funding Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) fees for candidates in public schools.

Danjuma linked the demand to the recent controversy surrounding the proposed increase in the cost of WASSCE and NECO examinations, which triggered concerns among parents, civil society organisations, and education stakeholders before the policy was suspended.

Preparing to sit for SSCE? Download ExamGuide SSCE Practice App from www.examguide.com/offline/products/ssce

According to him, the reversal of the proposed increase showed the importance of consultation before introducing policies that affect millions of students.

“The government’s recent suspension of the proposed increase in WASSCE and NECO following public outcry showed that dialogue and collaboration are essential before policies are announced.”

Beyond examination fees, NAPTAN cautioned against what it described as the growing politicisation and commercialisation of the education sector.

The group said decisions regarding curriculum, assessment systems, and school administration should prioritise students’ learning outcomes, fairness, and accessibility rather than political interests or revenue generation.

NAPTAN pledged its readiness to collaborate with the Federal Ministry of Education and other stakeholders to improve access, affordability, and quality across Nigeria’s basic and secondary education system.