Stakeholders in the education sector have called on the Kaduna state government to provide tax relief for faith-based, non-profit institutions and intensify efforts to address insecurity, especially in rural areas.
They made the call during the second education summit of the Catholic Archdiocese of Kaduna, themed “Global Compact in Education”, which brought together policymakers, educators, clerics, and government representatives to deliberate on critical issues affecting the education sector in Kaduna and beyond.
In his address, the education secretary of the Archdiocese, Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Madaki, said the summit seeks to enhance collaboration and innovation among stakeholders to improve the quality of education in the state.
Fr. Madaki highlighted high taxation and insecurity as major challenges confronting faith-based schools in Kaduna, adding that Catholic institutions, despite being non-profit, are often taxed at the same rate as private schools, making operations financially difficult.
“We are not private schools driven by profit, yet we face the same tax burden. While we are not calling for a total waiver, there must be a reduction and special consideration for faith-based institutions that run on meager resources,” he said.
On the issue of security, he noted that schools in rural areas face persistent threats from banditry and other forms of violence, leading to mass displacement of students and disruption of learning.
He urged the government to extend grants and benefits to students in religious institutions, stating that children in faith-based schools deserve the same access to public educational support as those in government schools.
“The child is a national asset, whether in public or private schools. Government support must reflect equity and fairness,”he said.
Also speaking at the summit, Rev. Fr. Dominic Umoh, the education secretary at the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, assessed the national education landscape and identified systemic issues, including poor infrastructure, insecurity, and inadequate remuneration for teachers.
“Education in Nigeria is making progress, but there are serious gaps. Insecurity remains the major threat. Without safety, education cannot thrive. Teachers also remain underpaid despite their enormous contributions, and we must prioritise child safeguarding in school environments,” he said.
He added, “We must examine how well our policies are working and make evidence-based adjustments.”
Helen Mu’azu from the Kaduna State Ministry of Education reiterated the government’s commitment to improving education in the state.
She emphasised that collaborative efforts with religious and private institutions are essential to achieving universal access to quality education.
Earlier in his paper presentation titled “Education Justice and Artificial Intelligence in a Digitally Divided World”, Rev. Fr. George Odafe raised concerns over the negative impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on students’ academic discipline and ethics.
He noted that AI may encourage intellectual laziness among students who now rely on generated content instead of engaging with their studies.
The cleric recommended that AI literacy be introduced at the secondary school level to equip students with the knowledge to use the technology responsibly.
Aishatu Yakubu, a student of St. Patrick Catholic School, Kawo, Kaduna, commended the Church for its educational initiatives aimed at improving learning outcomes in the state.
She also called on the government to intensify efforts to address the growing number of out-of-school children, emphasising that every child deserves access to quality education.