How to Start a Nursery and Primary School in Nigeria (THE CHECKLIST)

How to Start a Nursery and Primary School in Nigeria (THE CHECKLIST)

School business is one of the most popular businesses in Nigeria. You might be wondering why you might want to venture into such a business. I’ll tell you that it’s a lucrative one.  Nursery and Primary schools are even more lucrative (in my opinion).

Related Topics
Nursery and Primary School Business Plan in Nigeria
How to Start a Nursery and Primary School in Nigeria (PLUS BUSINESS PLAN)

Consider that according to the data from the 2006 census in Nigeria, about 30% of the total population are between the ages of 0 and 9 (the typical nursery and primary school age range). There has been a significant increase in birth rate over the years. Thus, we can conclude that the population of children within this age group (0-9), is large and constantly on the rise.

Consider also, that education at this stage goes a long way in determining the educational capabilities of children in the future. It is therefore not surprising that many parents pay attention to the quality of education their wards get at these ages. Thus, many parents go out of their way (even financially) to invest in their wards at these early stages. There are nursery schools in Lagos state that cost as high as 150,000 naira per term and I’m sure there are more expensive ones. Imagine you have about fifty students that pay that amount. You get 7.5million naira per term! Although, not all will be profit, as you have to pay your staff and other bills here and there. Regardless, the profit is still high!

I could go on and on about the financial benefits of running a school but you could also consider the social benefits as well. You would be investing in and shaping the future generation. If that’s not attractive enough for you then I don’t what is!

The great thing about the business is that it is budget flexible meaning that your school can be as big or as small as you want it depending on your capital. So, if you don’t have so much money, you can simply start small and grow. So in summary, the students are readily available, their parents are willing to pay, there is a demand for good quality nursery and primary schools, financial and social benefits, Need I say more?

If I have managed to catch your attention so far, you might be wondering now, ‘How do I begin?’ In the next section, I’m going to provide you with information on how to begin the business. Stick with me!

Business Location

The location of your school is very important. You have to ensure that whatever location you choose is safe for students and easily accessible. It is important that there is some development in the area, as it is unlikely that parents would drop their wards in the middle of nowhere.

The costs depends on what areas you choose. If you have a large capital, you can choose high-end areas. In such cases, school fees can be high (provided that the standard of the school is good and you provide facilities that are at par with such fees). For those that are on a small budget, you can start small, provided that the environment is safe and easily accessible to individuals in the locality and grow from there. It is advisable to survey the area you choose. Find out if schools are already available or not, the standard of the schools in the area, average fees for nursery and primary schools in the area and so on.

Building

Once you’ve got a good location in mind, you need to consider the building. Depending on how much capital you are working with, you can rent a small apartment to start with, rent a whole building or purchase/build your own. If you choose to rent one, you should consider the cost of rent as part of your yearly expenditure. Whatever option you decide, ensure that the size of the classrooms is reasonable. What I mean is that the classrooms should be spacious enough for the students and well ventilated.  Having some space in the compound for playground and assembly purposes is a plus.

Company Registration/Legal issues

There are legal processes involved in starting a school. You need to register your school with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC). It is a good idea to visit the ministry of education in your area to make enquiries on the necessary requirements. It will be beneficial to employ a good lawyer to help with the necessary documentations and for advice too (that is if you can afford it). You should also try to register your school with the private school associations around just so you are up to date with any information you need.

Staff

Basically, you will need non-teaching staff like a security man (or men), cleaners, clerks or accountants, cooks (if necessary) and teaching staff (teachers).  It is highly important to employ qualified teachers. This is because the quality of teachers goes a long way in determining the academic capabilities of your students.  There are many schools available, so you need to ensure that the quality of education you are offering is top notch. This will ensure that whatever pupils come into the school remain in school and also to attract more students to the school. The basic requirement for teachers in nursery and primary schools in Nigeria is the N.C.E (Nigerian Certificate in Education). Depending on the role you would be playing in the school, you might not need an N.C.E certificate. Generally, you need good quality staff both teaching and non-teaching staff.

Facilities

You need basic facilities like chairs and desks, bookshelves and cupboards for your students. You also need to get boards and other forms of stationery that the students would need. The facilities you get depends on how much budget you are working with. If you have enough capital you can invest in computers, interactive boards, TV (for learning purposes). These facilities will not only be beneficial to the students for learning purposes but also attract more students. Other things like musical instruments for assembly and swings for the playground should also be provided.

Importantly, you have to provide clean toilets and access to good water supply in your school to ensure a hygienic environment for you students.

 Other things you need to consider.

You have to find out about the general academic curriculum for students in nursery and primary schools. You should have knowledge of the necessary books required for the different year groups and provide them. You might also need to print branded notebooks (if you have the capital). You will also need to develop a school motto and anthem.

Advertise your School.

Ideally you should have posters or pamphlets, stating the name of your school, its location, your motto, facilities available, contact information and any other information that you feel is important. You can also advertise your school via social media or billboards depending on how much capital you have.

Enrol Students.

You should have your teachers and staff available before you do this. Also, it is better to do this well in advance before the resumption date.

So far, many of the things I mentioned are expenditures but there are ways of maximizing profit in this business.  For example, you can offer extra lessons for an additional amount; you can also offer school bus services for an extra amount. Lunch options, purchase of school uniforms and school notebooks are a few of the means that can help you generate extra income from the school business.

Finally, I cannot stress the importance of maintaining good standards. Good adverts and a fantastic structure might lure the students/parents but good value for money will keep them. Goodluck!

To get the full business plan on the nursery and primary business plan in Nigeria + feasibility study, pay N10,000 to:

BANK NAME: GUARANTY TRUST BANK (GTB)

ACCOUNT NAME: CHIBUZOR TOCHI ONYEMENAM

ACCOUNT NUMBER: 0044056891

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BANK NAME: FIRST BANK PLC

ACCOUNT NAME: CHIBUZOR TOCHI ONYEMENAM

ACCOUNT NUMBER: 3066880122

After payment, send your name, email address and title of business plan (i.e. nursery and primary school business plan pdf) via text to 07033378184. Your business plan will be sent to your email within 10 minutes after payment. Thank you.

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