NEDS 2015: Public and Private Schooling in South East Zone

Nationally, in 2015, the majority of children attended public schools, with 83% enrolled in government-run institutions. In contrast, 17% attended private schools. Breaking down the data by zone, the South East Zone had a slightly higher proportion of children attending private schools, with 20% enrolled in private institutions. This is in contrast to the national average, where private schools accounted for 17% of all enrollments. The distribution of children by school type and state within the South East Zone reveals significant variations, with some states having a higher proportion of children attending private schools. For example, in Anambra State, 25% of children attended private schools, while in Ebonyi State, only 10% attended private institutions. The distribution of children by school type and residence also shows interesting patterns, with urban areas having a higher proportion of children attending private schools compared to rural areas. Household expenditures on education also vary significantly depending on the level of education and school type. On average, households spent more on primary school education than on junior secondary school education. Furthermore, households with children attending private schools spent significantly more on education than those with children attending public schools. For instance, the average household expenditure per child in primary school was N 12,000 in Anambra State, while in Ebonyi State, it was N 8,000. Similarly, the average household expenditure per child in junior secondary school was N 15,000 in Anambra State, while in Ebonyi State, it was N 10,000. These findings highlight the significant financial burden that households with children attending private schools face, particularly in states with limited access to quality public education.