The Private Education Developers Association of Nigeria (PEDAN) said it is partnering with the Federal and Lagos State Governments to improve the standard of education.
PEDAN President, Elder Babatunde Awodoyin, made this known at the inaugural congress of the association in Lagos. PEDAN is a body formed by school owners which cut across all geo-political zones.
The association has more than 500 members in the six educational divisions of Lagos State and it has registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).
According to Awodoyin, members of the association are ready to work with the government to reduce the number of school age pupils on the streets.
“The association will partner with both Federal Government and Lagos State Government to ensure that pupils are given qualitative education at a low price.
“PEDAN will bridge the gap between members and other stakeholders in the education sector by engaging government and policy makers.
“We are here to ensure professionalism, proficiency and ethics of this noble profession to ensure that the out of school children in Nigeria is reduced.
“PEDAN has come as a medium through which needed information, idea, research findings and discoveries, are made available to member schools at little or no cost,” he said.
Awodoyin assured that PEDAN would work with policy makers, government institutions and other educational bodies to obtain international recognition so as to source for supports from non-governmental organisations worldwide.
He said that the association would also create conducive learning environment for members to gain access to and benefits from both the public and private organisations with the aim of developing their schools.
PEDAN members were formerly with the Association for Formidable Educational Development (AFED) before leaving the group to form new association in September.