Written By: Obunikem Asuzu

The key role of partnership in the education drive and development cannot be overemphasized. Education goals can hardly be achieved without the collaboration of partners and stakeholders at all levels. The driving force behind education drive must be the government at all levels, working in collaboration with civil society and the private sectors.

Granted that government has the ultimate responsibility for, and authority over education, civil society organization play some complimentary roles equally. The civil society, in this context of education, can be non-governmental and non-profit groups and associations involved in the education drive. It embraces non-governmental organizations and campaign networks, teacher’s unions, religious organizations, community associations, research networks, parent teacher associations, professional bodies and student’s group etcetera.

Civil Society Organizations play the play role as service providers, particularly where government provision is either absent or inadequate. They are more flexible than the government and are closer to the grassroots and local cultures. In many cases, civil society organizations take on responsibility for non-formal education programmes.

They are particularly successful in reaching the marginalized and excluded communities through approaches attuned to the needs and life conditions of the poor. They are particularly effective in such areas as community participation, empowerment, literacy, community schools, reproductive health and early childhood education.

Civil Society Organizations are great innovators and veritable sources of new ideas, thinking and practices. These are important factors capable of making the concept of education to evolve and respond to the ever increasing changes in education. They help to provide the needed gaps in education. Civil Society Organizations are informed critics and advocates in their own rights. They provides informed criticism and, in most cases, advocate on a whole range of issues. In recent times, collective civil society campaigns have been known to have lobbied in favour of free and Compulsory Quality Education for children and for the education programs for the out-of-school young people and adults.

In pledging their support for civil society involvement in education policy-making and implementation, participants at a recent World Education Forum gave international recognition to the role civil society plays in education.

Today, civil society organizations are making increasing effort to present a coherent voice and to build systematic relationships with governments and international agencies. Building on, and sustaining such relationships and partnerships will go a long way in making a common cause  in the struggle to achieve basic and sound quality education for all realizable.

Although collaboration with civil society is gradually gaining grounds in Nigeria, there is need for greater civil society involvement in the policy formulation and implementation of education programmes. Now that the civil society’s participation in policy-making has been endorsed nationally, it remains to ensure that it is a reality at state and local government levels. This will entail broadening government policy dialogue and developing more inclusive approaches to education policy formulation.

Currently, the scope and space for civil society organization to fully engage in the education drive is very limited. The education authorities are therefore advised and encouraged to develop more democratic and open political space and process for civil society participation.

Now that it has become increasingly clear that our education goals will only be achieved, if it is rooted in broad-based societal movement and nourished by effective government/civil society partnerships, education authorities are encouraged to partner with the civil society for the attainment of our educational goals.

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