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Nigerian law doesn't provide for homeschooling. The Universal Basic Education Act 2004 requires every parent to make sure their child completes primary and junior secondary education through regular attendance at school.
This guide covers what the law says, what it means for families using an online school, WAEC, NECO and international exams, costs, and routes into Nigerian universities through JAMB.
Nigerian law doesn't recognise homeschooling. The Universal Basic Education Act 2004 makes basic education compulsory, and it expects that education to happen at school.
| UBE Act 2004 | What it says |
|---|---|
| Section 2(1) | Every government in Nigeria must provide free, compulsory universal basic education for every child of primary and junior secondary school age |
| Section 2(2) | Every parent must make sure their child attends and completes primary and junior secondary education, by endeavouring to send the child to those schools |
| Section 4(1) | Every parent must make sure their child receives full-time education suitable to their age, ability and aptitude by regular attendance at school |
| Section 2(4) | A parent who doesn't comply commits an offence: a reprimand on a first conviction, then a fine of ₦2,000 or a month in prison, and ₦5,000 or two months for later convictions |
| Sections 4(2) and 5 | These duties don't apply to a parent resident outside Nigeria, or to a child living outside Nigeria |
Stakeholders in each local government area are responsible for making sure parents meet the duty. The Act doesn't set out a homeschooling exemption or a registration route.
For a child living in Nigeria, studying with a foreign online school on its own doesn't meet the Act's school attendance duty.
Read the UBE Act 2004Section 4(1) expects regular attendance at school. CambriLearn isn't registered with Nigeria's Federal Ministry of Education or a state education board, so enrolling with us doesn't count as school attendance in Nigeria.
The duties don't apply to parents resident outside Nigeria, so families living abroad follow the rules of the country where they live.
The Act says every parent, so it isn't limited to Nigerian citizens. Families in Nigeria who want a British or American curriculum usually choose an approved private or international school.
If your child's education needs to move with you between countries, speak to a consultant about where you'll be living, because the rules depend on the country you live in.
Nigeria follows a 6-3-3-4 structure, with a national curriculum set by the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC).
| Stage | Length | What follows |
|---|---|---|
| Primary | 6 years | Junior secondary |
| Junior secondary | 3 years | Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE), then senior secondary |
| Senior secondary | 3 years | WASSCE from WAEC, or the SSCE from NECO |
| University | Usually 4 years | Entry through JAMB |
The first nine years, primary and junior secondary, are compulsory under the UBE Act. In February 2025, the Minister of Education proposed a 12-year basic education model that would fold senior secondary into basic education, so check whether it has taken effect.
