The National Parent Teacher Association of Nigeria has called on the Federal Government to restore parental representation on the governing boards and policy consultation platforms of major education agencies, arguing that excluding parents from decision making directly harms the students and families those agencies serve.

NAPTAN National President, Haruna Danjuma, made the demand in an interview, identifying the West African Examinations Council, the National Examinations Council, the Universal Basic Education Commission and the National Business and Technical Examinations Board as the bodies where institutionalised parental representation must be reinstated.

Danjuma traced the demand to an earlier era when parent teacher associations held formal seats on the boards of key education bodies.

"In the past, especially during the tenure of the late Alhaji Babs Alade Animashaun, founder and first National President of the group, PTA/NAPTAN had automatic representation on the decision making bodies of institutions such as WAEC, UBEC, and NABTEB, among other government education agencies," he said.

The NAPTAN president argued that the financial burden households bear, covering tuition, levies and examination fees, justifies their inclusion in policy formulation before decisions are finalised.

"Parents are major stakeholders and cannot be sidelined in decisions that affect our children," he stated.

Danjuma called on the Federal Ministry of Education to create a structure guaranteeing parental input ahead of any new policy on examinations, curriculum or school fees.

"This means we want to be part of stakeholder consultations before any future policies on examinations, curriculum, or school fees are finalised," he said.

The association also urged the government to sustain payment of Senior School Certificate Examination fees for candidates in public schools, cautioning against allowing revenue targets or political considerations to drive education policy.

Danjuma pointed to the suspension of proposed WAEC and NECO fee increases following public opposition as evidence that inclusive consultation produces better outcomes.

"The government's recent suspension of the proposed increase in WASSCE and NECO following public outcry showed that dialogue and collaboration are essential before policies are announced," he said.

NAPTAN pledged continued partnership with the Federal Ministry of Education to advance quality, affordable and accessible education across basic and secondary levels in Nigeria.