Section 25: Interpretation

In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires-
"academic year" means any period of twelve months as may be declared as such by any university or other institution of higher learning;
"adult and non-formal education" means education consisting of functional literacy or remedial, continuing, vocational, aesthetic, cultural and civic education for youths and adults outside the formal school system;
"the appropriate authority" means-
(a) the Minister in respect of pre-primary, primary and secondary education and in respect of teacher education not given as part of higher education;
(b) the Minister or, as the case may require, the National Board for Technical Education in respect of technical education; and
(c) the National Universities Commission in respect of higher education;
"higher education" means education which is given at the tertiary stage which covers the post-secondary section of the national education system and which is given at institutions such as universities, polytechnics, colleges of technology, colleges of education, advanced teachers colleges, professional institutions and such other institutions as may be allied to any of the foregoing;
"Minister" means the Minister of the Government of the FedeFederation for the time being charged with the responsibility for education;
"pre-primary education" means education given in an educational institution to children aged three to five plus, prior to their entering primary school;
"primary education" means education given in an institution for children aged six to eleven plus;
"proprietor" includes the person who is or holds himself out to be the owner of school buildings or premises or the lessee or tenant of the same in case of leased property or person using the buildings or premises for the purpose of a school or any person recognised or registered as a proprietor immediately before the coming into operation of this Act or the Federal Government or any State government or local government councilor any other public body (whether corporate or unincorporate) which owns or runs any institutions;
"school" includes any assembly of ten or more persons for the receipt of regular instruction in any form of education;
"secondary education" means education given in an institution to children after primary education and before higher education in institutions including-
(a) secondary school;
(b) technical school;
(c) commercial school; and
(d) grade II teacher training college;
"special education" means education either in the normal schools or in special institutions established-
"teacher education" means the professional training given to teachers entering or already in the teaching profession either as part of secondary education or of higher education;
"technical education" means education given in institutions other than the universities, that is, polytechnics, technical colleges and other technical and technological institutions providing both the scientific knowledge and practical skills required for a specific trade, employment or profession as craftsman, technician, technologist, engineer, scientist or similar levels in business, in the fields of engineering, applied science, agriculture or business.