Against the backdrop of the constant hits the education system continues to get from successive governments by way of neglect and low budgetary allocation, education watchers and stakeholders are worried that if this current state of affairs should continue, the education sector would possibly experience much worse problems than it did in time past.
Experts, meanwhile, opine that most forward-looking nations across the world tailor the development of their key sectors to the proportion of growth they desire. This is probably why they have for long prioritised educational development, a move which places them on a steady course towards economic growth.
In this connection, stakeholders in the nation’s education sector insist that a similar progressive priority should reflect in the way the education sector is handled, considering that the provision of teaching and learning resources is crucial to the growth of the sector.
Some education sector stakeholders in recent past at different forum have maintained that in the past a good education affords graduates better paying jobs as soon as they graduate be it in the public services, private sector or even in international and foreign services but notes that the reverse is the case now.
Abiodun Ogunleye, interim chairman, governing council, Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education, is worried that despite the change in the global approach to teaching and learning, those saddled with the responsibility of running the affairs of the nation’s educational system have failed to embrace these new approach, a situation he noted is seriously affecting graduates today.
Ogunleye in a recent presentation at the graduation ceremony of Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education, disclosed that “our education system has refused to adjust to the changing realities of the new world.”
According to him, “Our education system, in the main, kept on doing what they were doing and we were expecting different results. Our education system kept on doing what it was doing in the 1960s and we are expecting the results of the 2000.”
To him: “The education sector should be treated as a public good and strategic imperative for research, innovation and creativity, which must be a matter of responsibility and economic support from the governments.”
He called on government and those in charge of the education system to take a cue from the economies of China, Brazil, India, Singapore, Japan and other to see how these complex and highly populated economies are using Education as a fundamental tool for the development of their economies.
He further observed that the problem of unemployment and the several other problems facing the country can be properly addressed through the proper education system.
“The curriculum of our education requires total review. The model for funding our education system needs total review. The structure for the delivery of education especially at the tertiary level needs total review. We need to seat down together and work out details about how we can use Education to address the several needs of our nation” he said.
On his part, Olalekan Wasiu, provost, Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education, revealed that access to higher education is an issue that deserves all the attention it can get in Nigeria.
He pointed out that less than two million candidates get admitted to higher institutions in a country of close to 200 million people.
“Tertiary institutions are closed at every turn for one industrial issue or the other. But even when schools are not closed what are we actually teaching in the schools? When our students graduate what do they do? Are we really bothered? We need an alternative educational paradigm that properly addresses the peculiar needs of our nation,” he said.
KELECHI EWUZIE
