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Making Education a Priority

The quality of education has deteriorated over many years due to failing infrastructures, strikes, energy problems, inadequate and unqualified teachers as well as the failure of the federal government to make education a priority under some of the past governments, despite the provision of free education at most levels.

Most of the teachers who are a product of years of education neglect and strikes are not qualified to provide quality education, and this has resulted in establishment of private schools. Unfortunately, the number and geographical location of many of these new schools are insufficient to address the void that needs to be filled.

Secondly, most educated Nigerians who furthered the education they obtained in Nigeria when the quality of education was still high, are mostly residing abroad or have ventured into non-teaching vocations, hence the insufficiency of quality teaching staff to educate today's youth.

Most institutions decayed severely when the government took them over, and most were saddled with strikes, wherein students spent more months out of school than could have gotten them a quality education. Now these schools have been returned to non-government sectors, a lot needs to be done to eradicate the decay that has already affected these institutions and their infrastructures.

Private schools are cropping up, but these are insufficient and equally beyond the financial reach or the average Nigerian. How then can the quality of education be raised to improve the quality of certification of today's youth? A good education is a prerequisite for a good job and significant contribution to the economy, so this issue needs to be addressed and solved before it worsens.

Some of the effects of the decay is easily noticeable in the unemployment of graduates who despite their certification are not qualified for highly skilled jobs, nor are they fit to fill professional vocations that require high quality education. Hence the reason why better trained overseas trained Nigerians and expatriates are filling the positions that home-educated Nigerians should be filling.

As a result these graduates remain idle and settle for non-professional jobs that do not contribute sufficiently to the economy, simply remain unemployed or become burdens on society. Those who are lucky are able to get visas to travel abroad, but with low quality education and competition by citizens of those countries and other foreigners, they are forced to settle for low paying non-professional jobs in their new host countries.

The foundation of a good education begins at the infant level, therefore much more than is presently done needs to be done to make a positive and significant impact in changing the present outcome. Teachers, especially those in non-private schools where the problems are more evident need to be reevaluated and tested for their qualifications as good educators, then those found to have minimum and unimprovable skills can either be reassigned to non-teaching positions or fired. All other teachers not up to par, but with potential for improvement should then be retrained to make them better qualified to disseminate quality education to their students.

Also, teacher exchange programs wherein teachers from abroad are given the opportunity to teach in Nigeria, whilst Nigerian teachers are simultaneously given the opportunity to retrain or improve their teaching skills by being exposed to teaching methods abroad might also help. This does not automatically mean that all teachers abroad are better qualified, but exposure and constant training will generally improve the lot of some of our home grown teachers.

Incentives that will motivate good quality teachers to join the education sector and help provide a better future for Nigerian youth also need to be provided, and this begins with equitable salary, benefits and perks that will attract qualified and skilled teachers who otherwise would be lost to non-teaching better paying jobs. Incentives should also be provided to recruit Nigerian teachers residing abroad who can help restore the educational system in Nigeria. Additionally, qualified Nigerians who have worked as substitute teachers abroad should be encouraged to work as part-time edcuators where necessary to help fill the gap where numbers are lacking.

Also, the problems that interrupt higher level education such as strikes, cultism, and carefree attitudes evidenced in behavioural problems, improper dressing, improper socializing on campuses and other acts that detract and debar the provision of a quality education should be addressed and eliminated, so the students can concentrate on getting the education that will make them gainfully employed in their future.

Most importantly, all teachers need to be constantly retrained to make sure they are equipped with the latest and best educational tools to teach and provide our youth with the best education possible. Lawyers, doctors, accountants and professionals constantly need to retrain to keep up with the latest tools of their vocation, so there is no excuse why teachers should not be constantly trained to improve their skills.

It is important to note that while the privatization of schools at all levels seems to be addressing some of the problems by providing quality education to those who can afford it within Nigeria, it is not widespread enough to address the problem. Also, not everybody can afford private schools, neither can every parent afford to send their children abroad, therefore the problems affecting our youth's ability to obtain good quality in Nigeria needs to be rectified and whatever steps need to be taken to attain this need to be embarked on.

The latest World Bank report also states the problem here http://www.financialstandardnews....newsdetail.asp?id=397094581944444 but does not offer solutions, so we as Nigerians and anyone else interested in the improvement of education in Nigeria is welcome to provide additional and useful suggestions.

Cxsm
19th Sept. '08

© Cxsm 2008 All Rights Reserved

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May we be strengthened with the ability, willingness and capabilities to be good ambassadors of Nigeria contributing to its uplifting, rather than its detriment. - Cxsm

admin · Site Admin Joined: 25 May 2007 Posts: 5404

Fashola Approves Overseas Training for Lagos Teachers

Sun News Publishing
21st Aug. '07

Henceforth, only teachers will enjoy overseas training in the Lagos State Civil Service, the state Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN) has said. It would be recalled that the state government had suspended overseas training courses for all categories of its civil service officers.

Fashola, however, said at the weekend at an award presentation to the former governor of the state, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu by the Lagos State Joint Muslim Forum, that the government took the decision to exempt teachers from the suspension because of the importance which it places on education as a building block for the future of the state and the country.

The governor said that government also realized that aside from providing the infrastructure and conducive environment for learning, there is the need to broaden the knowledge and intellect of those in whose care the children are entrusted for learning, adding that no body can give what he or she does not have.

"We need to support the people, who teach our children by updating their knowledge every now and then," the governor said. He said the target of his administration in the next four years is that the state's public schools will not have more than 50 pupils in a class. Fashola reiterated the state government's plans to build 15,000 classrooms in the next four years to make this possible, adding that the public schools would also be so equipped to compete favourably with private schools in the state.

He recalled that the state government, last week, provided vacation jobs for 2,570 young school leavers in its bid to resuscitate the old practice, which according to him, was the vogue in the early days in Lagos . "We all benefited from it," the governor said, adding that aside from broadening their vision and preparing them for challenges of adulthood, the vacation jobs would direct their youthful energy towards productivity.

"By the time they get home in the evening, they will be too tired for any mischief," he said. According to the governor, the school leavers would work for eight weeks and would be paid N10,000 per month, adding that after the period, another 1000 school leavers would be taken on. Urging the private sector to take a cue from what the state government is doing and give jobs to the young school leavers in the state, Fashola said such engagements would help shape the future of the youths.

Fashola, who said his administration, placed great importance on security, emphasized that the state government would do everything within its resources to ensure the safety of lives and properties in the state. He said the police and other security agents in the state would be equipped adequately to combat crime and carry out their duties of making the state safe for living and doing business. The governor reiterated his call on the private sector and all other stakeholders to partner with his administration in its effort to make Lagos crime-free.

On Health, the governor again reiterated that his administration's commitment is to reduce, as much as possible, the number of people that would need the service of doctors and nurses. "To that extent, our focus is on preventive rather than curative," he said adding that government was also committed to improving the welfare of those taking care of the people's health.

He thanked the Joint Muslim Forum for the honour done to Asiwaju Tinubu, whom he referred to as "My boss, my leader, teacher and a true Nigerian leader," saying the substance of the presentation anchored on his achievements in the area of education, job creation, poverty alleviation and security which represented the 10-point Agenda of the state government.

In his remarks earlier, chairman of the occasion, Justice Fatai Adeyinka (retd) commended the Joint Muslim Forum for giving honour to whom honour is due. The retired judge said it was heartwarming that several muslim organizations came together to form the Forum adding that it was a pointer to the Excellence of Lagos State.

He also commended the state government under the leadership of Governor Fashola recalling particularly the effort of his administration to stem crime in the state and his successful hosting of the F.A. Cup recently
The high point of the occasion was the presentation of the Award by Governor Fashola to Asiwaju Bola Tinubu who was represented by Engineer Rauf Aregbesola.
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May we be strengthened with the ability, willingness and capabilities to be good ambassadors of Nigeria contributing to its uplifting, rather than its detriment. - Cxsm

admin · Site Admin Joined: 25 May 2007 Posts: 5404

Lagos Seeks Partners for Education

This Day
Uchechukwu Nnaike
13 August 2008

Individuals, the civil society and corporate organizations have 1, 030 primary, 307 junior secondary and 298 senior secondary schools, as well as five technical colleges to choose from as Lagos State government launches 'Support Our Schools' initiative to enhance the quality of its schools.

Imagine a science school without a laboratory or library. This is the reality in most public schools in the country, one that Master Nwabueze Akpobi, a science student of Majidun Senior Grammar School Ikorodu, like millions of his peers in public schools have been made to live with. He has never seen a science laboratory. He is in his final year in secondary school, but has never seen a science laboratory, not to talk of performing an experiment. Rather than experiment, they use drawings and charts. "We have never performed real practical or seen real laboratory equipment, but we use our imagination. We call the system 'assumed virtual reality process'", he said.

The floor of Master Ayokunmi Alabi's classroom at Adeleye Primary School Mushin, Lagos, needs urgent resurfacing. Desks and chairs are also in short supply, so quite a few of the Primary Six pupils sit on the floor. He said he and his friends were always terrified whenever they walked on the corridor and stairs of their three-storey school building because they lacked protective rails. "We are afraid of falling off, so we walk close to the wall." Other students also complained of poor sanitation facilities, inadequate classrooms, leaking roofs, among others.

These needs were presented to the state government, last week, when it launched its 'Support Our Schools' initiative. The initiative aims to revamp the state's educational system with the active participation of individuals and civil society and corporate bodies that could support one or more of the state's 1, 030 public primary, 307 junior secondary and 298 senior secondary schools as well as five technical colleges.

Stakeholders were specifically requested to intervene in designated areas where public schools in the state are deficient, such as provision of libraries, classrooms, furniture, toilets, science laboratories, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) rooms, sport equipment, school buses, among others.

They could also enhance students' learning experience by sponsoring field trips, educational tours and exchange visits; human capital development through mentoring and training of teachers, as well as school administrators. Other areas of intervention are provision of incentives awards/recognition of students and teachers and, provision of scholarship/grants to students.

Governor Babatunde Fashola said the initiative was conceived "to ensure that all children in Lagos State, no matter how poor their parents or guardians, have access to education to guarantee their future."

He said close collaboration between the public and private sector was crucial for the revitalisation of public school system, through which thousand of indigent children could obtain education. "We are appealing to individuals and corporate citizens to please support one of our public schools."

The initiative, he said, would add value to government's huge expenditure on public schools, resuscitate community ownership and support to public education, enhance teaching/learning and reduce school drop-out and unemployment.

Partners would receive Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) award from the state government, recognition in relevant publication as well as projects being named after them. Interested parties were advised to identify the school they would like to support, visit it to learn more about the situation fill out and submit an application form along a simple plan of the project. They are expected to collect a certificate of partnership before the commencement of the project which would be reviewed by monitoring team and on completion, they would be presented with a 'Support Our Schools' certificate.

The Deputy Governor, Mrs. Sarah Sosan described the initiative as a bold step by the administration "to ensure that public schools are reformed to the status they used to be acknowledged for in the past, the level that produced some of us and made us what we are today." The event was attended by private sector operators, government officials, musicians, parents and teachers, among other stakeholders.

In another development, Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola has commissioned a six-classroom block at Ilasan Primary School in Eti-Osa Local Government area, Lagos.

The Governor, who was represented by the Chairman of Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Mrs. Gbolahan K. Daodu, said, "our desire is to make our destination for learning and capacity building, a place where students and teachers will be happy to learn and work."

He commended Chevron Nigeria Limited which built the classrooms for the Ilasan Community. Emphasising that this act of corporate social responsibility implementation by Chevron is commendable and should be emulated by other organisations in the State.

Stressing the need for Public Private Partnership in the development of the state, the Governor informed that it is a highly rewarding venture, because it will forge a sense of common purpose and shared objectives.

Education, he said, being a vital component of the present administration's ten point agenda is critical to the attainment of Lagos State's policy of wealth creation.

General Manager of Chevron, Engineer Femi Odumabo commended the efforts of the Lagos State Government in bringing back the lost glory of the state and for encouraging Public Private Partnership.

Copyright © 2008 This Day
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May we be strengthened with the ability, willingness and capabilities to be good ambassadors of Nigeria contributing to its uplifting, rather than its detriment. - Cxsm