Media Consultant, Dr Marcel Mbamalu, has identified underfunding, teacher shortage, and outdated curricula as major challenges hindering the provision of qualitative education in the country.

Mbamalu warned that the continuous neglect of the sector, which is the engine of economic and social transformation, is a recipe for disaster.
With over 18.3 million children out of school, including 10.2 million at primary and 8.1 million at junior secondary level, Mbamalu called on policymakers to prioritise education and implement urgent reforms to avoid falling further behind global peers

He reminded that education is not just a social imperative, but the cornerstone of economic growth, security, and sustainable progress. He attributed this to insecurity, cultural barriers, and chronic underfunding, which “keep millions from classrooms, eroding human capital and threatening growth.”

With only seven per cent of its national budget allocated to education, instead of the 15-20 per cent recommended by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), Mbamalu noted that “poor infrastructure and overcrowded classrooms, often operating at over 150 per cent capacity, limit practical skill acquisition and the teaching of critical technical competencies.”

Mbamalu emphasised that neglecting education fuels unemployment and entrenches poverty, creating fertile ground for insecurity.” He cited statistics showing that “over 30 million people face acute food insecurity, with 2.3 million displaced by violence in the northeast alone.”

To address these challenges, Mbamalu urged the government to increase education budgets, ensure adequate funding for infrastructure, learning materials, and teacher welfare, and implement free and compulsory basic education to guarantee universal access.” He added that “investments in ICT and digital learning are essential to equip students with skills for modern economies.