Declare state of emergency in education, academy urges Tinubu

The Nigerian Academy of Education (NAE) has called on President Bola Tinubu to declare a state of emergency in the sector, to holistically address the decadence in the system.

The academy also urged the Federal Government to hands off running of secondary schools, and as such, hand over the 115 Federal Government Colleges to states with comprehensive conditions.

Prof. Kabiru Isyaku, who stated this at the 38th yearly congress of the academy, themed: “Nigerian education system: Past, present and future,’ emphasised the need to declare emergency in the sector because it affects all other sectors of the country’s economy.

Noting that the National Policy on Education was last reviewed over 10 years ago, Isyaku said declaring emergency in the sector would allow government assemble experts for the policy review, and critically address issues like status of education in the constitution, structure, funding, and relevance of the current curriculum.

He added that issues of evaluation and certification should be addressed comprehensively enough to cover all levels and everything to do with education with all stakeholders since education is the responsibility of all.

Isyaku observed that currently, there is no synergy between the Federal and state Governments that could enhance smooth development of education in the country. He called for adequate remuneration of personnel in educational institutions, while ensuring release of their salaries and other entitlements as and when due.

He described as aberration the running of primary and secondary schools by the Federal Government, saying this does not happen anywhere in the world.

“The Federal Government, at this stage of the country’s development, should not directly run secondary schools. Instead, it should only be in charge of policy and quality assurance, all Federal Government Colleges should be devolved to states with comprehensive conditions,” he said.

The academy also expressed concern over proliferation of educational institutions by Federal and state Governments, calling for moratorium on the establishment of new institutions, until the current ones are fully equipped with adequate personnel as required by the regulatory agencies.

The keynote speaker, Prof. Alhas Nok of Faculty of Education, Nasarawa State University, Keffi, lamented the high level of corruption in management of educational institutions in the country.
He argued that while education is faced with the challenge of funding, the major problem is the misappropriation of the little resources allocated to the institutions.

Nok raised several posers as to the integrity of those who are appointed to head educational institutions, saying even appointment of Vice Chancellors is usually characterised with nepotism and other parochial interests.

While speaking on the decline in quality of teaching and learning in schools, Nok noted a trend where educators teach students for examination instead of teaching for knowledge, saying this has also fuelled sharp practices where marks are no longer earned by students, but bought with money or sex for marks, among other unwholesome practices.

The event witnessed the induction of 26 new members and elevation of three deserving members to the fellowship level. Executive Secretary of Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), Sunny Echono, was also honoured by the academy in recognition of his outstanding contributions to educational advancement in the country.