Daily Chronicle
A university Don of the Faculty of Education, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU) Bauchi, Professor Mansur Usman Malumfashi has warned government at all levels to desist from playing politics with education in the country, saying that government should show more commitment to education by earmarking 26 percent of the annual budget to education in order to address the challenges facing the sector.
He made the call in a keynote address at the Second Annual National Conference of Faculty of Education, held at Bayero University Kano (BUK).
Malumfashi stated that it is high time for government to give attention to the quality education in the country as the ultimate goal of education is the transformation of the society and the only vehicle for sustainable development.
‘No amount of investment in education is too much, education is sine quo non of development, therefore it must be adequately funded in line with UNESCO Recommendations”
“The challenges in the education sector in the country has worsened by social upheaval and economic instability. The high rate of crime and criminality, food insecurity excruciating poverty, misery and squalor, diminishing industrial output, low foreign direct investment, insecurity of lives and property and high rate of dropout have all impacted on education in the country”
“The sector is faced with various national challenges which include low quality of education, indiscipline, politics, poor parenting and guidance, lack of infrastructure, unstable curriculum and calendar, unwillingness to study education, poor funding and poor governance of education” he said
Professor Malumfashi said that Staff Attrition, unaffordable education, Lack of good welfare for teachers, scarcity and prohibitive costs of books and other learning materials at all levels, poor reading culture and Lack of strong library structure at all levels among others were some national challenges facing education in Nigeria.
He added that while education is the top priority of human development index, the experience in Nigeria is far from reality, pointing out that challenges are inevitable in human society.
“What is important is the way and manner the challenges are transformed into strength and opportunities. We need partnership not commoditization of education yet they are asking for Government intervention”
‘Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) must be in forefront for Nigeria to develop. Cutting edge research must be embarked upon to solve societal problem” Professor Malumfashi suggested