In this age and time when proactive nations of the world are thriving on a knowledge-driven economy and have successfully given sustainable and lifelong education a place leveraging on technology, Nigeria as a nation still struggles with providing education at the basic level. It is pathetic to note that issues such as corruption, inefficiency, and lack of accountability have perpetually placed the nation backward. A nation sits on a keg of gunpowder when such a nation loses her sense of manpower development, and is unable to cater for the basic education needs of her citizens. Little wonder, there is an exponential increase in kidnappings and insurgency activities in the country.
The United Nations’ Child Right Act stipulates that every child should have access to free basic education. This global law explains the participatory involvement of the likes of UNICEF, UNESCO and UNDP as wrapped in early childhood education program, SDGs as well as the EFA goals. Nigeria as a participant and a beneficiary runs the 9-3-4 educational system with the first nine levels of education being free and compulsory for every Nigerian child under the Universal Basic Education (UBE) Law. Very typical, this seems to be only in principle as the reality on ground explains the case of Success Adegor. Unfortunately, Success Adegor is only but one from millions of the Nigerian children trapped in the mess of the educational sector.
Politicians in Nigeria use education as a campaign tool to win elections but the true picture is that many government-owned institutions are a shadow of themselves – dilapidated structures, outdated instructional facilities, poorly remunerated and unmotivated teachers. Basic education is supposedly left in the hands of the state governments who more often than not are sparingly involved, pushing and leaving such foundational, capital intensive project to the local government. This explains why basic education in government-owned schools is as good as dead while those surviving are on the strength of PTA and Alumni collaborations in developed States. Peradventure, the rationale behind private schools proliferation, since more parents have lost faith in the so-called government provided free basic education. It becomes worrisome since some indigent parents who struggle with household involvement and school-initiated fees of public schools may not readily key into the trend. The future is quite bleak with the status quo!
Success Adegor became an overnight celebrity, sought after by the elites and those highly placed in political offices giving her scholarship to the University level even when they failed to add value to the state of affairs, in the first place. This is what happens where there is mediocrity. The bad news is, there are so many children in the same shoes as Adegor who go to school on empty stomach; whose schools are structurally dilapidated and have no access to instructional materials. Who will give them scholarships? The state of Success Adegor’s school is a reflection of what has become of public primary education in Nigeria.
In 2018, I interacted with two children of basic education school age who were out of school because they had neither chairs to sit in the classroom nor tables to write. They were mandated to come with their chairs and tables before they could be in school and those whose parents were unable to construct theirs were sent home. How free is education if the government is unable to provide basic infrastructures in a state that claims to run free basic education and perhaps for a governor who must have enjoyed a luxurious basic education funded by the government? Aren’t we our own demons?
Whichwaynaija believes there is a need to revisit the drawing board and overhaul things if Nigeria would ever join the league of progressive nations. No nation can grow beyond the education it has in place. It is a problem that has a multiplier effect on nation-building. Hence, the ways forward include:
Commitment: Education at every level in Nigeria needs to have the ‘’State of Emergency’’ declared beginning from the basic level. The UBE Law should be implemented to the letter and if need be, the National Primary Education Commission (NPEC) of 1993, which was replaced with Universal Basic Education Commission(UBEC) in 2004, may be a good point of reference. There was synergy, proper roles coordination and accountability.
Development: A nation that progresses is a nation that takes a deep interest in manpower development through action and in deeds. Education in Singapore is run on the exclusive list of the government and today Singapore is a developed nation of the world. Singapore believes in human capital development and at present, ranks as the 4th best according to a world ranking on education and their economy waxes stronger by the day. Whereas, Nigeria who got independence about the same time as Singapore, is plagued with a staggering and bastardized economy. There is a need for the leaders of this nation to show sincerity in really making a difference. Running transparently a knowledge-based economy, as embedded in human capital development, is the way forward.
The Nigerian government must invest in her citizens beginning from the basic level of education. The US as a capitalist nation has options that make quality education accessible to her citizens regardless of their social status. Progressive nations of the world have migrated to knowledge-based economies and lifelong education. Whereas, Nigeria has millions of her youth left in the cold with a high rate of push and pull migration factors.
No doubt, education is capital intensive and requires the active involvement and participation of the organized private sector. Corporate bodies should do more for the education sector as their CSR and economically buoyant individuals and groups should equally endeavour to truly give back to society.
There are many of the ‘Warri Success Girl’ out there and guess what, they all deserve to have quality education. An educated mind is a liberated mind.
Gloria Theophilus
Gloria Theophilus writes from Ibadan
