Education

The future seems bleak for children and the youth in Nigeria as the cost of education at all levels goes beyond reach. 

The leadership at all levels may not be sensitive to the difficulties the citizens are passing through to meet the increasing cost of education.

Sadly, the children of these leaders are in choice schools around the globe.

Democracy ensures that citizens have access to uninhibited and quality education.

But in this case, the cost of education may not justify the service delivery in the education sector.

The education sector is weighed down by multiferous challenges in Nigeria.

Sadly, the education policy of a number of states may not be responsive to the needs and problems of primary and secondary schools.

The focus on hotels, eateries, night clubs, beer parlors and event centers by some state governments has psychologically defeated the interest of pupils and students in education.

The existing schools in the affected states are yet to be satisfactorily catered for and this has resulted in the unimpressive academic performance of pupils and students.

Of worry, is the conversion of so many schools to a base and launch pad for criminals of all sorts, while school authorities are benefiting commercially from the rentage of classrooms and premises to members of the public.

The attitude of government and other stakeholders in the education sector is suggestive of a mounting opposition to learning.

The Resort to Hard Drugs

Illicit and outlawed substances are now in regular use and abuse among the young and old in several communities in Nigeria. How did these hard drugs get into the country? Only those in charge of law enforcement are in a position to provide an answer. Perhaps.

The Nigeria Union of Teachers(NUT) Oyo state Wing has appealed to the state government to speedily domesticate the elongation of Service  for TEACHERS as approved by the Federal Government of Nigeria.

This appeal was made on Wednesday by the NUT chairman, Comrade Raji Oladimeji Ismail at the celebration of World Teachers day with the Theme '' The Transformation of Education Begins with Teachers'' in Ibadan, Oyo state. ''Teachers are indispensable and their impact on nation building is a reflection of the great strides globally. State governments should do the needful to domesticate the 40/65 years elongation of service and years of retirement age.''

''While bringing my address to a close, may I appeal to the government of Engineer Seyi Makinde to please work on  the above mentioned for the sustainance of the various achievements recorded in the education sector.''

The shabby treatment of teachers by the government and the organized private sector has over the years, affected education at all levels.

There is an urgent need to train and retrain teachers in various educational and developmental programs to attain quality education.

In addition, the creation of a conducive environment, inspiring conditions of service and other incentives would go a long way to aid improved performance, effectiveness and efficiency of teachers.

On the part of the teachers, dedication and devotion to duty ought to be among their guiding lights in the process of grooming pupils and students to become assets, rather than liabilities to society.

Those who are given the responsibilities to impact knowledge, must be kind, understanding and firm, while ruling a line between firmness and harshness.

In addition, the teacher should embark on a continuous learning, reading and experimenting to maintain acceptable standards in the academic performance of pupils and students alike.

Note- The Christian Association of Nigeria(CAN) has declared that the wicked shall not rule the land of Nigeria, while former President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan has advised Nigerians not to vote in killers in the 2023 general elections.

The 30,000 national minimum wage for workers in Nigeria has been described as the impetus for corruption.
This assertion was made by the General Envangelist of the Christ Apostolic Church(CAC)Worldwide(Reformation Land,Ile Atunse, Prohphet Timothy Abass Arabambi.

''We are always preaching that corruption should be eradicated. How is this possible? When the least paid worker earns 30,000 Naira, how can such a worker cope? He or she has to have transportation, feeding and school fees to provide for. How can such a person cope in the face of stressful economic hardships? The government should do the needful,'' Prophet Arabambi stated.
He also advised the Federal Government and members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities(ASUU) to amicably resolve the impasse for the benefit of the helpless students, saying, ''there is an adage that says that children that parents fail to educate would sell the homes of such parents. In light of this, when one meditates on the plight of the university lecturers, their strike action and their poor salaries, one will have pity for them. I appeal to the government to do the needful to salvage the future of our children.''

The performance of pupils and students at the elementary, secondary, and tertiary levels of education in Nigeria, over the years, has become a source of worry and concern for parents, guardians, and other stakeholders in the education sector.
The prevalent mediocre staus that characterize the products of mots of these educational institutions now constitute a major reference point for various categories of discussants.
The Founder, Spiritual head, and Grand Imam of Shafaudeen-in-Islam Worldwide, Prof. Sabitu Olagoke opines that parents and guardians must put in more effort in grooming their children and wards, spiritually, morally, and educationally.
Prof. Olagoke also asserts that the government at all levels should initiate concrete policies that shall reduce hunger and poverty to the barest minimum while at the same time increasing the annual budgetary allocation for the education sector. Excerpts :
The overbearing influence of hunger and poverty in Nigeria has culminated in the lack of motivation and the attendant loss of commitment towards rendering selfless service is one of the major reasons for the unimpressive performance of pupils and students in both internal and external examinations.
The harsh environment brought about by economic hardships and insecurity is not conducive for learning.
The factors impeding the performance of pupils and students include the overbearing influence of parents and guardians on their children or wards on the choice of course of study. This is without consideration for the intelligence, interests, ability, and capability of these children and wards.
Other impediments include poor study habits, psychological adjustment problems, distraction, low retention, the effect of the wrong peer group, emotional challenges, low achievement motivation, health challenges, lack of financial support, and time management.

Read-Helplessness in the Face of Dirt
In addition to this, absenteeism and truancy are now adopted as a normal routine for several of these children due to the loss of interest in the academic programs.
For the parents, noticeable fundamental defects are lacking in the area of proper guidance and the provision of basic learning needs including reading materials.
Also, the inadequate interaction with the children and their teachers, family problems, and financial difficulties paint the parents in a bad light.

-Legalizing Crime and Criminality
For the teachers, the use of verbal reinforcement strategy is absent, punctuality is lacking, poor interpersonal relationships and the authoritarian approach to teaching are impediments. So also is the inequality among students.
Furthermore, the syllabus coverage is not encouraging, absenteeism is the order of the day, poor teaching methods dominate the school system, incessant strikes, and the diminishing interest in the quest to ensure that students understand what they are taught.

-Landlords and Tenants Associations, Crime and Criminality
For the school, the large class size with limited teaching materials constitutes major impediments.
Trailing the learning environment which is not conducive, is the shortage of reference materials for the practical courses and the use of audio-visual materials is non-existent.
Above all, there is no proper orientation towards research.
The Government must address the following to ensure that pupils' and students' performances improve :
1)Unstable educational policy.
2)Leadership problems and challenges.
3)Poor supervision and monitoring mechanism.
4)The shortage of specialist teachers in schools-capacity building essence must be regular and directed towards the areas of need.
5)No job security and a consistent report of job losses.
6)Poor salaries for teachers, irregular payment of their salaries, and the lack of incentives to motivate them.
When all these are addressed, pupils and students would be able to perform creditably well in internal and external examinations.

Law Enforcement: The Reactionary Approach                       -Government Workers-A Subject of Debate

Parents and Guardians in Nigeria have been called upon to teach their children and wards the virtues that shall ward off shame and disgrace.

Read-Legalizing Crime and Criminality

This call was made recently, by the Founder, Spiritual Head and Grand Imam of Shafaudeen-in-Islam Worldwide, Prof. Sabitu Olagoke in his titled ‘’ FAMILY UPKEEP AND SOCIETAL TRANSFORMATION’’ at the 19th Annual Inter-house Sports Competition of the Shafaudeen Group of Schools and the Opening Ceremony of the Ishrat 2022 in Ibadan, Oyo state Nigeria.

-Landlords and Tenants Associations, Crime and Criminality

‘’Children must respect their parents-They must embrace patience and perseverance as principles with positive mindset to achieve set goals. Parents must emphasize to their children that they must not be arrogant-in body language and/insulting speech. Be humble and stoop to conquer,’’ Prof. Olagoke stated.

-Law Enforcement: The Reactionary Approach

-Government Workers-A Subject of Debate

The lack of discipline among the youth has been identified as one of the causes of youth related problems in Nigeria.

This view was expressed on Monday by the Founder, Spiritual Head and Grand Imam of Shafaudeen-in-Isalm Worldwide, Prof. Sabitu Olagoke at the 22nd of the Annual Engr. Prof. S.A Olagoke Education competition in Ibadan, Oyo state, Nigeria.

Read-Legalizing Crime and Criminality

‘’We have lost the focus of discipline that is why we are having problems with the youth. While the security agents are doing their work, the parents too have a lot to do. Religion complements the work of the parents to the extent that there is discipline, growth and development of their children. Don’t let us be pessimistic, we should be optimistic, things shall change for the better. The youth related problems shall fizzle out when we have a god government in power,’’ Prof. Olagoke stated.

Read-Landlords and Tenants Associations, Crime and Criminality

He called on the youth and Nigerians generally, to show curiosity by asking questions saying, ‘’ do not act on rumor or in ignorance. Be scientific on fact findings. Be an active citizen. Our youth education must be functional and inclusive and must be value laden with citizenship rights for wholesome civic responsibilities on the need for all stakeholders to be alive to their responsibilities without trampling on the people’s rights.

This is the essence of functional education. This is the essence of being educated. Justify this through being an active citizen.’’

Read-Law Enforcement: The Reactionary Approach 

         -Government Workers-A Subject of Debate

An official report in Great Britain in 1818 described the overall outcome of education of all sorts in this period as a'' lamentable deficiency'' in education for the poor.
Even though the voluntary effort was restricted to the towns, the country districts constituted wells of ignorance.
It is to be noted that some districts in London had half of their population in the category of stark illiterates.
Sadly, this is the situation in most states in Nigeria today. The vice of ignorance is now a dangerous threat to public order.
The deliberate creation of the uneducated by the government at all levels is now the basis for misrule and poor governance.
Political reasons for the deteriorated standards of education are visible everywhere in the country, even as political concessions have overwhelmed educational opportunities.
The government discrimination at all levels, in public-owned educational institutions, has ensured that indigent children must be held responsible for their poverty, while the elite determines the happenings in the private-owned institutions with the aid of their wealth from known and unknown sources.
According to John Stuart Mill, ''Education provided by the public must be education for all, and to be education for all it must be purely secular education. '' This is, however, not the case in Nigeria.
Of great worry is the fact that the country is in urgent need of suitably qualified and efficient teachers.
Sadly, those available have, over time, displayed and exhibited little talent and questionable culture. Those in charge of quality assurance also fall within the range.
The vicissitudes and challenges of life in several cities and towns have coarse and degraded many sections of the population to the extent that manners and culture have deteriorated rapidly.
Indeed, most of the products of Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary levels of education are living examples to conclude that little or nothing was learned in these citadels of learning. This is disturbing.

Also read-Legalizing Crime and Criminality

               -Landlords and Tenants Associations, Crime and Criminality

               -Law Enforcement: The Reactionary Approach

               -Government Workers-A Subject of Debate

The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) has decried the acute shortage of teachers in Nigeria.
The assertion was made on Tuesday by the National President of the NUT, Dr. Nasir Idris in a goodwill message on the occasion of the World Teachers' day in Ibadan, Oyo state.
''The NUT has noted with dismay the acute shortage of teachers in our schools, resulting in unhealthy teacher-learner ratio.  We, therefore,  call on State Governments to ensure adequate recruitment of teachers for effective teaching and learning schools, Dr. Idris stated.

Similarly, The NUT State Chairman, Oyo state wing, Comrade Tojuade Adedoyin noted that despite a myriad of challenges  confronting the state government, ''the administration of our God Sent Messiah(GSM) still found it necessary to employ 5,000 qualified teachers into the core teaching service of Oyo state Public Secondary Schools.''

Comrade Adedoyin went a step further lamenting that ''our Primary schools are short of staff due to the retirement of teachers. I humbly request Your Excellency to grant approval to SUBEB for recruitment of teachers into various Public Primary Schools across the state.''

Also read-Legalizing Crime and Criminality

               -Landlords and Tenants Associations, Crime and Criminality

               -Law Enforcement: The Reactionary Approach

               -Government Workers-A Subject of Debate

The overbearing influence of dysfunctional agents of socialization including defective parental upbringing have all combined to make the youth tobe threats to Nigeria’s future.

This assertion was made on Friday by the Founder, Spiritual Head and Grand Imam of Shfaudeen-in-Islam Worldwide, Prof. Sabitu Olagoke in his message to the nation on the occasion of the 61st independence anniversary of Nigeria.

‘’Today’s youth suffers from immature parental care and dysfunctional agents of socialization. The youth in Nigeria are at the receiving end of all activities emanating from Religion, Culture, Education, Politics and Society. Unfortunately, when each of these agents are poorly managed the effect on the youth may be a temporary or permanent damage to to their growth and development as a costly prize for the nation’s future.Thuggery,truancy, examination malpractice, hawking, unwanted pregnancy, rape, vandalism, pedophilia and other antisocial behaviors result from these deficiencies.Products of very faulty backgrounds are enmeshed in entertainment,poor reading culture, and mindset to loot the national and state treasuries at any given opportunity. They lack moral candor for leadership with wrong value orientation that is bad for leadership,’’ Prof. Olagoke concluded.

Also read- Legalizing Crime and Criminality

-Landlords and Tenants Associations, Crime and Criminality

-Law Enforcement: The Reactionary Approach

-Government Workers-A Subject of Debate

The Ghana Education Service(GES) on Sunday released guidelines for the reopening of schools in the country.

The Guidelines which was issued by  the Director-General of the GES, Professor Kwasi Opoku-Amankwa, states :
“I want to assure all stakeholders, including parents and guardians, of our preparedness to support the provision of good quality education for all our learners, even in these times of the COVID-19. Our goal, in these times, is to provide quality education within a healthy and safe environment. At the same time, we will continue to build a more resilient educational system that will ensure continuous learning for our learners, even during emergencies.
“As we prepare to reopen our schools to allow learners to continue with their academic work, it is important that we establish broad guidelines for the safe operation of our schools.''
“These guidelines are to help regional and district directors of education, as well as heads of schools, to operate safely in the country. It is important to note that the broad guidelines outlined in this document are a general guide and must be adapted, where necessary, to meet the particular situation of each region, district, or school, in accordance with the protocols and directives for the reopening of schools.''
“Learners and staff will be provided with re-usable face masks which must be worn at all times to, in, and from school. Learners with hearing impairment and staff will be provided with age-appropriate face shields to be worn at all times and supported by staff for safe-keeping and cleaning.''
“Lesson periods and breaks shall be as stipulated by the GES and subject to the approved COVID-19 safety protocols.
“Visits to washrooms (that is, toilets and urinals) should be regulated to promote social distancing and safety. Parents are encouraged to provide their children with food (e.g. snacks) when going to school to minimize the movement of learners for food within and outside of the school premises.''
For kindergarten children, it said heads of schools must ensure regular disinfection of furniture and other teaching/learning resources, as well as the regular washing of hands with soap under running water.

The Federal and State Governments have been advised to increase the annual budgetary allocation to the education sector towards ensuring that the sector is vibrant in the post coronavirus pandemic days.

This advice was given by the Founder, Spiritual Head, and the Grand Imam of Shafaudeen-in-Islam, Prof. Sabitu Olagoke, in a lecture titled, ''NIGERIA EDUCATION SECTOR AFTER COVID-19, THE WAY FORWARD, at the annual Prof. S.A Olagoke Education competition in Ibadan.

''The Government must fund education well and motivate the teachers as a way forward for Nigeria's education system after COVID 19 pandemic. Parents, children, and students must cooperate with the school(Teachers) in observing the protocols and motivate the Government on the need for appropriate and adequate funding of education in Nigeria'', Prof. Olagoke stated.

The Federal and State Governments have been called upon to ensure that higher institutions in Nigeria comply with the guidelines of the coronavirus pandemic before students and lecturers are directed to return to their various campuses.

This call was made by the All Workers Convergence(AWC)through its National Coordinator, Comrade Andrew Eemlieze.

''If the Federal and State Governments are serious about reopening higher institutions in Nigeria, the two tiers of government should ensure that all the guidelines that would ensure the safety of students and lecturers are in place before directing them to return to their various campuses. However, Nigerians are yet to see the tangible financial implications and facilities put in place in the higher institutions this present time '', Comrade Emelieze stated.

Parents and Guardians have been advised to take very good care of their children and wards as the positive cases of Coronavirus increase in Nigeria on a daily basis.

This advice was given by Pastor Opeyemi Ajayi in a chat with Federationews2day.

‘’Parents and Guardians must ensure that they take good care of the children and wards and must also ensure that they cater for their needs. In addition,children must be conscious of the happenings around them and abide by all the guidelines to prevent the corona virus disease. Self preservation is the watchword,’’ Pastor Ajayi stated.

Teach a child the right morals and values and the child shall never be a disgrace and burden to his or her parents.

The All Workers Convergence(AWC) has advised parents and guardians in Nigeria to  physically assess and evaluate schools before allowing their children and wards to resume. 

The AWC gave this advice through its National  Coordinator, Comrade Andrew Emelieze. 

''The AWC advises parents, guardians, Parents Teachers Associations(PTA) and the civil society at large  to challenge the purported  reopening of schools in order to save our future. They should physically  visit the schools to ascertain if these schools have complied with the guidelines for resumption  before releasing and allowing their children and wards to resume. The idea to reopen schools is the  most dangerous step to take at this critical period, when the positive cases of coronavirus pandemic  is on the increase all over the country.'' Our Government  is attempting to experiment  with the lives of our children, especially  when schools  eventually reopen'', Comrade Emelieze  noted. 

 Indeed, the World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that coronavirus  is becoming endemic.

Remembrance- Chief D.A Adewumi (1924-1994)(B.A Econs. Fourah Bay College, Freetown, Sierra Leone/Electoral Commissioner, Lagos State Electoral Commission-1979-1983).

26 years gone by, you are still in our minds. Bisi, Nike, Funke, Tayo