‘Miracle centres’, inadequate funding, outdated curriculum bane of education in Nigeria

A university teacher, Professor Eddy Erhagbe, has identified the infamous ‘miracle centres’, inadequate funding, and outdated curriculum, among others, as factors responsible for the dwindling standard of education in Nigeria.

Professor Erhagbe of the Department of History and International Studies, University of Benin (UNIBEN), noted that the Nigerian education sector had suffered greatly in recent years to the extent that the gains of previous years were being lost, especially in terms of quality.

Delivering a lecture entitled ‘Young Teachers, the Future of the Profession’ and organised by the Edo State wing of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) in Benin, Erhagbe called for retraining and upgrading of teachers nationally.

He decried the mushrooming of so-called ‘miracle centre’ schools in some states where sometimes teachers systematically connive with their students/pupils to cheat in public examinations.

According to him, one of the critical factors contributing to the crisis in the educational sector is the current educational curricula that cannot meet the development aspirations of the nation.

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The Professor of History noted that with what former Governor Adams Oshiomhole had done and what Governor Godwin Obaseki is currently doing in the education sector, “clearly, good governance is still possible in Nigeria.”

He said, “For us to achieve quality education, the educational curriculum of our schools should be upgraded to make them more relevant to present societal and development needs.

“There should be motivational package for good and efficient teachers from primary to tertiary who are properly trained to master the teaching methodology and skills.”

He, however, cautioned teachers to be wary how they fraternize with governments.

“Yes, teachers are celebrating what they have been able to get from government as welfare, but I urge you all to be wary how you fraternize with the government. In Edo State, most schools are still empty. They are begging for teachers. Government must have to address the problem of staff,” he added.

He also advised teachers to change their attitude towards their jobs, noting that to whom much is given, much is expected.

Erhagbe said for Nigeria to move forward in the present digitised world, government at all levels must invest hugely in the education sector.

The state chairman of the Nigeria Union of Teachers, Comrade Pius Okhueleigbe, commended the governor for addressing both teachers’ and educational needs of the state.

He called on the state government to urgently attend to pending issues concerning teachers’ welfare, conditions of service and recruitment of more teachers so as to address the challenges militating against effective teaching and learning in public schools.