Our schools need urgent attention

There is an urgent requirement that our education sector must be productive. In the 1960s through to the 1980s, anybody who walked into any our places of learning was proud of what they saw. The teachers were committed and on top of their game. The school compounds and campuses were well organized. The grasses were cut regularly, flowers and trees were well trimmed, new buildings were always cropping up, efforts were made conscientiously to upgrade laboratory equipment and there was regular upgrade of facilities.

The vice-chancellors, registrars, deans, rectors, principals, headmasters, lecturers, teachers and educational administrator were highly motivated. They were proud of their remuneration.

ALSO READ: Youths protest against Anglican Bishop over religious politics in Anambra

The quality of education was quite high. During the period under review, educators maintained high professional and ethical standards.  Educational institutions competed at every level to be the best regionally, nationally, and internationally in terms of academic performance, extra-curricular activities, and infrastructural development. Students went overseas for courses that were not readily available in Nigeria.  During the same period, children of the elite as well as those of the middle class attended the same schools since academic performance had a great impact in determining admission, whether into secondary schools or universities.

Unfortunately now, we have an education sector that is characterised by poor academic standards, unorganised extra-curricular activities and lack of infrastructural facilities. Many primary and secondary school buildings are dilapidated.  Obviously, many educational administrators today are not as motivated and committed as their counterparts few decades back. Due to the fallen standard, quite a substantial number of Nigerian elite now send their children overseas for higher education. Today, due to lack of concern for infrastructural development, modernisation and rehabilitation, the universities do not have sufficient space to accommodate students who want to live on campuses.  It is not surprising that university campuses in Nigeria are always crowded with students, thereby, making it exceedingly difficult for students to concentrate on their studies.

The youths are the future leaders of the country. This means that the national security of the nation depends greatly upon the educational system to produce able leaders.  If the education sector fails to produce able leaders, then the nation’s chances at competing at the global level are in jeopardy. While Japanese, Chinese, Indian, Brazilian educational systems are producing top educational management information specialists, scientists, engineers and doctors, it seems our education sector is not doing enough. With this era of globalisation, it is quite important that we do all that we can to push for the improvement of our education sector. We have all to gain and nothing to lose should we prioritise this all important sector.

Sola Olorunda, [email protected]