•calls for inclusion of Private varsity on the list of TETFUND beneficiaries
The immediate past Vice-chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Professor Idowu Olayinka, has blamed the near collapse of the public primary and secondary school systems in the country on poor funding and lack of qualified teachers.
This is as he advocated for the inclusion of Private universities nationwide on the beneficiaries list of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND).
Olayinka made his position known as a guest lecturer at the 17th Convocation lecture of the Lead City University, Ibadan.
He added that the dwindling fortune of the education sector is traceable to improper laid foundation at the primary and secondary school levels.
According to him, “The reasons for the near collapse of the public primary and public secondary school systems in Nigeria are fairly well known. They include poor funding, lack of qualified teachers, and poor infrastructure including dilapidated and obsolete school facilities and equipment.
“It also includes lack of motivation of teachers, overcrowded classrooms, poor management and supervision, improper placement of teachers, poor research mindedness of teachers, lack of professional training, teacher’s poor knowledge of ICT, nepotism in teacher recruitment and inadequate library resources.
“Yet, the products of the secondary school system form the input for the tertiary level of education. As a result, many Nigerians turn to Private secondary schools as an alternative although they are generally more expensive than their public counterparts.”
The Public universities, according to him, are not left out as they are grabbing with the economic situation in the country.
He said the development has resulted in incessant strikes at various institutions which has forced some parents to withdraw their children to private universities in spite of the high school fees.
This development, Professor Olayinka said, has resulted in an increase in the number of private universities nationwide which currently stands at 149.
Olayinka submitted that a recent hike in the cost of electricity by the Nigerian Electricity Regulation Commission (NERC) from N74 per kilowatt hour to N209 per kilowatt for Band A customers has astronomically increases the cost of running Universities.
“These institutions were migrated to Band A, they are likely to be in arrears of payment of bills from the Electricity Distribution Companies.
“These have been reports of disconnection of power supply to the institution.
“With all these coupled with other challenges, there is need for active participation of the private sectors in the running of public and private institutions.
“We do not need to cut our nose in order to spite our face. Although private universities were not established by government, in reality, they are public entities that on the long run serve the public good.
“The students who attend such private institutions are assets to the country and
they are expected to participate in the National Youth Service Corp scheme and contribute their quota to the nation’s socioeconomic development,” he said
Speaking further, he said private sector operatives in the country’s education sector should be encouraged to complement government efforts at providing quality education for its citizens
“There is a mindset that private universities were established solely to make a profit and as such they should be left to their own devices to either survive or die. This may not tell a complete
story.
“For one, education should be seen both as a public good and as a private good. The government has to be interested in the provision of education for its citizenry.
“However, the resources available to the government may not be enough to cater for the demand of quality education from the ever-growing population. It is in this context that provision of education by the private sector should be contextualised.
“The government has to encourage the private sector operatives in all possible ways in filling the wide gap between the demand for higher education and the supply side. It should be expected that the private universities will recover their cost, provide employment, pay tax to government and make a decent profit, in order to ensure sustainability.”
Earlier, the Vice Chancellor of the institution, Prof. Kabir Adeyemi, in his welcome address, said the lecture aimed to proffer solution to pressing issues confronting higher education in Nigeria, adding that the institution is ready to do that through entrepreneurship
“The topic of this year’s lecture, “Resolving the Trilemma of Access, Affordability, and Quality in the Nigerian University System: A Role for the Entrepreneur,” is both timely and profoundly relevant.
“It speaks to the heart of the challenges that universities across the nation grapple with daily. How do we ensure that higher education is accessible to all, affordable for families and institutions, and of a quality that meets global standards?
“This trilemma poses significant questions that demand innovative and collaborative solutions. At Lead City University, we are deeply committed to addressing these challenges.
“We believe that the answer lies in fostering partnerships between academia, industry, and government. Over the years, we have taken deliberate steps to expand access to higher education through scholarships and flexible learning pathways, ensure affordability without compromising quality, and maintain high academic standards through investments in cutting-edge facilities and faculty development.”
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