NIGERIA'S EDUCATION, HOW FAR? SO FAR

 LIVE ON AIR TODAY DISCUSSING NIGERIA'S EDUCAIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Few days from now, Nigeria will be clebrating the one year anniversary of this present administration. It is therefore imperative that we beam our searchlight on how far the Nation has gone in Educational development in the last one year. We were live on air today on Radio Nigeria Treasure 98.5fm Port Harcourt Nigeria, Discussing Nigeria's Educational Development. We looked at budgetary allocation to the education sector of previous administrations, and compared it to that of the present administration.

We had Professor Charles Iwundu of the faculty of Education, Ignatius Ajuru University Port Harcourt South South Nigeria, and Dr Peter Medee, a lecturer in the Department of Economics, Faculty of Social Sciences University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State South South Nigeria, to discuss this Topic. The discussion which lasted for 45 minutes, was anchored by me Rachel Onah. See photograps below.

It is often said that no nation can develop if her citizens are not properly educated.

However, the nation appears to be far from achieving the 26 percent bench-mark recommended of the United Nations Education, Social and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) for developing countries.

The 2016 budget allocation for education dropped for the first time since 2011 thereby raising questions about the readiness of the present administration to fix the challenges facing the sector.

From N306.3bn in 2011, to N400.15bn in 2012, to N426.53bn in 2013, to N493bn in 2014, to N492bn in 2015, to N369bn in 2016, Nigeria’s most important sector remains underfunded.

While this budget is for the federal level alone, it is still less than adequate in the states for the essential development needed in this sector.

Some of the educational promises made by the present administration include:

Establishment of a free-tuition and scholarship scheme for pupils who have shown exceptional aptitude in science subjects at O/Levels to study ICT-related courses.

Free education at primary, secondary, and tertiary institutions for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) and Education.

 

How far has the present administration gone in keeping these promises?

The discussants were of the view that both the present administration, and previous administrations have not lived up to their promises, in improving educational facilities in Nigerian Universities, as funds meant for Education have often been diverted by various Governments in Nigeria. 
The discussants further lamented, that most political office holders are busy sending their children and wards abroad to other developed coountries, to study, while they neglect Nigerian education system. They called on political ofice holders to turn a new leaf.
We had callers on the programme, who said we should be patient with the present administration because they have a promising blue print for Nigerian educational system.
Other callers towed the same line of thought with the discussants, saing that Nigerian educational system has failed.
What is your opinion in this matter? Leave your comments.

 
My email- rachele20022002@yahoo.com