Educationist Advocates Improved Funding, Timely Release of Funds, Curbing Corruption To Revamp Education Sector

Educationist Advocates Improved Funding, Timely Release of Funds, Curbing Corruption To Revamp Education Sector

From Bashir  Rabe Mani in Sokoto and

 A retired Principal, core educationist and Chairman of the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools, Sokoto State Chapter, Alhaji Ahmed S/Fada, has advocated improved funding for the education sector in Nigeria, timely release of all approved funds and curbing corruption to ensure such funds are adequately utilized only for revamping the sector.

Alhaji S/Fada, who is the Director of Sahaba Academy, Sokoto, and holder of the revered traditional titles of Katukan Dange and Barden Hausa, said education is the key to national development and the bedrock of any development, stressing that the socio-economic situation of any country can be judged by the standard of its education.

He said Nigeria has for many years failed to meet the United Nations standard which prescribes 20 to 25 per cent of annual budget for education, noting that in most states the allocation has not exceeded 10 percent.

He said even where 10 to 12 per cent is declared, there is no good monitoring and supervision to ensure the money goes directly to education rather than into private pockets.

Alhaji Ahmed S/Fada also lamented that sometimes funds are budgeted but not released and where released, are misappropriated, adding that endemic corruption has worsened the situation.

 He said that is why private schools give more quality education than public schools, not because they have much money, but because they invest the little they have judiciously and every kobo counts, unlike in government where more than N200 to N300 million can be spent in a school without any impact.

According to him, adequate funding must be provided and the money must be utilized adequately for education, while education officers found wanting must be punished.

He said it has become a fashion to make money out of the education system and nobody is bothered because in most cases the children of Governors, President, Senators and even Councillors are not schooling in Nigeria but in private schools and in the UK, US and other countries.

Alhaji S/Fada said education produces qualified medical doctors, engineers and good journalists and therefore must be given more emphasis.

He said all efforts at fighting insecurity and other vices cannot solve the problem without a good education system, noting that people who are educated do not go into banditry.

He urged government to put right people in right places and stop politicizing education at national and state levels, comparing it to the medical profession where nobody is bothered whether the doctor is APC or PDP, Muslim or Christian, Hausa, Igbo or Yoruba, but only seeks good health.

He also called for improved welfare and motivation of teachers.

Recalling the past, Alhaji S/Fada said, “teachers were respected and well paid, owning cars through loans called lada or bago such as Volkswagen and Peugeot soon after graduation, with staff quarters equipped with freezers, televisions, electric cookers and good furniture.

“But today teachers trek to and from home, earn meager salaries that cannot take care of a single person let alone a married man with family, and responsibility allowances have been scrapped, making teaching a profession for those with no other options.”

On private schools, the Katukan Dange said Sokoto State charges less fees compared to other states despite astronomical cost increases, and proprietors deserve appreciation.

He said his association has 384 registered private schools that met minimum standards, with over 100,000 pupils from Primary One to Senior Secondary Three excluding nursery and crèche, and over 10,000 academic and non-academic staff including teachers, lab attendants, cashiers, drivers and school sergeants, making it the highest employer of labour after the state government.

 He said the schools contribute to the local economy as vendors sell food, drinks and stationery outside schools while proprietors patronize markets for uniforms, sport wears, textbooks and building materials, and practically whatever money is generated goes back to the community, in addition to payment of taxes.

He said the association agreed during the petroleum price hike that the highest increase should be 15 to 20 per cent at that point and many schools including his own have not increased fees in two to three years, even though a three-seater student furniture that cost N6,000  now costs N40,000 and a textbook that cost 350 Naira now costs 7,000 to 8,000 Naira with an additional 700 Naira increase this session alone.

On security, Alhaji S/Fada said private schools are in the forefront of providing security with well fenced compounds, gates manned by security personnel and CCTV cameras monitoring movements.

 He, however, argued that fencing with only one gate can be a disadvantage during bandit attacks as bandits can block the gate and cage everyone inside, unlike a porous school where children disperse and only few may be captured.

 He said he made this point at a stakeholders meeting on Safe School at the military barracks.

He insisted that closing schools is not an alternative to insecurity and education cannot be compromised, asking how long schools would remain closed and what would happen to the children, noting that leaving children in ignorance is far worse than insecurity itself and will breed other socio-economic vices.

The Director also urged government to devise sustainable means to safeguard schools and make the Safe School Initiative more effective.