TOPIC: THE TOPSY-TURVY EMBEDDED IN THE NIGERIAN EDUCATIONAL SECTOR

It is quite unfortunate for our great country, Nigeria, being oblivious of the immense importance of education towards the growth and development of the country. After perusing the current situation of the country in the fold of educational activities, it is heartbreaking to see the dignity attached to education being rolled in mud. In times of yore education was still of the utmost priority -- during the period of our great scholars, nationalists, magnates and comrades who are educated and sedulous in their respective duties with much priority given to education; people like Herbert Macaulay, Chima Ubani, Alao Aka Bashorun, Gani Fawehinmi, Beko Ramsome-Kuti, Nnamdi Azikwe and among others. Education was the bedrock and pivotal in the growth and development of the country, unlike nowadays where the priority and impacts the educational system had attained is being put rendered to shambles.

Apparently, our present leaders failed fulfilling and achieving their pivot objectives whilst surfeit attention are given to other sectors most especially the political sector of the country. The Nigerian educational system has drastically experienced a great cataclysm in its operational activities and objective as parts of the SDGs No. 4 (Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all) and even deprived of its value. Poor funding being the root problem of this still persists where minute rate is being allocated to the educational sector which is uncalled for and even makes it impossible to compete with outside world. A very small percentage is being given to the educational sector while all other sectors are being given much reference, which till today, the country is still struggling to even maintain it's standard and development. From the findings of my research, it is clear that less reference has been given to education for the past five (5) years (from 2014 to 2018).

2014: The aggregate budget was #4.695 trillion while educational sector was allotted #493 billion making 10.5%

2015: The aggregate budget was #4.493 trillion while educational sector was allotted #492 billion making 11%

2016: The aggregate budget was #6.07 trillion while educational sector was allotted #369.6 billion making 6.09%

2017: The aggregate budget was #7.298 trillion while educational sector was allotted #540 billion making 7.4%

2018: The aggregate budget was #8.6 trillion while educational sector was allotted #605.44 billion making 7.04%

Having going through the aforementioned, it is evident that the educational sector is often shortchanged compared to other sectors. Now, would it not be the utmost folly to compare the Nigerian educational system to other countries that, on the otherhand, understand the impacts of education in the growth and development of the country.

However, the problems facing the educational system and which prove its bane are: poor funding, too much of superiors presiding over the system, selfishness, corruption, diversification of personal interest, lack of management and so on. All these are the main problems causing the dishevelled situation of the system. The Nigerian educational system has been badly controlled and monitored by those with contrary mission and this now proves a bottleneck hindering its growth and development. The ongoing strike between Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has been premised on the poor funding of the universities which place the future of the system in shambles but the federal government keep holding series of meeting without reasonable and tangible outcome, meanwhile the students are still at home and all academic activities in all schools are in disarray. Yet, the compromise or resolution has been made on this trending issues putting the future of the youth at stake knowing well the danger it portends being idle. Much need to be done concerning the educational system in order to provide a quality education and learner-friendly environment.

In conclusion, there is a saying that "No condition is permanent and there is no problem without adequate solution". All these problems are all the result of bad governance that prevails in the country. A simple solution to these unwavering problems is to establish an internal and external control mechanism which will serves as a check and balance in its operational activities while providing quality education for all and good and learner-friendly environment. Also, suggesting a special account being created with the purpose of fostering the activities of the sector where an agreed and estimated sum of money will be deposited into the account yearly apart from the normal budget that is being allotted to the sector. I implore the government to take necessary and proficient actions because the educational sector is on the verge of total collapse.

Thanks for reading...

By: BALOGUN IDRIS OLADIMEJI

A proud and bona-fide 200 level student of Lagos State University (LASU), department of Accounting, who also happens to be a bona-fide member of EXCEL MINDS Academic Group which predominate its activities on the campus and other campuses.