NIGERIA EDUCATION:
The Task Before
The New Minister
of Education.
Ibrahim Shekarau
Education is
a tool which cannot be compromised for anything, as it is fundamental to the
development and growth of any nation. The Federal Ministry of Education in
Nigeria is saddled with the responsibilities of
1. Formulating a national policy on
education
2. Collecting and collating data for
appropriate planning and financing
3. Maintaining uniform standards of
education throughout the country
4. Controlling the quality of education
in the country through the supervisory role of the Inspectorate Services
Department
5. Developing the curricula and
syllabuses at the national level, in conjunction with other stakeholders.
Since its
inception, some individuals have shown their capabilities to head the affairs
of the ministry, starting from Aja Nwachukwu who held the position between 1958
and 1965 to Professor Ruqayyatu Rufai, who was there between April 2010 and
September 2013.
The first
Nigerian to receive a doctoral degree in Education was the late Prof. Babatunde
Fafunwa, who was the minister of education between 1990 and 1992. He started
the first tutorial college in Nigeria, Foucos Tutorial College (formerly on
Ogunlana Drive, Surulere, Lagos.) in 1982.
He brought
about the emergence of the Nigerian Certificate of Education, which is the
minimum entry requirement for the teaching profession. He incorporated the
learning of indigenous languages in Nigerian schools with English as a second
language.
He also
introduced the 6-3-3-4 system of education for six years of Primary education,
three years of Junior Secondary, another three years of either Technical
education or three years of Senior Secondary and the last four years for
Tertiary education respectively.
Dr Oby
Ezekwesili, a chartered Accountant, came on board as the minister of education
between June 2006 and April 2007 during Obasanjo’s second term in office. She had
served as the minister of Solid Minerals.
While in
office, she observed that the structure of the ministry had limitation to
develop the human capital needed for the progress in the sector. These necessitated
the reforms that took place in the sector.
Dr Sam Egwu
was the minister of education between December 2008 and March 2010 during
President Umaru Musa Yar'adua. His tenure was characterized by the strike
actions embarked upon by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU). Based
on these, he was succeeded by Prof. Ruqayyatu Rufai.
Prof. Ruqayyatu was in office between April 2010 and September 2013, and banned the
use of mobile phones in secondary schools. The ministry under her watch was to
conduct a nationwide school census. ASUU strike also lingered during her time.
After the
sack of Ruqqayatu, Barrister Nyesom Wike was appointed as the supervisory
minister of education on 11th September, 2013.
On July 9,
2014, President Goodluck Jonathan announced the emergence of former governor of
Kano State, Ibrahim Shekarau, as the minister of education. He (alongside three
others) was brought in at a critical time of the nation’s development.
The task
before the new minister is highly demanding as he must design a frame work
alongside other stakeholders to resolving the ongoing strike in the
Polytechnics and Colleges of Education. He must ensure that the disparity
between holders of HND and B. Sc. is completely eradicated.
Polytechnic graduates
have roles to play in the labour market just as their counterparts in the universities;
hence, they should not in any way be discriminated, otherwise, all Polytechnics
in the country should be scrapped off.
The technical
and vocational sub sector is suffering because of low manpower needed for industrial development. Today, students from technical schools seek admission
into universities, which negates the establishment of the Polytechnic
education. They see Polytechnic education as a second option on failure to
secure university admission.
The volume
of academic space for admission into tertiary institution is low, and it behooves
the new minister to do something.
Formulating policies
is not the problem; rather, implementation and sustainability are key to
ensuring development of the sector. Teachers’ quality and number must also be
looked into in terms of their remuneration, so as to encourage people into the
teaching profession.
