Professor Mansur Malumfashi
By Akanji Alowolodu, Bauchi
Governments at all levels in the country have been charged to stop playing politics with education in the country because the development of Nigeria depends on quality education.
The charge was made by Prof Mansur Malumfashi in a keynote address he delivered at the Second Annual National Conference of Faculty of Education, held at Bayero University (BUK), Kano.
Mansur Malumfashi believes that it is high time government all levels demonstrated more commitment to quality education by earmarking 26 per cent of annual budget to education to address the challenges facing the sector.
The University Don argued that the ultimate goal of education is the transformation of the society and education is the only vehicle for sustainable development.
According to him, ‘No amount of investment in education is too much. Education is sine quo non of development therefore it must be adequately funded in line with UNESCO Recommendations,’.
Mansur Malumfashi who is of the Faculty of Education, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU), Bauchi, stated that challenges in the education sector in the country were worsened by social upheaval and economic instability.
He however explained that high rate of crime and criminality, food insecurity excruciating poverty, misery and squalor, diminishing industrial output, low foreign direct investment, insecurity of lives and property and High rate of dropout have all impacted on education in the country.
He also said that the sector is faced with various national challenges which include low quality of education, indiscipline, politics, poor parenting and guidance, lack of infrastructure, unstable curriculum and calendar, unwillingness to study education, poor funding, poor governance of education.
He also said staff attrition, unaffordable education, lack of good welfare for teachers, scarcity and prohibitive costs of books and other learning materials at all levels, poor reading culture and lack of strong library structure at all levels among others were some national challenges facing education in Nigeria.
Sadly, he stated, while education is the top priority of human development index, the experience in Nigeria is far from reality saying that, ‘Challenges are inevitable in human society. What is important is the way and manner the challenges are transformed into strength and opportunities,’.
He stressed that, ’We need partnership not commoditization of education, yet they are asking for Government intervention. Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) must be in forefront for Nigeria to develop. Cutting edge research must be embarked upon to solve societal problem,’ he suggested.
He also recommended for a timely and periodic review of our curriculum in order to remain relevant while advocating for improved welfare and teachers and restoration of teachers glory, and I mean private universities were asking for government intervention, government has no business in business.
