Education: Ex-WAEC boss, other stakeholders score Tinubu high

Mr Patrick Areghan, immediate past Head of National Office, West African Examinations Council (WAEC), says the current administration has shown commitment to education development through improved budgetary allocation.

Areghan made his view known in an interview with our correspondent on Wednesday in Lagos.

The former WAEC boss assessed the performance of the current administration on education, as it marks one year anniversary.

According to him, President Bola Tinubu’s administration has done better than past governments in the area of budgetary allocation to the education sector.

He said that the development was a pointer to greater things to come.

“Recall that, in 2022, the budgetary allocation for the education sector was 7.2 per cent. In 2023, it was 8.8 per cent, and in this 2024, it is 7.9 per cent.

“The 2024 allocation is higher than that of 2023, though the percentage, compared with that of 2023, is lower.

“Breaking it down further, we had an approved budget of N 21.83 trillion in 2023 and N27.5 trillion in 2024,” he said.

Areghan, however, said that although that was commendable, a lot still needed to be done.

“The 2023 and 2024 figures under the current dispensation are still far below the UNESCO-recommended 15 per cent to 20 per cent benchmark.

“Again, this fluctuation should stop. There should be a steady and consistent upward review,” he said.

Commending the current administration further, he said that the newly-introduced Student Loan Scheme was a step in the right direction.

He noted that the initiative aimed at increasing access to education by assisting indigent students to take care of their tuitions and associated expenses in tertiary institutions.

Areghan further applauded the current administration’s efforts in ensuring a stable academic calendar, after COVID-19 era.
He added that strikes had not been rampant in the last one year.

He hoped this would be maintained.

He also said that there had been increased access to education through establishment of more tertiary institutions.

He, however, said that establishment of the institutions had its negative side.

Areghan lauded efforts of the country’s test bodies, WAEC, NECO, NABTEB and JAMB for continuous improvement in the area of assessment ‘under supportive Federal Ministry of Education’.

He, however, said that there was need for the current administration to do more in funding both secondary and tertiary education institutions.

“The current administration must also strive to brace up in the area of infrastructure provision in schools.

“Infrastructure and other learning materials in many schools across the country are poor, and this is affecting learning outcomes.

“Again, there is an urgent need to revise the moribund academic curricular for secondary and tertiary institutions to bring about practical, relevant and realisable objectives.

“Government must also do more in tackling increase in the number out-of-school children,” he said.

The ex-WAEC boss said that UNESCO eestimated he number to be about 20 million.

“Many children have been kidnapped and taken away to unknown destinations. Therefore, safety is not guaranteed.

“This further reduces the number of children in schools, especially secondary schools,” he said.

He listed other issues to be tackled by the Federal Government to include those bothering on agitations by the Academic Staff Union of Universities over non-implementation of an agreement it entered into with the government.

According to him, this has often led to warning strikes that have disrupted academic activities.

“This development has led to the ‘Japa syndrome’ by not only students but by lecturers also,” he said.

Areghan said that for governments and other stakeholders to give the education sector its pride of place, there must be a sincerity of purpose and total commitment.

He also called for recruitment of qualified teachers, improvement in teacher-student ratio, and provision of more incentives to teachers.

On her part, Prof. Bidemi Lafiaji-Okuneye, Vice-Chancellor, Lagos State University of Education, lauded the Federal Government for successes it recorded in the last one year on education.

According to her, there has been reformation of the education system at both federal and state levels.

She also said that there had been increase in budgetary allocation the education sector.

“Gradually, the effects will be seen.

“The student loan scheme is also a plus for the current administration.

“For Lagos State Government, in terms of education, Gov. Babajide Sanwo-olu has passionately invested in the system, and there is an impact on our university.

“The improvement and investment in the sector has helped us to make sure that all students experience conducive learning environment and enjoy good academic activities without any interruption,” she said.

Lafiaji-Okuneye said that Nigerians needed to come to terms with changes and be part of the changes.

Mr Sunday Fowowe, President, Association of Nursery and Primary Education Instructors in Nigeria, said that both the federal and state governments would need to implement policies and programmes to boost the country’s Gross Gomestic Product (GDP).

He advised that the policies should be implemented in time to revitalise the education sector.

He said that construction of new schools, training of teachers and investment in educational technology will improve access to quality education.

“Implementation of policies that will lead to a significant boost in Nigeria’s GDP, fostering economic stability and growth, is very important.