Lagos – Two educationists on Tuesday called for incentives to encourage more students to go into the teaching profession.
They made the call in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.
In his comments, Mr Oladele Olapeju, the immediate past Principal, King’s College, Lagos, said that more incentives should be put in place to encourage more people to study education and make teaching a profession..
“There is no way Nigeria can get it right, especially at the basic level, if teachers were not given due attention.
“Government should find a way of encouraging students to go into education as a career by putting in place necessary incentives.
“This will attract a lot of students to the sector.
“I remember that in our days in the university, we were given incentives as a way of encouraging us and indeed, we gave our best,’’ he said.
Olapeju said that education at the basic level is currently not what it is supposed to be today due to low level of teachers’ production.
He said that this was responsible for poor quality of graduates being turned out annually from the nation’s tertiary institutions.
“Today, our education at the basic level is not what it is expected to be, considering a lot of factors.
“We must not forget that education at that level is the core foundation and, therefore, must ensure that it is solid.
“As a result, emphasis must be placed on all the critical components, including teachers, curriculum and others, as it applies to standard best practices.
[pro_ad_display_adzone id=”70560″]
Also, Mr Daniel Uwaezuoke, a former director, Basic and Secondary Education, Federal Ministry of Education, blamed the situation on lack of commitment on the side of state governments.
According to him, most states are paying lip service to their responsibilities on basic education.
He said that poor infrastructure was a bane in the development of education at the basic level in most states.
“I think the states should also rise up to their responsibilities of putting this sector on good path.
“Most states do not have right the infrastructure in place and they are not doing anything about it.
“The right teachers are not there and nothing is being done in the area of teachers’ training; there is just no commitment,’’ he said.
Uwaezuoke urged the Federal Government to put effective machinery in place to ensure that funds meant for the development of basic education were judiciously utilised.
He also urged the government to review those issues associated with states assessing the two per cent consolidated statutory Universal Basic Education Fund (UBEC). (NAN)
