By Suleiman Shehu
Ibadan – A Social Psychologist, Dr Olamakinde Olapegba, has advised government at all levels to increase funding to the education sector in order to remedy the falling standard.
Olapegba, an Associate Professor of Social Psychology, University of Ibadan, gave the advice on Wednesday in Ibadan at the valedictory and prize giving ceremony of Methodist High School organised by the 1987 alumni.
The don, who delivered a lecture during the ceremony, attributed decay in infrastructure and inadequate funding as some of the factors contributing to the failing standard of education in Nigeria.
The lecture had as topic: “Repositioning Secondary School Education in Oyo State.’’
He said that the sorry state of education in Nigeria and Oyo State in particular needed urgent attention of all stakeholders, including government, parents and well-meaning individuals.
“ Public education from primary to tertiary has become endangered in Nigeria today and unfortunately government at all levels is pretending as if all is right.
“Students in public schools can no longer compete with their counterparts in private schools due to the neglect of public schools by the authorities concerned.
“In the past, government was committed to funding of public schools, which was why students in public schools could compete favourably with their counterparts in the private school.
“ We need to go back to the drawing board and revive the public school education sector by addressing the challenges of infrastructure, teachers’ welfare, funding, training and provision of learning materials.
“We must be optimistic that the downward trend can be reversed as long as we are all ready to play our parts and rescue public secondary education from the abyss of failure and non-performance,’’ he said.
Earlier, Mr Idowu Abimbola, the school’s Principal, thanked the 1987 set of students for their contribution toward the success of the programme.
Abimbola advised the graduating students to work hard to succeed in life, noting that nothing in life comes easy.
Speaking on behalf of the old students, the Secretary of the 1987 set, Mr Moses Solanke, said they were not happy with the decaying infrastructure in the school and pledged the group’s support to restoring the glory of the school.
Solanke, who also decried the low enrolment of students in the school, said this was obvious with the number of classrooms that were locked up.
He said that the set would work together with the school management to facilitate better population enrolment in the school.
NAN reports that highlights of the event included cultural dance as well as presentation of awards and cash to outstanding students and staff.
Dignitaries at the occasion included Dr Ademola Idowu, Chairman of the Governing Board of the school, Mr Akinrinmade Fadeyemi, National President of the Old Boys Association and Rev. Olusoji Mewoyeka. (NAN)
