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| Prof Edun |
Increased education budget panacea
for underdevelopment -Don
for underdevelopment -Don
By
Abdulsalam Mahmud
Abdulsalam Mahmud
For Nigeria to permanently address
its lingering socio-economic challenges and underdevelopment, there is need for
the federal government to jack up the budgetary allocation accruing to the
education sector by over 20 per cent, says Professor Taiwo Edun. He stressed
that FG should strive to increase education budget yearly.
its lingering socio-economic challenges and underdevelopment, there is need for
the federal government to jack up the budgetary allocation accruing to the
education sector by over 20 per cent, says Professor Taiwo Edun. He stressed
that FG should strive to increase education budget yearly.
Edun, a professor of Sociology of
Education at the Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Ago-Iwoye, Ogun state,
stated this while delivering a paper at the Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida
University, Lapai (IBBUL), in Niger state.
Education at the Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Ago-Iwoye, Ogun state,
stated this while delivering a paper at the Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida
University, Lapai (IBBUL), in Niger state.
It was at the Fourth National
Conference of Faculty of Education and Arts, themed: “The Issues of Access, Quality and Equity in Nigerian Education
System”.
Conference of Faculty of Education and Arts, themed: “The Issues of Access, Quality and Equity in Nigerian Education
System”.
Edun lamented that Nigeria had been
identified to have the highest rate of out-of-school children in the world,
saying that in July 2019, the figure was put at over sixteen million.
identified to have the highest rate of out-of-school children in the world,
saying that in July 2019, the figure was put at over sixteen million.
He maintained that unless urgent and
deliberate steps are taken by relevant stakeholders to salvage the situation,
the future of Nigeria’s educational system will forever remain bleak.
deliberate steps are taken by relevant stakeholders to salvage the situation,
the future of Nigeria’s educational system will forever remain bleak.
The OOU don, advocated a fair
distribution of the nation’s resources in order to address the problem of
social inequality, and to enable the children of majority of poor citizens have
access to quality education.
distribution of the nation’s resources in order to address the problem of
social inequality, and to enable the children of majority of poor citizens have
access to quality education.
Declaring the conference open, the
Vice Chancellor who spoke through the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (DVC, Academic),
Professor Saba Mohammed, decried the appalling decay in the education sector,
amidst laudable recommendations that had been offered by seasoned
educationists, relevant stakeholders and key experts, in times past.
Vice Chancellor who spoke through the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (DVC, Academic),
Professor Saba Mohammed, decried the appalling decay in the education sector,
amidst laudable recommendations that had been offered by seasoned
educationists, relevant stakeholders and key experts, in times past.
He commended the Faculty of Education
and Arts for organising a national conference on a relevant topic that brought
to fore some fundamental issues which could help develop the country’s
educational system.
and Arts for organising a national conference on a relevant topic that brought
to fore some fundamental issues which could help develop the country’s
educational system.
“I charge the conference’s
participants and eminent speakers to come up with vital recommendations that
would help reposition our moribund educational system,” Professor Maiturare
said.
participants and eminent speakers to come up with vital recommendations that
would help reposition our moribund educational system,” Professor Maiturare
said.
Speaking earlier, the Dean, Faculty
of Education and Arts, Dr Salahu Muhammad Lawal, and the chairman, Local
Organising Committee (LOC) of the conference, Professor George Eweniyi,
welcomed the participants to the auspicious event, expressing appreciation for
the unwavering support received from the school management, which greatly
facilitated the successful hosting of the conference.
of Education and Arts, Dr Salahu Muhammad Lawal, and the chairman, Local
Organising Committee (LOC) of the conference, Professor George Eweniyi,
welcomed the participants to the auspicious event, expressing appreciation for
the unwavering support received from the school management, which greatly
facilitated the successful hosting of the conference.