Guardian

WITH political and security issues currently dominating activities at the federal level, concerned Nigerians have made a passionate appeal to both the federal and state governments not to toy with children’s education.

Already, the three states of Adamawa, Bornu and Yobe State are under emergency rule, escalating the number of children out of school. The Boko Haram insurgency across many northern states has resulted in the destruction of many schools especially in Bornu, due to the sect’s disdain for western education. None of the states under emergency rule has announced any alternative plans for children who have either lost their schools or are forced to stay at home due to the security situation.

According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Education’s (UNESCO) 2012 Global Monitoring Report (GMR), 61 million children of primary school age were out of school worldwide in 2010, much of which was attributed to sub-Saharan Africa, where the number of out-of-school children has risen from 29 million in 2008 to 31 million in 2010.

“Sub-Saharan Africa accounts for half of all out-of-school children worldwide and has the highest rate of all regions,” the report declared, adding, “Nigeria alone was home to 10.5 million out-of-school children, 3.6 million more than in 2000 or 42 percent of its primary school age population.”

Although, the federal government launched the Universal Basic Education (UBE) programme in 1999 in Sokoto state, much of the envisaged achievements are not being realized due to the unserious attitude of several state governments. Some of them have been accused of diverting UBE funds for political purposes. Just last week, the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) gave a strike notice in several states where the minimum wage that the Governors’ Forum had agreed to implement, is not being paid to teachers.

However, some stakeholders who spoke with The Guardian are insisting that the strategic position of education in nation building cannot be over-emphasized “as no nation aspiring to make progress should take its education sector for granted.

In Lagos state, the children were particularly excited by the presence of the governor, Mr Babatunde Fashola at the children day celebration held at the police college, Ikeja onMonday.

Shadekop Adejuwon who spoke on behalf of the over  five million children in Lagos state, lauded the governor for continously seeking ways to improve the standard of education especially in the public school system.

He said: “Just last week, the governor brought in experts from across the world to discuss and share ideas on best practices and how the standard of education can be raised. We are grateful for the opportunity of free education, free books and improved facilities in the public school system.”

Making a pledge on behalf of the children to study hard and pass their examination to justify the state government’s investment, he appealed to parents to also support the state government’s effort by checking their wards’ books, instill discipline in them and attend parents’ forum.

Also, Mr Patrick Ewerem who runs an Non Governmental Organisation (NGO), the Association for Eradication of Corruption in Nigerians (ASSERCORN) expressed disapointment over the fact that government makes promises to children and the refuse to fulfil them.

“It is sad that funds allocated for educational projects are never utilized and this is because of coruption. Parents and teachers should stand up and fight for the rights of children. Today should be a starting point for governments at state and federal level to implement projects and policies that concern children especially education wise,” he said.

Another teacher, Mrs Adedokun Yomi regretted that government and other stakeholders only pay lip service to what children’s day is all about. She said: “A lot of children in Nigeria are  unhappy. After today’s merriment, a lot of them would go home and have no food to eat and their environment is not even conducive to live. A lot of parents don’t have jobs or anything to sustain their family, so how can they care for their children.”

A Civil servant with Lagos State Government Mr. Bolaji Bolarin, said the Children’s Day is an opportunity for Nigerians “to examine our roles towards the children over the years and seek better ways of influencing them positively.” Bolarin also advised parents at policy making level to champion policies that would meaningfully affect the lives of Nigerian children.

A staff of Lagos State Internal Revenue Service (LIRS), who identified Mrs. Deji, challenged government to sanction parents who allow their children hawk or do other menial labour during school hours. She regretted that children’s right are being relegated to the background, despite that they are the most vulnerable group.

She said, “Children’s Day represents a period when we appreciate children and even we parents have nostalgic feelings of what it means to be a child. We look at their innocence, the need for their learning and their right to be respected. In Africa generally, we don’t believe that children should have a voice and that is wrong. There is need for the nation to know what these children are exposed to especially the underprivileged children; how they are abused by other people on daily basis and government should fashion out strict measures against parents or guidians who imposes forced labour on children.

From Uyo, the Akwa Ibom state capital, a parent, Mrs. Ekonobong NdaNda charged the federal government to upgrade the standard of education in public schools and tackle the issue of child trafficking. Her words: “Government should step into public schools and upgrade the standard. Children in public schools should not be behind their colleagues attending private schools. The issue of using children as housemaids should be scrapped. Government should tackle the problems facing teachers in public schools, their salaries should be paid timely to motivate them.”

Twelve-year-old Tolulope Oyetade said both the federal and state governments should rehabilitate street children and build more schools, adding that education should be made free and compulsory for children whose parents cannot afford to pay.

“I want the government to build more schools, take children off the street and provide shelter for them because some children don’t have homes.  I want the government to build recreation centres where children can have fun,” she said.

Mr. Ige Sam, a parent in Akwa Ibom state, advised the government to fortify the teachers by providing them with opportunities to acquire knowledge, especially in information technology. Lamenting the high rate of moral decadence in the society, he urged parents to emphasize more on sustainable moral disposition, “which is the bedrock of all values.”

His added: “It is unarguable that the level of education in the country is watery. Corruption has eroded the fabric of everything we hold dear, so there is a need for our leaders to have a rethink before the system degenerates into total collapse.”

Mr. Ayo Ojuawo, an engineer, was more concerned about the state of facilities in public schools. He implored the respective governments to upgrade educational standard in public schools under their control, “so that pupils in the public school system would be taught with the same standard like their counterparts in private schools.”

A Pastor, Mr. Solomon Adeleye, described as unfortunate a situation whereby some local councils cannot boast of a school. He suggesting that schools should be built the councils where there is none across the country, to discourage the practice where young children have trek long distances to attend schools in other communities.

In Rivers state, renowned writers, Dr. Elechi Amadi, Pa Gabriel Okara, and Uzo Nwamara joined other parents to draw attention to what they described as the escalating examination malpractices and failure rate among students across the country.

This is coming as the Total Exploration and Production Nigeria Limited (TEPENG) donated over 100 books each to about 10 secondary schools in the state, with the aim of enhancing the reading culture and promoting education in the country. Deputy Managing Director, Port Harcourt District of Total E and P, Mr. Nicholas Brunet, who donated the books during the 2013 Book Reading and Book Donation ceremony organized by the company, said the firm has an enviable record of corporate social responsibility initiative, with a vision of enhancing education. Brunet, who was represented by the Executive General Manager, Administration, Mr. Peter Igbinovia, said education constitutes a key area in its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) agenda, as the company is committed in partnering with its host communities by initiating sustainable development programmes.

Amadi, who attributed his success to his ability to note words while reading and researching, ascribed the deteriorating academic situation to lack of constant reading by students. He advised students to always have extra exercise books with the aim of taking notes during personal studies.

However, Nwamara blamed the teachers for “the deteriorating standard of education in the country,” alleging that they have formed the habit of collecting bribes from students and their parents during examination periods, and allowing all forms of examination malpractice.

He said: “I am disappointed with the habit of the teachers we have today. They are not doing the right thing by teaching the students well. Rather, they wait to collect money from them during examination periods”.

The Chairman of the All Nigeria Conference of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS) in the state, Dr. Augusta Fubara has appealed to the state government to build and equip more libraries across the state, affirming that such move would help children from poor homes to grow academically.

Some parents told The Guardian that some school teachers and examination supervisors compel them to pay amounts ranging from N1, 000 to N2, 000 before allowing their wards write examinations.

A student, Miss Agnes Ugbo from Government Secondary School, Orominieke Port Harcourt, told The Guardian that apart the bribe saga during examination periods, the advent of the social media has further distracted many students from studying.

Meanwhile, the Rivers State Commissioner for Youth Development, Mr. Owene Wonodi, who expressed regret over the ugly development, also disclosed that the state government has commenced plans to give out laptops, tablets and IPods with all reading materials needed for schooling installed, to secondary school students by September this year.

She also announced that the state government plans to build more libraries in various parts of the state, to further raise the status of Port Harcourt academically, since it was declared the 2014 UNESCO Book Capital.