The Federal College of Education, Akoka, Lagos has called on Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu to implement the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation’s (UNESCO’s) recommendations in the state’s Education Sector.
Dr Wahab Azeez, the College Provost, in an interview in Lagos on Monday said that implementation of the recommendations in public schools would improve the present standard of schools.
UNESCO had recommended that developing nations give up to 25 per cent of their annual budget to public education.
Azeez identified public primary and secondary schools as areas that needed to be prioritised being the foundation of education, ahead of tertiary institutions.
“Lagos State, after so many years of implementing its strategic development plan, is yet to realise the UNESCO recommendation on Education.
“Research carried out by Maroon Square in 2021 has shown that the state’s performance has improved in certain indicators but changed little in others.
“Key among these indicators are access to education, availability, suitability of education infrastructure, facilities, materials, the quality of teaching staff and the levels and efficiency of education financing,” he noted.
The FCE (Technical) provost said that “it was not yet Uhuru”, as there were so many areas in the sector to be covered.
He said that Education was very key to development, but a lot needed to be done in the sector by the state government.
He added that a tour of public schools in Lagos would supply answers.
Azeez recommended that the state increase its budgetary allocation to the education sector, adding that utilisation of the increased funds should also be seriously monitored to get the desired results.
“The standard set for private nursery, primary and secondary schools must be seen to be met, especially, in the area of qualified teachers.
Similarly, Mr Adeolu Ogunbanjo, Deputy National President, National Parent-Teachers Association of Nigeria (NAPTAN), said that Gov. Sanwo-Olu had scored a pass mark in his 100 days in office.
Ogunbanjo said that it was commendable that in spite of the governor’s yet-to-be-inaugurated cabinet within the period, schools’ academic calendar were still being observed.
He noted that Sanwo-Olu had done well in the area of teachers’ empowerment, recognition and reward, having appreciated outstanding teachers, and constructed infrastructure which had added value to the sector.
“Gov. Sanwo-Olu has done well, at least he has not given us reason to condemn his administration since he assumed office for his second term.
“However, there is still room for improvement,” the NAPTAN boss said.
He called on the Lagos State governor to give priority to recruitment and retraining of teachers, particularly for English, Mathematics and core Science subjects.
According to him, these steps will go a long way to boost the general activities of the sector, as people gladly enroll their children in public schools.
