THE EDUCATION SECTOR Frankly speaking most times I abhor the aspect of leadership that makes it look like buying a business, you buy both the assets and liabilities, the same thing in taking over from predecessors, you take over the gains, losses and mistakes because as they say, government is a continuum. Hence OBJ had to forfeit Bakassi even where the people are still sulking and suffering till date. Today, when the press has to talk on who forfeited Bakassi, they mention OBJ, forgetting that somebody long, long before him created the problem. The defense of that action is said to have been for our unity. Was there no way a temporary release of the area could have helped us? Other than these outright sell out, of the destiny of a people. The education sector is today in shambles because of what IBB did by allowing the very 1st long strike. A strike that made Attahiru Jega, the most celebrated ASUU Chairman, and positioned him for the position he now occupies as INEC Chairman. Unfortunately for the nation, we are the grasses that suffered and are still suffering many years after that military rule. They whose desire is always to clamour for military rule should see examples that should never allow us tolerate the thought of military rule. The only genuine military rule this country would have had, would have been that of Kaduna Nzeogwu. If only disgruntled elements that originally were comfortable with earning their income as professional military men were not compelled into a vision they originally knew nothing about. Despite how young I may have been, history books confirmed the fact that Gen. Muritala’s administration and the Buhari/Idiagbon’s administration would have turned around the nation for good. With the way the country has become monetized you can not wish for anybody to become soul decision maker of a huge polity as ours. This is why I am a strong advocate of democracy anytime any day. For over 30 years, we wasted on military rule of impunity; we would have evolved from all the stages of political intrigues that we are now facing. Rather than my people to appreciate the fact that evolution takes time and process, most of us are looking for a short cut that will still lead us to start counting all over again. Most times I do not envy President Goodluck, being the very first true civilian to rule us as a nation. He is just cutting the teeth of future true civilians that will lead this nation in the future. Faced with his fellow true civilians in the opposition who are aware that despite their political differences there is a limit to which he can try to destroy you, unlike a military turned President that bask in the saying that “once a soldier is always a soldier” even consciously and unconsciously they also bask in the euphoria that once a boss is always a boss. In effect as opposed to the true civilian, militarily breed leaders are revered because of their undertone ability to do and undo both in military and civilian circles. President Goodluck without being told is between daring civilians, intimidating military men and an unpredictable spouse. The good book says we should pray for our leaders, in his case, I believe he needs so much. To prove that Nigerians can not be pleased, people are making a ridicule of his trip to Israel (an act he could have undergone as a simple citizen without anybody throwing an eye brow). How does all I have said so far, relate to education? Well I will tell you, I attended State Primary School, State Secondary (although formerly under the missionary) and State University. In my growing days there were a handful of private schools because we all compared favourably with one another. The early owners of private schools were retired educationist that endeared themselves to children and parents alike. But the Nigerian Machiavellian spirit seems to have taken over like in the power sector where generator sellers and petroleum product distributors have refused to allow us get 24 hours light in connivance with those in power whose greed will never allow them let all the good formulated policies come to materialization. I guess I am not sure but the more strikes teachers and lecturers alike were embarking on, the more private schools were getting stronger springing forth. Although most of them hide under government inability to provide enough schools; the truth remains that they are making stupendous wealth. I call it stupendous because I was privileged to have my wife search for job in one of such private schools. She was offered N20,000 as salary in this present age? By the time we calculated her supposed expenditure. She will be in deficit every month, we jettisoned the job. But what struck me is the fact that she mentioned that the teachers there, looked okay. To me, with N20,000 as income, for teachers to look good, means that parents were being compelled to part with tips. In effect a child whose parent cannot give good tips to the teachers will not get adequate attention. Without adequate attention on the children, no proper understanding of what is being thought by the teachers. And you will ask, what happens to the exorbitant school fees being paid by parents? On the other hand, parents out of unwarranted competition; buy grades and exam question papers on behalf of their children. Just like lecturers sleep with Female students or get paid to give grades to students. Who do not deserve it. Grants meant for certain projects in universities are either mismanaged or stolen. In essence every one of us has a part to play concerning the failure of the educational system. Hence I hate it when political parties in the opposition make all these look like a President Jonathan creation. The teachers (most) in public schools are given to buying and selling even in front of their pupils/students. Administrators who should make them sit up, are pursuing promotions. When you get an administrator that does his/her job, the staff like in PHCN and Aviation fight such persons to the point of frustrating them out of the system. The military bastardized our education by paying lip service to it, it will be fair, if we can allow democracy take it steps at correcting this.
Posted on: Wed, 06 Nov 2013 10:27:03 +0000
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