Bolanle Akanji
Moderator
AGAINST the backdrop of the lingering strike by
the Academic Staff Union of Nigerian Universities
(ASUU), the attention of stakeholders has again
been drawn to the need for more investment in
the education sector.
“There is a linear correlation between
development and education. The most developed
countries in the world are the most educated
countries. If you invest in education, then you are
likely going to raise your per capital income and
become a global economy. You cannot be a global
economy if your education sector is poor.”
This was the submission of the Principal of Kings
College, Lagos, Dele Olapeju, during an exclusive
interview with The Guardian, last week.
Olapeju said: “Education should take priority,
rather than be a social amenity. If you build
bridges, you can point to your bridges. A
politician would not want to invest in education
because people will not see it. Meanwhile, people
see it.”
He said: “A university lecturer today is well paid,
because their jobs are being compared to blue-
chip companies and jobs. Tertiary teachers are
some of the best paid workers in the country.
They are even better paid than the bankers now.
There is job security for them. You don’t have the
fear of, say, rationalising the banks and throwing
away workers. That doesn’t occur in education.
He, however, noted: “For secondary schools,
there is still more government can do in terms of
remuneration of staff. Government should
encourage and pay them better too. It is not
about the basic salary; it is about the condition of
service - you don’t have a house or a car; there is
no provision for car loans and accommodation. A
lot of school leavers will like to remain
unemployed than go into teaching.”
Olateju revealed that the recent overhaul of the
old curriculum has made secondary school
education more relevant, stressing that the new
subjects are in tandem with the realities of
society.
He noted: “Every student that is leaving basic
education will have to go through pre-vocational
subjects, and the subjects comprise home
economics, agricultural science and social
studies. It is a good punch.
“At least when you leave basic school, you should
have what it takes to face vocational subjects for
the future. Most of the things that are imported
from China are not made by highbrow firms; they
are made by cottage industries. We have to get
back there and promote Technical and Vocational
Education and Training (TVET).”
the Academic Staff Union of Nigerian Universities
(ASUU), the attention of stakeholders has again
been drawn to the need for more investment in
the education sector.
“There is a linear correlation between
development and education. The most developed
countries in the world are the most educated
countries. If you invest in education, then you are
likely going to raise your per capital income and
become a global economy. You cannot be a global
economy if your education sector is poor.”
This was the submission of the Principal of Kings
College, Lagos, Dele Olapeju, during an exclusive
interview with The Guardian, last week.
Olapeju said: “Education should take priority,
rather than be a social amenity. If you build
bridges, you can point to your bridges. A
politician would not want to invest in education
because people will not see it. Meanwhile, people
see it.”
He said: “A university lecturer today is well paid,
because their jobs are being compared to blue-
chip companies and jobs. Tertiary teachers are
some of the best paid workers in the country.
They are even better paid than the bankers now.
There is job security for them. You don’t have the
fear of, say, rationalising the banks and throwing
away workers. That doesn’t occur in education.
He, however, noted: “For secondary schools,
there is still more government can do in terms of
remuneration of staff. Government should
encourage and pay them better too. It is not
about the basic salary; it is about the condition of
service - you don’t have a house or a car; there is
no provision for car loans and accommodation. A
lot of school leavers will like to remain
unemployed than go into teaching.”
Olateju revealed that the recent overhaul of the
old curriculum has made secondary school
education more relevant, stressing that the new
subjects are in tandem with the realities of
society.
He noted: “Every student that is leaving basic
education will have to go through pre-vocational
subjects, and the subjects comprise home
economics, agricultural science and social
studies. It is a good punch.
“At least when you leave basic school, you should
have what it takes to face vocational subjects for
the future. Most of the things that are imported
from China are not made by highbrow firms; they
are made by cottage industries. We have to get
back there and promote Technical and Vocational
Education and Training (TVET).”