From Noah Ocheni, Lokoja
The Managing Director and Proprietor of YABMA International Science Academy (YISA), Alhaji Yakubu Yunusa, on Thursday in Lokoja called on governments at all levels to increase budgetary provision for the educational sector to improve Nigeria’s economy.
Alhaji Yunusa, who made the call during an interview with newsmen in Lokoja, attributed the low standard of education in the country to low allocation of funds to the sector by states and the Federal Government.
Alhaji Yunusa, who is the former majority Leader in the state’s House of Assembly, described education as the engine room of any nation saying “once the sector is affected, every other sector and the economy of the nation will definitely be affected.”
The Managing Director stressed that private schools proprietors are only playing a complementary role in the nation’s educational development, adding that the government remains the bedrock of the sustainable qualitative education in the country.
On the level of preparedness of students towards the West African Examination Council (WAEC), the proprietor said his students were well prepared in the face of COVID- 19 pandemic.
“The management was able to achieve this through a single platform for teaching and none teaching staff and online tutorials. As the examination is ongoing, all the NCDC guidelines are being strictly adhered to by the students and the school authority,” he said.
He noted that the outbreak of the Covid-19 has affected the country, with each state developing its strategy at mitigating the pandemic, saying the proactive measures taken by the Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State in containing the spread of the virus is commendable.
The proprietor stated that stakeholders in the private education sector have been brainstorming since the outbreak to keep their premises and students safe, adding that Yabma International Science Academy has substantially complied with the NCDC protocols for the school’s resumption.
On measures to curb examination malpractices, Alhaji Yunusa said: “it is only when you have unprepared students that you doubt their capability. YABMA Academy scored 99 percent in both WAEC and NECO last year and this year will not be an exception despite the pandemic.”
