Douglas Blessing
National Association of Seadogs (NAS), Pyrates Confraternity has urged the Federal and State Governments to renew their commitment to providing quality education for all Nigerians as a matter of rights, and as a strategy of ensuring that every child reaches their full potential.
The Olympus Marino Deck of NAS in Port Harcourt, made this call, after donating training materials and books to primary schools in Degema local government area of the state, to commemorate this year’s International Day of Education.
Speaking at the event, Mr Iche Wordu, Capoon, Olympus Marino Deck, advised the government to invest in infrastructure, teacher training, and provision of educational materials, as well as addressing cultural attitudes and systemic barriers to education.
Wordu stressed that through cross sectoral synergies, increased policy emphasis, can Nigeria build a future in which every Nigerian has access to the opportunities that education provides.
He noted that government has sustained a low budget for the sector amidst strikes by teachers and other workers, inadequate and dilapidated infrastructures, insufficient research, shortage of skilled workforce, insecurity, brain drain, among other challenges bedevilling the sector.
According to the NAS leader in Port Harcourt, the dearth of education at the lower level continues despite the fact that the first nine years of education in Nigeria is compulsory and free by Nigeria’s UBE Act.
He listed the several policy inefficiencies responsible for Nigeria’s education outcomes to include; Access to Education, Inadequate Infrastructure, Low Quality of Education, Funding Shortages and Limited Opportunities for Girls.
Wordu explained: “A major obstacle to education in Nigeria is lack of access. Many rural communities lack adequate schools, while many schools in urban areas are overcrowded and under-resourced. As a result, many children, particularly those from marginalized communities, do not have access to education.
“Many schools in Nigeria lack basic facilities such as electricity, clean water, and toilets, making it difficult for children to learn effectively. In addition, classrooms are often overcrowded and poorly equipped, with limited access to instructional materials. These conditions create an environment that is not conducive to learning, and can have a negative impact on the quality of education.
“The quality of education in Nigeria is often low, with many teachers undertrained and lacking the necessary resources to provide effective instruction. This is compounded by the shortage of educational materials, including textbooks and instructional resources, as well as limited opportunities for professional development for teachers.
“The education sector in Nigeria is chronically underfunded, leading to inadequate resources for schools and teachers. The lack of funding affects not only the quality of education, but also access, as schools are unable to invest in new facilities or hire additional staff.
“Despite progress in recent years, girls in Nigeria still face significant barriers to education, including cultural attitudes and poverty. Many families do not see the value in educating girls, and prefer to invest in the education of boys. In addition, many girls face physical and cultural barriers to education, such as child marriage, early pregnancy, and gender-based violence”.
Wordu however, expressed believe that the listed example and call on the government will inspire policy makers at the state and national level to prioritize education for the overall benefit of Nigeria citizens.
