By Felix Khanoba
The Nigerian Academy of Education (NAE) on Wednesday urged President Bola Tinubu to declare a state of emergency in the education sector to comprehensively address systemic decay and deterioration.
The Academy further recommended that the Federal Government cease operating secondary schools and transfer all 115 Federal Government Colleges to state authorities under strict conditions.
NAE President, Professor Kabiru Isyaku, highlighted these concerns in his welcome speech at the 38th Annual Congress, held in Abuja from November 5th to 8th, themed “Nigerian Education System: Past, Present & Future.”
The congress also inducted 26 new members and elevated three members to Fellowship status. The Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) was honored by the Academy for his significant contributions to educational development in Nigeria.
Expressing concern about the state of education, Isyaku argued that declaring an emergency is crucial as the sector’s decline impacts all areas of the national economy. He noted that the National Policy on Education was last reviewed over a decade ago, emphasizing that an emergency declaration would enable the government to assemble experts to address critical issues, including the status of education in the Constitution, structural organization, funding, and curriculum relevance.
Isyaku stressed that evaluation and certification should be thoroughly addressed to encompass all educational levels and involve all stakeholders—Local, State, Federal Governments, employers, religious entities, and development partners—as education is a shared responsibility.
Observing a lack of cooperation between the Federal and State Governments in fostering education’s development, he called for better remuneration for educational personnel and timely payment of salaries and entitlements.
He criticized the Federal Government’s direct management of primary and secondary schools, calling it an “aberration” and noting that this practice is rare globally. “The Federal Government, at this stage of the country’s development, should not directly run secondary schools. Instead, FGN should only be in charge of Policy and Quality Assurance. Thus, all Federal Government Colleges should be devolved to the states with comprehensive conditions,” he said.
The NAE also condemned the unchecked establishment of new educational institutions by Federal and State Governments, recommending a halt on new institutions until existing ones are fully equipped and staffed in compliance with regulatory standards.
Keynote speaker Prof. Alhas Maicibi Nok, from Nasarawa State University, Keffi, highlighted corruption in the management of educational institutions, stating that while education funding is insufficient, the main issue lies in the misappropriation of allocated resources.
Nok raised questions about the integrity of individuals appointed to head educational institutions, noting that Vice-chancellor appointments often involve nepotism and personal interests. Addressing the declining quality of teaching, he noted a trend where teachers focus on preparing students for exams rather than imparting knowledge, resulting in corrupt practices like students buying grades with money or sex in exchange for marks.
