The pronouncement of free and compulsory education in a state gladdens a lot of hearts; the parents whom have been relieved of the financial burdens, the child whom might have lost the hope of getting an education, the principal at the prospect of getting more students and the financial implications; more admission fees, uniform fees, computer levies et al.
Many would rejoice at this pronouncement and hail the Governor as the “People’s Governor” of cause, they would have legitimate reasons to rejoice, cause any way one looks at the scenario, it appears to be a win win for all parties. The Governor not truly bothered about quality but more concerned about political imaging, sells his image, the principal willing to admit over his carrying capacity to maximize profit, maybe he does this to be able to afford the private school his wards go to, who knows?
Personally I can’t decide which I find more alarming; the neglect of quality in search of quantity or the gradual degradation of public education system. Public educational system has become so eroded that one can only but weep, schools has gradually become a dumping ground for the wives of the affluent in the state, who then makes herself a white elephant appearing only on special occasions; school resumption, examinations, and any other day she feels bored.
Corp members are then used to impact the knowledge with little training and zero supervision to the kids. I’m not trying to castigate free education.
No, I can’t, but few state governments really take the quality into consideration while making this pronouncement. Take the case of Kaduna where the Governor declared free education and free meals, while the students as at that time sit on the floor to learn, this is far from conducive or the case of Akwa Ibom where the average number of students in a class is 100, a class with a carrying capacity of less than 50, Principals admitting every term, without recourse to best practices
One must never look down on quality, you can’t pour water in a good wine to make it last longer, free education is a good and commendable practice, but the government of each state that intends to run this must take out time and really work out the cost!
Equip students today to be a solution rather than a problem, set up a plan that works, that way you would raise problem solvers which I believe is the main aim of the scheme.
– Piece Written By Agalamanyi Esomchi
