FG Decries Poor Policy Implementation In Education Sector

Federal government has lamented the ineffective implementation of policies in the nation’s education sector.

It said there was urgent need to ensure proper implementation of policies to raise the standards of education in the country.

The permanent secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, Mr Andrew Adejo, stated this at the 67th National Council on Education (NCE) meeting with the theme: ”Addressing the Challenges of Policy Implementation: A Panacea for the Achievement of Education 2030 Agenda” held in Ikeja area of Lagos State.

Adejo, who was represented by Mrs Obianuju Anigbogu, the director, Educational Planning, Research and Development (EPR&D), Federal Ministry of Education noted that the theme is apt in view of the fact that the policies are usually well-crafted, but are faced with ineffective implementation.

The permanent secretary said that the educational policies faced delay and lack of regular review to reflect national needs and aspirations, lack of consistent monitoring and evaluation to checkmate policy implementation.

”When policies that guide a nation are not implemented at the appropriate time the consequences are backwardness, under development, unemployment for graduates, poverty, insecurity, etc.

”However, in order to tackle the challenges of policy implementation all hands must be on deck,” Adejo said.

The permanent secretary hoped other states would also emulate such budgetary examples for the good of the nation.

”It is not enough to have adequate funds to show positive improvement in our education sector, we must all commit to put in our best to ensure that programmes are delivered appropriately to reach the desired beneficiaries,’’ he said.

‘To make policies more concrete and valuable, policy implementers; curriculum planners; curriculum developers and policy-makers must imbibe realistic policies that the country’s education makes them less dependent on others for survival by analysing reliable factors that obstruct or accelerate the implementation process.’’

Also speaking, Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State said that the NCE was a major stakeholders’ forum designed to brainstorm and collectively articulate ideas, towards improving education service delivery of the country.

Sanwo-Olu, who was represented by Mr Jamiu Alli-Balogun, the Lagos State Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education charged educators in the education sector to ensure they turn out graduates that are fit for the labour market.