On May 29, 2023 when the baton of leadership was gracefully passed from the hands of the former president Muhammadu Buhari to Bola Ahmed Tinubu, it marked not just a transition in power but with high hopes and soaring expectations, for the education sector.
Buhari’s promise to revitalise the education sector during his tenure failed to manifest as Nigeria’s education system was characterised by low budgetary allocations, attacks on schools, incessant strikes where students spent most of their time roaming the streets rather than in the classrooms, amongst others.
However, in the tapestry of the year, the thread of leadership wove a narrative of duality, as two distinct forces navigated the helm of affairs in the sector. The year unfolded in shades of contrast, marked by the divergent approaches and strategies employed by the dual leaderships of former president Buhari and the present president Tinubu.
With the changing of the guard in May, a new chapter unfolded in the realm of Nigeria’s education.
LEADERSHIP therefore, unravel the story of a year divided, reflecting on the journey and assessing the triumphs, pitfalls, and transformative moments that have shaped the educational landscape in 2023.
The Inauguration of Tinubu as the 16th president brought with it a renewed sense of hope, a beacon of illuminating the path towards transformative possibilities in the educational landscape.
However, the intertwined challenges of underfunding, soaring tuition fees in Universities, and a rising number of out-of-school children form a formidable barrier to the progress of education.
In this exploration, we delve into the confluence of financial hurdles and the growing out of school children, shedding light on how these issues collectively cast a formidable shadow on the prospects of learning in the past year.
Challenges Underfunding
The federal government allocated 8.2% of its 2023 budget to education, up from 5.4% in 2022. The 2023 allocation to the sector was an increase from that of last year’s budget which gave education N923.79 billion representing 5.4 per cent of the N17.13 trillion budget but it failed to meet half of UNESCO’s recommendation.
High tuition fees
As students embark on the pursuit of higher education, a looming concern casts a shadow over their academic journey in 2023, the escalating specter of high tuition fees in Universities, especially the public ones.
The essence of public schools is for its affordability, but a lot of people cannot afford to pay for these schools and end up being drop outs.
Even though the federal government insisted that government-owned universities remain tuition-free, it is gathered many Nigerian universities owned by the federal government have, in the past few months, increased fees to be paid by students to over 100 percent, leaving parents and their wards groaning.
Out of school children
Globally, children are entitled to free and quality basic education, yet the number of out-of-school children in the country is on the rise. According to the World Bank, Nigeria, in 2022, had about 20 million out-of-school children between ages six and 15. This figure represents one in 12 of all out-of-school children globally, and 22 per cent of all children in the age group in Nigeria.
Out-of-school children in Nigeria, according to the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), include girl-child in northern Nigeria, boy-child dropouts in the south-south and south-east regions, internally displaced children and the Almajiri Quranic and itinerant children, who are predominantly found in northern part of the country.
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Governmental Responses
In the ever-evolving landscape of education, the government is responding with strategic measures to confront and overcome the myriad challenges that weave through the fabric of learning.
LEADERSHIP examined the proactive responses that aim to carve a path towards a more inclusive, accessible, and robust education system.
Students loan
On June 12, 2023, President Bola Tinubu signed the Student Loan (Access to Higher Education) Bill into law. Although the loan received backlashes, Tinubu said it would go live in January 2024.
“By January 2024, the new Students Loan Programme must commence. To the future of our children and students we’re saying no more strikes,” Tinubu said when he declared open the 29th session of the annual Nigeria Economic Summit.
Removal of IPPIS
To curb the incessant strike in Universities and other Unions, the government recently approved the exemption of universities, polytechnics, colleges of education and other tertiary institutions of learning from the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System.
It said, henceforth, remunerations to staff members of these institutions would no longer flow through the platform.
Reintroduction of school feeding programme
As part of efforts to tackle the out of school children’s phenomenon, President Tinubu has ordered immediate reintroduction of school feeding with the implementation now to cover the entire basic education in Nigeria.
The directive came as the Federal Government has revealed a plan to return 15 million out-of-school children to the classrooms by the year 2027.
The last administration of President Muhammadu Buhari had introduced the school feeding programme to provide a meal for children in primary schools from classes 1-3.
Experts react
Meanwhile, leading experts and some parents have advocated for a concerted governmental effort in 2024 to effectively address the pressing challenges confronting the education sector.
Their collective call emphasised the critical need for proactive measures and strategic interventions to steer education towards a more resilient and inclusive future, implementing the policies rather than mere discussion.
A parent, Uge Ben, whose child is studying Microbiology at University of Abuja underscored the urgency of addressing the rise in school fees, urging policymakers to prioritise the financial well-being of students pursuing academic excellence.
“It is imperative for the government to address the alarming hike in school fees within universities. Fostering accessible and affordable higher education is not just a duty but a cornerstone for societal progress.
“The wave of the increase, if it continues, I’m sure most parents cannot afford to sponsor their kids. I think this is one area that Mr. President should give more attention to,” he said.
Also speaking, an educationist, Isaac Moji urged the government to work towards eradicating the growing number of out of school children in the country.
He said the consequences of neglecting this responsibility are far-reaching, hindering both individual growth and societal progress.”
“I believe that addressing the issue of out-of-school children is not just a moral imperative but a strategic investment in our collective future. As an educationist, I assert that we must prioritise initiatives that ensure every child has the opportunity to access quality education in Nigeria,” he said.
