Expert Decries Localisation of Nigeria Educational System
Prof Umaru Pate, the Vice Chancellor, Federal University, Kashere in Gombe state has lamented how educational system has been localised in Nigeria.
Pate made the assertion in Bauchi on Saturday, while he was delivering a pre-convocation lecture titled “Education and Nigeria’s National Integration in the Digital Age, Matters arising”, at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi.
According to him, the localisation and provincialization of educational system nowadays have posed a threat to the various policies previously made to promote education and national integration in the country.
He said that Nigeria’s policies emphasise and promote unity among the diverse ethnic groups and religions so that young people could appreciate the essence of pluralism to the nation.
The professor explained that citation of institutions, admissions, curricular, the West Africa Examination Council, the National Youth Service Corps, JAMB among others have encouraged young Nigerians to grow together, suffer and to learn together.
He however said “I have tried to come up with some factors which I feel are dangerously, slowly and gradually undermining the basis of integration and unity in our education.
“And if we are not united at the level of education as we grow up, by the time we reach maturity and enter into the elite circles in this country, then the distance between the various part of the country will also continue to enlarge.
“Gradually, we have localised our educational system in this country. You can no longer see any foreigner coming to Nigeria either as a staff or student,” he said.
Citing an example, he added that “it could be possible for me today to marry a wife from the campus of this university and be blessed with a child, the child will go to ATBU nursery, primary, secondary schools and ATBU university.
“Such a child would still further go ahead to have his National Youth Service Corps exercise in Gombe state.
“At the end of the day, this child will go to Abuja and they will bring a file about how erosion is destroying some communities in Rivers state to his table to minute on.
“He has never experienced what is erosion or they bring a file from Yobe state talking about deforestation, he doesn’t know anything about it”.
The Communication expert advocated for effective transformational leadership that lead by examples to address the problems by strengthening existing policies and structures that promote mixing up in schools for young Nigerians of diverse backgrounds to learn in places other than their own.
He also called on government at all levels to strengthen institutions like the media, transport system to encourage free flow of ideas, goods and services across narrow boundaries.
The VC also called on them to public schools attractive with proper funding, quality enhancement, scholarship support, and to also improve schools to attract staff and students across the country and beyond.
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