By Kehinde Oluwatayo
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An educationist, Dr Toyin Olobayo has said that Nigeria has not faired well in education as the country marked its 61st anniversary as an independent nation.
Olobayo who is the Secretary of Parents, Teachers Association in Ondo State made the remarks while speaking with The Hope in an interview over the weekend.
He said there is no development plan for education in the country, noting that government needs to take proactive step to restore the glory of education.
“Things that government were supplying in schools in those days are no longer available today. Free textbooks, lockers and chairs are no longer given to students. Infrastructure has become dilapidated and so on.
“Government must fund education as a matter of urgency. Qualified teachers should be employed in secondary schools. NPOWER teachers will only serve one year and go,” he said.
Olobayo called for a legislation to mandate government officials to patronize government schools which according to him, will make them budget enough money in education.
He said computers should be supplied to schools to boost technological development in Nigeria adding that students should have become versatile in computer before leaving secondary schools.
He however said government has done well in making schools available in the country adding that number of schools at all levels across the country has increased.
To address the problem of unemployment, Olobayo called on government to make needed materials to train students on handwork available in schools.
He attributed lack of employment in the country to the poor economic situation, noting that corruption and mismanagement of resources are what put Nigeria in the problem.
He called for regular in-service training for teachers for them to be acquainted with new method of teaching like it is done in developed countries.
