FOR over four decades, there had been squabbles and mud throwing in the country between policy makers at federal, states and missionaries over the proprietary or otherwise of government seizure of schools owned by the missionaries.
AMIDST the cross fire, missionaries have consistently accused government of mischief and demanded for the return of the schools to their original owners. They, among other reasons adduced that the policy promoted neglect, poor funding, scruffy environment and moral decadence.
THE missionaries in their claims insisted that events have overtaken some of the excuses given to justify the takeover by the administration of General Yakubu Gowon.
THEN, the takeover by the military was anchored on commercialization of education and discrimination against admission seekers by the original owners, which the junta claimed was unhealthy for national cohesion.
MANY states including Ondo State have since bowed to pressure mounted by the original owners to have their schools returned to them while others particularly from the northern part of the country are still recalcitrant and stick to the gun.
A retrospection of the takeover policy today will undoubtedly convince skeptics that it was ill advised, malicious and a disservice to educational advancement of the country as many of the schools which had been citadels of academic excellence, sports development suddenly collapsed due to poor funding, quality control and neglect. Proponents of the return of mission schools see the policy as the bane and retrogression of the Nigerian education and powerfully wants a reversal of the takeover.
NO doubt, the zeal, commitment, academic and moral hallmarks which missionary owned schools had cultivated before the takeover went down the drain. Right in the eyes of old students of these schools, the seizure compromised standard in all spheres of education curriculum while vices unheard of like cultism, mercenaries and examination malpractice became the order of the day in our schools.
NO wonder the demand for the return of the schools to their original owners became strident, loud and vociferous.
THE Hope endorses the return of the schools to their original owners because the progress or retrogression of any society is directly proportional to the quality of its educational endeavors. To continue to hold on to the schools is to play the ostrich.
We are convinced that the decision to return the schools to their owners is a wise long overdue decision and will curb the massive decay, neglect and downward drain in the education sector.
HOWEVER, government and the missionaries must continue to work together to make education available to all citizens as a social commodity. Past experience where some missionaries treat education as purely a commercial product must be discouraged. Faith based institutions across have the financial base to run education at highly subsidized cost and assist government to bring education to the door steps of all particularly the poor.
ANY person or body seen to be promoting educational policies that will promote drop outs or discriminating against admission seekers should be fenced out as such agenda will spell doom for the country.
UNDER the new dispensation, The Hope expects old boys association to show keen interest in the management and running of their former schools. With the return of the schools to their owners as promised by Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Akeredolu, old boys association now have a platform to intervene in the management of their alma maters and help return them to their former glory.
THE welfare of teachers and non teaching staff of the schools to be returned to the missionaries must be clearly addressed in other not to jeopardise their career.
OFFICIALS of the Ministry of Education, Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) and Proprietors of the former Schools must be in accord in a clearly well spelt out guidelines on the condition of the service of teachers and non teaching staff before the schools are released to ensure equity and fair play to all.