Don Calls For Reforms In Nations Education

By Olu Babalola, Ibadan
Former Dean of School of Engineering, Federal Polytechnic Ilaro and proprietor of Shafaudeen Group of Schools, Professor Sabit Ariyo Olagoke has advocated reforms in the nation’s educational policy stressing that the present system would not be of expected gains to the country.

Prof. Sabitu Olagoke, founder/Spiritual Head, Shafaudeen in Islam

He made the call in Osogbo while speaking on education and certificate quality relevance in development at an annual Olagoke education competition organised by Olagoke Legacy Foundation (OLEG).

Olagoke a professional Engineer and Counselor said that it was regrettable to observe that the products of our educational system were not living to societal expectations.

The academic observed that education has not only been promoting mediocres, vandals and futuristically corrupt people in Nigeria but also   treasury looters and rhetorical destroyers

He pointed out that this has led to the disaffection of the Boko Haram, kidnappers and ritual killers amidst us adding, “Equally observed is the failure and dropout rate in our schools due to poverty including10.5 out of schools children or drug abuse that is exceptionally high.”

The Don appealed to the stake holders that “the present generation deserves attention and must not be underfunded. We need to motivate the teachers so that they are able to give joy of learning to the learners generally and to attain the global sustainable goal plans specifically.”

Olagoke stressed that functional education requires schoolation whereby every system works with conducive environment of learning and facility update. Education must pass total quality assurance test for worthy and reliable certification to produce thorough bred and quality graduates for the cause of nation building and human growth and community development.

The don called for a clear departure from teaching/learning to educating and from teachers to educators whereby educational professionals should see themselves as learners as well as alongside their own rookie learners adding, “The ideal educator of the future will be super mentor assessor, facilitator, monitor, director manager, administrator but all these depend on funding.”

He pointed out that the annual budgetary allocation to education in Nigeria was grossly inadequate in view of the fact that it fell below UNESCO recommendation observing that our Lawmakers should address these lapses instead of discussing their welfare alone.

Olagoke who is also the Founder and Spiritual Head of Shafaudeen-In-Islam Worldwide, called on Nigerian elites and philanthropists including firms and companies to support government in funding as appropriate the education of our children for a better tomorrow.

He congratulated the Islamic faithfuls on the annual Ramadan, adding that the period should be used to intercede for the entire country and its leaders.