Farounbi Links Collapse Of Education Sector To Poor Funding, Policy Inconsistency
•By Oyebukola Awojoodu
IBADAN – The Former Nigerian Ambassador to Philippine, Dr. Yemi Farounbi has linked the collapse of the education sector to the inconsistency in government policies.
Farounbi, who was a special guest at the 40th graduation anniversary of the Oke ‘Badan High School , Old Students’ Association, OHSOSA, 1985 set noted that one important problem that must be solved in education sector is poor funding.
The elderstateman further stressed the need for the improvement of the level of funding on education.
The 40th graduation anniversary event which came up at the International Conference Center University of Ibadan, Ibadan, the Capital City of Oyo State over the weekend had in attendance dignitaries from all walks of life.
Ambassador Farounbi in his address said, “education system need efficient funding, adequate infrastructures, timely supply of books, teaching materials, adequate fund to pay teachers and as well recruit the numbers of teachers needed in schools.
“One important that must be solved is poor funding, he stressed the need for the improvement of the level of funding of education sector
“Compare to the past years where government dedicate about 25 percentage of its budget to education, nowadays just 10 percentage of the budget is spent on education and that is why we have poor infrastructure .
“So the poor funding is as a result of poor policy because if we all accept that education is the foundation of what ever we do in this society, then we will budget enough fund for education. So the solution to this is that the government should increase the number of funding to get quality teachers in schools . According to UNESCO budget on education should not be less than 35 percent and here we have 10 percent spent on education here , It is just a decision that we should make education well funded.“
Farounbi also charged alumni members to always remember their alma mater by giving back to their alma mater.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the 1985 set, Mr Wasiu Abiola who stated that the reunion is meant to help members of the set and as well an opportunity to look into how to complement government efforts to improve the condition of the school.
He reiterated the alumni’s commitment towards improvement of the infrastructure of their alma mater. He further noted that the reunion is also an opportunity to brainstorm on problems facing secondary school education. He charged alumni and other stakeholders to come together to bring about development in the education sector .
He said, “We thank God for sparing our lives till today , because we are coming together 40 years after graduating from school, this reunion will serve as an opportunity to look at how we can help one another and as well see how we can complement government efforts to contribute to the development of our alma mater because I was in the school sometimes ago and was not happy with what I saw there, so today there is a plan to hold a fund raising for the construction of a school hall in our alma mater”