Promoting Educational Standards in Ekiti State
Education is the bedrock of the development of any society and as such, it should be properly invested in, as “An investment in knowledge pays the best interest” — Benjamin Franklin. The education sector is of tremendous importance across all levels of governments, one of the reasons being that the growth of any society depends on the educational progress of such society. The lack of basic education ultimately breeds an illiterate population who has no knowledge on how to go about developing and aiding the growth of the country.
This is one of the challenges facing Nigeria as 35% of the nation’s adult population are illiterate (according to The National Commission for Mass Literacy, Adult and Non-formal Education, NMEC) as at 2019 http://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2019/04/12/the-growing-illiteracy-in-nigeria/amp/. This damning statistic boils down to how poorly the primary education system and the education system at large are being managed.
It is a huge responsibility to develop the country’s education sector and as such, key stakeholders in the society such as Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) have been enlisted to help with the efforts. With support from the Public and Private Development Centre (PPDC), Foundation for Justice and Social Development (FOJSOD) — an NGO in Ekiti State — carried out monitoring projects at some selected primary schools.
On the 25th of August 2020, the FOJSOD team visited Osi Community High School where a block of 3 science labs was renovated properly. The project which was awarded to Canaan Towers Ltd, Ado-Ekiti in May 2017 for N5,010,348.74 and an additional N3,559,975.00 was awarded in July 2018 for Additional work on the Renovation of 3 Science Labs. Although these labs were renovated and the project was completed properly, there were no traces as to when the work was started and completed; no contract signposts, no imprints on the building, and no records of the work done or the contractor with the school.
It is not enough to renovate structures and make them look beautiful on the outside while the facilities inside the labs are lacking. The labs were poorly furnished, with bad chairs and tables, no laboratory equipment, no supply of water or electricity into the labs. Also, the school examination hall was in deplorable condition so the school used the supposed Biology laboratory as the examination hall for writing the WASSCE. The teachers around complained that since the buildings were constructed, there was no supply of equipment to furnish the laboratories and as such, they were abandoned.
Within the same school compound, we discovered some classrooms and library rooms that were commissioned by SUBEB in 2007 and were built in 2009. These buildings have been abandoned for a long time while another one was left incomplete. The buildings are still in a dysfunctional state just occupying space.
While the efforts of the Ekiti State Government is highly appreciated in providing quality structures and facilities available for learning. We call on both the contractors, various MDAs of Ekiti State to do their best and do more so as to meet up with the set standards and also promote a conducive environment for teaching and learning. The people of Ekiti State who are the sole beneficiaries of government projects should also do their part by keeping these projects clean and maintained so that they can last longer.
Written by Awodeyi Alaba
Foundation for Justice and Social Development (FOJSOD)
