Adebayo Adenrele
A Professor of Educational Management at Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti (EKSU), Haastrup Ekundayo, has called for the total disbandment of N-Power programme, arguing that it introduces unproductive personnel into the education sector who lack the capacity to deliver quality teaching.
NEWSTODAYNG recalled that N-Power was created on June 8th, 2016 to address the issues of youth unemployment and help increase social development.
Ekundayo emphasized that only a sincere and strategic commitment to long-term reforms can guarantee the desired progress in Nigeria’s education sector.
The Don made this call on Tuesday while delivering the 91st inaugural lecture of the university, titled: ‘Towards Sustaining School Effectiveness in Nigeria: The Cosmetic Politics of Stakeholders’.
He also urged political leaders across the country to refrain from politicising educational policies, stressing that such actions hinder the development of a sustainable and effective education system.
Professor Ekundayo noted that constant political interference leads to unstable policies, which further prevent tertiary institutions from achieving high educational standards.
His words, “The Nigerian education system is in dire need of a total overhaul. Things are not heading in the right direction, and unless urgent and drastic action is taken to redress the rot in the system, the future of the country appears bleak.
“The leaders of tomorrow are being prepared by a school system that may not equip them to deliver effectively.
“Political leaders must stop playing politics with educational policies. Instability in policy formulation and implementation cannot yield positive outcomes.
“N-Power teachers employed in secondary and primary schools should be phased out, as many of them lack the requisite qualifications and productivity. Instead, government should focus on hiring qualified teachers on a permanent basis”.
In his remarks, the Vice Chancellor of the Institution, Professor Joseph Ayodele hailed the inaugural lecturer for the insights, saying EKSU would continue to create an enabling environment for effective service delivery without any imprint of politics.
