Prof. Danladi Matawal, a Professor of Civil Engineering with the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, has identified corruption, poor funding, insecurity and decline of the teaching profession as the major factors responsible for the decline in the educational standard in the country.
Matawal stated this in Abuja during the weekend while presenting a paper, titled “ Seeking Solution for a Lost Era of Educational Excellence in Nigeria”, at the Annual General Meeting (AGM)/Cheetah Gold Awards and N1billion launching for the completion of the Umar Musa Yar’adua e-library and academic Infrastructure at Government College, Keffi.
The Tide source reports that the AGM is for the Keffi Old Boys Association (KOBA), an umbrella body for the alumni of Government College, Keffi, Nasarawa State.
Matawal, who is member of KOBA, also identified cronyism, lack of adequate and qualified teachers/employees, incompetent planning, improper inspection or supervision and weak administration as other factors responsible for the decline in educational standard.
“Inadequate fund leads to all sorts of dilapidation, especially inadequate Infrastructure and poor remunerations and welfare, as well as the lack of innovations, especially for support services and cross-boarder disciplinary engagements.
“Cronyism is the appointment of friends and associates to positions of authority without proper regard to their qualifications.
“This is both stifling and killing education in Nigeria,” he said.
Matawal said that there is the need for synergy among stakeholders with a view to putting in place viable measures to deal with the embarrassing and insidous menance in Nigeria.
“Therefore, policymakers, academics, opinion leaders and educational administrators should consider seriously the desirability of the rescue of the education sector from decay,” he added.
The professor commended the members of the association and other well-meaning Nigerians for their efforts in improving the standard of education in the school.