Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence, Sa’ad Abubakar III, along with many other scholars, have raised an alarm over the failing education standards in the country.
According to them, the importance of Day Secondary School education in Nigeria and lack of attention to it is responsible for some of the vices in Nigerian society.
Speaking yesterday, in Abuja, at the unveiling of a book: ‘Evolution of Day Secondary School in Nigeria’, written by Dr. Yakubu Gambo, the former Nigerian Head of State, who was represented by the Vice-Chancellor of the National Open University of Nigeria, (NOUN), Prof. Olufemi Peters, described Secondary school education as a bridge between primary and tertiary education.
He said, “Therefore, it is a make or mar stage that determines whether the beginner shall indeed progress and attain the widely accepted level of advancement and refinement to the league of the learned, which higher education confers”.
While commending the author of the new book, Obasanjo said the publication promises to set the tone for policy review and indeed an overhaul of the curriculum of the country’s educational system.
Also speaking, the Sultan of Sokoto, who was also represented by the Emir of Wase, Dr. Mohammed Sambo Haruna, lamented the neglect of education by the parents, saying there was the need for “us to give our children the due attention they deserve”.
For the book reviewer and Pro-Chancellor, University of Abuja, Prof. Ahmed Mohammed Modibbo, the new publication should be read by all and sundry, especially policy-makers at all levels to know the real challenges confronting Day Secondary education in Nigeria.
Speaking with newsmen, the author of the book, Dr. Yakubu Gambo, said the current administration has taken some steps to improve the quality of Day Secondary schools, but it should be improved upon.
According to Dr. Gambo, one of the objectives of writing the book is to generate and sustain attention on Secondary and basic education in Nigeria.
Others represented at the event were Yobe State governor, Hon. Mai Mala Buni; Plateau State governor, Rt. Hon. Simon Bako Lalong, Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, among others.
