IBADAN: Stakeholders in Oyo State are advocating for a concerted effort to eradicate learning poverty, emphasizing the importance of equal access to quality education for all children. The call to action comes amid stark disparities in educational outcomes between public and private school students, as highlighted by a recent assessment.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the assessment conducted among 185 Junior Secondary School students in Ibadan revealed a significant learning poverty rate of 60 percent in public schools, compared to 10 percent in private schools. This disparity underscores the urgent need for interventions like the Gender Responsive Education Sector Planning (GRESP) to bridge the gap and ensure educational equity.
Experts argue that the implementation of GRESP could address these disparities by providing equal access to quality education, regardless of location, status, or ethnicity. The findings align with UNICEF’s report that 70 percent of 10-year-old children in Nigeria struggle wi
th reading, a challenge that extends to writing skills in Oyo State.
A survey on the state’s free education policy showed that while 64.52 percent of respondents support the initiative, they also call for the recruitment of qualified teachers and improved infrastructure. Miss Tamilore Bode-Are, a graduate who conducted her teaching practice in the state, emphasized the need for teacher training and parental involvement in children’s education.
Prof. Olusegun Ajiboye, Registrar of the Teachers’ Registration Council of Nigeria, highlighted gender-sensitive projects aimed at increasing female participation in education. He stressed the necessity of government and private sector collaboration for sustainable educational development.
Dr. Muyiwa Bamgbose, CEO of the Education Advancement Centre, pointed to teacher shortages and the lack of parental involvement as critical issues. He criticized the free education policy for its unintended negative impacts on parental attitudes and educational outcomes.
Dr. Kayod
e Adeyemi, National Secretary of the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools, noted the overcrowding and infrastructural challenges faced by public schools. He urged government intervention to support private schools and prevent a potential collapse of the education sector.
Prof. Salihu Adelabu, Oyo State Commissioner for Education, reiterated the government’s commitment to improving education through infrastructure development and recruitment reforms under the Sustainable Development Agenda, Omituntun 2.0.
Stakeholders agree that making GRESP operational is crucial for reducing learning poverty and enhancing the quality of education in Oyo State.