Be cautious in approving schools, Fasasi charges government
As Nigeria continues to record exponential increase in the number of its educational institutions, a Professor of Educational Management at the University of Ilorin, Yunus Adebunmi Fasasi, has charged the Federal Government to be cautious in granting approvals for the operation of private educational institutions to ensure a seamless attainment of the nation’s educational objectives.
Prof. Fasasi stated this last Thursday (May 2, 2024) while delivering the 256th Inaugural Lecture of the University, titled “Holding Education Accountable for Resources and Results”, at the University Auditorium.
He insisted that the issuance of operational license to proposed private educational institutions should be done with caution as quality required for the take-off and future expansion of the institutions must be guaranteed.
Prof. Fasasi also explained that the proliferation of educational institutions does not translate to national development. He added that quality, rather than quantity, should be the watchword of the approving authorities.
He also charged the proprietors of private educational institutions to ensure adequate funding of the institutions to enable them contribute to the actualisation of the nation’s educational objectives.
The don suggested that the attainment of the nation’s educational objectives should not be left for the government alone but should be complemented by other stakeholders particularly parents and supervisors.
He noted that the carrying capacity of educational institutions should be considered before determining the number of students to be admitted into such institutions of learning. He added that large-size schools and classrooms without corresponding facilities tend to complicate administrative and supervisory duties.
Prof. Fasasi also suggested that long-term planning on policies, which increases the population at the implementation stage and in future when the students get to a higher level of education, should be given priority.
On the appropriate age at which candidates could be admitted into our schools, the Professor of Educational Management suggested that administrators and supervisors must always ensure strict adherence to age specification and duration at each level of education.
Prof. Fasasi opined that parents and stakeholders should be sensitised on psycho-emotional and other consequences inherent in allowing double promotions for their wards by their schools.
He also advised that stakeholders should stop pointing accusing fingers at one another and assigning faults as well as shifting responsibilities for failure in the educational system rather they should embrace all that would make educational objectives realisable.
Prof. Fasasi urged supervisors, teachers and other stakeholders to get themselves familiar with policies and laws on education so that they would be able to understand their rights, duties and limitations.
The Inaugural Lecturer insisted that prospective supervisors should be professionally trained while those already employed should be encouraged to undergo in-service training. He insisted that their knowledge and skills must be constantly updated to enable them cope with a rapidly changing society.
He equally advised that orientation programmes be organised for new staff members and students with adequate attention given to relevant aspects of education laws as he noted that it is also important that statutory records kept in heads of educational institutions’ offices should include documents on education laws and policies.