State Govts. Should Stop Politicking with Education --- Wike

Article | February 17, 2014 - 11:47pm | By Augustine Aminu

The Supervising Minister for Education, Chief Nyesom Wike, said that state governments should stop playing politicking with education and pay attention to the sector.

Wike made this known at the presentation of the 2013 Annual Report of the Federal Ministry of Education in Abuja on Monday.

``It is unfortunate that education has become a political tool in the hands of most state governments.

``How can a state government that claim to have prioritised education, have millions of unaccessed funds with UBEC?

``This is unacceptable as the future of Nigerian children cannot be sacrificed at the altar of politics,’’ he said.

The minister regretted that the inability of states to access intervention funds was sending the wrong signal to the public that there was shortage of funds in the education sector.

Wike said that not less than N51billion counterpart funds were yet to be accessed by some states.

He said the ministry had, therefore, directed the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) to equip the laboratories in all Unity Schools across the country in the next three months.

The minister said 89 Almajiri schools had been handed over to the state governments.

According to the minister, although there are still a lot of challenges, access to basic education is improving progressively throughout the country.

``The policy direction and financial support from the Federal Government is making a real difference in the sector.

``It is hoped that if the pace is sustained, no doubt every Nigerian child will sooner than later have the opportunity to be educated.’’

Wike, however, tasked the states on the need to prioritise basic education and address the issues of dearth of qualified teachers.

He urged state governments to access their matching grants and improve the welfare of both teachers and the pupils with better incentives.

He said the Federal Government had expanded the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) to 50 study centres across the country.

The Minister of Information, Labaran Maku, urged state and local governments to do their part in promoting education.

Maku said that the Federal Government alone could not perform any magic in reforming the sector with the support of the states and local governments.

He said that developing the sector was the collective responsibility of all.

In goodwill message, a former PDP National Chairman, Chief Barnabas Gemade, urged Nigerians to contribute their quota to the sector.

``Education is an area of service and responsibility that all Nigerians must pay attention to,’’  Gemade said.

Source:http://www.dailytimes.com.ng/article/state-govts-should-stop-politicking-education-wike