By Olayinka Latona
LAGOS — Worried by the mass failure in schools and public examinations, former Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission, NUC, Professor Peter Okebukola, has called on Federal Government to address the poor quality of teachers in secondary schools and provide learner-friendly environment for teaching.
Okebukola lamented that over 90 per cent of public and secondary schools in Nigeria were substandard when measured them against international standards.
According to him, this has drastically affected products from both primary and secondary schools.
Speaking during Crawford University's third convocation ceremony and awards of first degree and prizes, Okebukola, who is now Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council, Crawford University, noted that if the current situation in the educational system was not quickly arrested, there would continue to be steady decline in the quality of university graduates.
He said there was urgent need to refurbish teacher's preparation programmes with emphasis on knowledge of the teaching subjects, adding: "When measured against international standards, over 90 percent of public primary and secondary schools in Nigeria are sub-standard.
"The quality of buildings, infrastructure, quality and quantity of furniture and fittings and quality of landscape and general school environment fail to match what you find in equivalent schools in Europe, North America, Asia among others."
Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Samson Ayanlaja, said the graduation was a validation and actualization of Crawford University's compelling core objective of realising only those possessing unique virtue of sterling moral that is above any reproach.
According to him, the university hopes to re-brand and reshape Nigeria through its products.
Vanguard Nigeria