Tag: Education

A prominent Nigerian politician Owolabi Salis, has advocated the adoption of EDUBONDS  in financing tertiary education.

He explained  that EDUBONDS retains the educated citizens to develop the nation.

According to him, it ensures that education reaches everybody.

He said: “It is a creative design of a highly efficient and effective financial mechanism which draws resources from diverse sources to enhance the educational capacity of the citizens.

“It is designed for the rich and poor,and focused on three operational key words: ‘Wish,Capacity and Access’(WCA) which entails that a student who wishes to be educated in a particular field, and  possesses the capacity to undergo the desired field of study should have access to funds.”

He added that the project is based on the fact that the most valuable security in the world is knowledge.

“This is why most governments,’’ he added, ‘‘take interest in educating their citizens, which has been a great burden on their budgets. EDUBONDS, therefore, provides an arrangement for improving the education economy and the autonomy of self-financing while removing undue strain on the government,the student and parents.’’

“It is about bringing students under equal financial probabilities. EDUBONDS is designed with problems of lack of education in mind,and the menace it constitutes to man and the larger society,and is therefore actuated by the vision to usher a progressive change for the better.

“It makes the student approach the financial market to get funds that can only be used for the right purpose – education.

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 The student will use his/her future as security backed up by a life insurance against death or disability.

It is in this sense that it could be described as a futuristic market.

It enables children of the poor and the rich,to have quality education.’’

“EDUBONDS is competitive and democratic in design,and will bring discipline and an end to student unrest and cultism because of the sense of responsibility and higher commitment on the part of the student,arising from non-governmental dependence.It is fair to the government, fair to the student, and fair to the parents. It is an attempt to improve family values and  easy to administer. The  creative and unique design is one of the best ways to improve Nigeria’s education economy.”

“The scheme which was developed in 1967 during the IBB era, is the most effective means to make education sustainable.Repayment enforcement is easy, especially with the advent of NIN and BIVAS and the attachment of repayment to the issuing and renewing of passport,coupled with employers discretion to make monthly withdrawals.Loan or bonds also bear interest rates in order to encourage repayment.To hedge against inflation,the loan would be in units and units to the value of naira to be determined yearly or monthly by the CBN,” he said.

Calls have been made  for government to double efforts in investing in girl-child education as the figures of out-of-school children refuses to drop and with 60 percent of girls not in school in the country. DAMOLA KOLA-DARE reports.

Efforts to address the menace of out-of-school children should be doubled as the country continues grapple with the challenge.

Sadly, the United Nations Children’s Fund(UNICEF)  reckons that of the over 10 million children who are out of school, 60 percent are girls. This represents another challenge which should be swiftly tackled.

At this year’s International Day of Education, UNICEF Nigeria Country Representative, Ms. Cristian Munduate, said: “Education is a key driver of gender equality, economic growth, and social development, sadly it remains inaccessible to many Nigerian children. Their educational journey is often disrupted by attacks on communities and schools, including the abduction of students. These challenges are particularly acute for adolescent girls, potentially stalling the progress made in girls’ education in Nigeria.”

Experts noted that  supporting girls’ education would bring positive transformation to the world. They argued that  girls who acquire an education are more likely to lead healthy, fulfilling lives and are less likely to get married early, while creating a better future for themselves.

They stated that education for girls boosts economies,  reduces inequality and  create  societies where everybody is allowed  to reach  full potential.

Former Lagos State First Lady, Dame Abimbola Fashola also  stressed the significance of girl-child education.

She   was the keynote speaker at the 60th anniversary celebration of  Eva Adelaja Girls’ Secondary Grammar School, Bariga, Lagos.

Speaking on the theme: “Empowering the girl-child for greater exploits  through education,” Fashola explained that educating the girl-child was akin to educating a  whole generation.

She underscored the importance of quality learning for girls, adding that they should be socially educated and be able to contribute to the development of  society and uphold sound morals which have been eroded.

She said: “The girl-child should be socially educated and be able to contribute to the good vibes in the society because values have been eroded and this has to be reversed as a matter of urgency.  When a girl-child is educated, a whole generation would have been educated.

“Girls should however, be disciplined enough not to stay on the internet to do  wrong things. They should not listen to time wasters on social media and should be informed that most of the contents by these time wasters are false.  They are warned not to allow their destinies to be derailed by such useless contents.

“By educating the girl-child, she is being given the right to develop into a responsible, resourceful woman in the world. The school, if well structured, should bring out the best in our girls, by empowering them to think positively and be challenged to think outside the box.”

Fashola urged school authorities to provide a veritable platform for girls to be able to maximise educational opportunities.

“It is important to  ensure safe school environment for girls, provide platforms for the girls to speak out, to keep them out of trouble, teach them empathy, emotional intelligence (EI), reflection, collaboration. These are Key Success Factors (KSF) in leadership.  Also,they should be encouraged to have counsellors, mostly in the academia, to help shape their thought process. They should be taught self-esteem, personal/feminine hygiene, character, humility, act of listening and staying on their views without fear.They should learn from  seminars on leadership at least twice a year and people should share vocational skills and  knowledge with them,” she said.

She advised them to dream big and aim higher.

“My  gender does not limit my being. Who really can stop a girl-child who has been empowered through education to achieve greater exploits?  No human being can stop her.  The girl-child can conquer the world,” she said.

Erstwhile Lagos State Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Folasade Adefisayo lamented that the girl-child in many societies are endangered species. According to her, more than 100 million girls are out of school.

The former commissioner highlighted challenges confronting girl-child education, adding that girls are in a dangerous situation.

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She said: “There are are cultural and religious issues affecting the girl-child. There  are 5 million out of school girls in Nigeria. Lagos State’s  figure is rising as a result of influx from other areas of the country.Some girls  start school and drop out, some are in school,but are not learning. Educating the girl-child is a multifaceted issue and has immense potential for growth.

“Our girls must build our community. A woman cannot be in a space where things are going wrong and not say a bit, they must be part of the solution.”

Adefisayo urged schools to organise trainings for  parents on proper parenting.

“Teach our parents to be parents. Having a child is mere biology. Other animals have children too e.g dogs, cats want to propagate the next generation but parenting in humans make the difference.Make children resilient so that they will not disgrace you.Children have needs, wants and things they desire and we should ensure there’s a level playing field for every child regardless of economic circumstances,” she said.

On the impact of education on the girl child, the formercommissioner said: “The country’s growth rate increases because more people are engaged in productive work. Investment in girls’ education is a lifetime learning for girls as it makes child marriage rate  to decline. Girls should also develop 21st century skills to be relevant.”