The Provost of Michael Otedola College of Primary Education, Prof. Olu Akeusola, in this interview with Musa Odoshimokhe, explains why the late Sir Micheal Otedola would remain a part of the college history forever. He also spoke about other sundry issues in education.
What impact did Michael Otedola have on your institution?
The impact of the late Michael Otedola cannot be quantified. Around 1992, the Federal Government promulgated a law abrogating Grade 2 teachers from the educationl system. The policy pegged minimum qualification in any school in Nigeria from the National Certificate of Education (NCE). Part of that law stated there must be specialised NCE for primary education. By then Otedola was the governor of Lagos State.
Despite the fact that the Federal Government was unable to take the bull by the horns, in establishing specialise colleges of primary education, Otedula took it upon himself to establish first ever college of primary education in Lagos State. It was established in Epe, in 1992 but materialised in 1994.
Although, he had a short tenure as governor of Lagos State, but that was his achievement. So, he succeeded in making Lagos State the first among equals to establish college of primary education in Nigeria, ahead of the federal government. In 2004, when the college marked its 10th anniversary, the Lagos State government under the leadership of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu honoured him by changing the name of the college from Lagos State College of Primary Education to Michael Otedola College of Primary Education. The man was benevolent throughout his life time to the college.
To what extent has the Michael Otedola College of Primary Education met the idea behind its establishment?
The curriculum of primary education certificates makes the NCE certificate holders to teach in primary and junior secondary schools. But Michael Otedola College of Primary Education happens to be a specialised one. We concentrate more on the training of primary education. We are still the best college in terms of primary education in Nigeria, the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE) is aware of our position. We have been leading others as far as primary education teachers are concerned.
The strike by colleges of education and polytechnics has lingered on for long, why?
When members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) went on strike, everybody was ready to listen to their complaints. They were running from pillar to post, to satisfy the university lecturers. They told the polytechnics and colleges of education lecturers to keep doing their work, that when they resolve with ASUU; they will use the same parameter for them. They are all tertiary education which covers universities, polytechnics and colleges of education. But immediately they settled ASUU and it resumed, they forgot polytechnics and colleges of education. The people now say: ‘Oh because we did not go on strike’ and then they now decide to go on strike. They now wanted to blackmail them just like they did with ASUU which do not work. Not until they are able to do whatever that is expected of them the problem will still continue.
Quality of education in Nigeria has fallen, how can this be changed?
There is difference between quality and standard. If you are telling me about the quality, I would say that the problem we have is misplacement of priority. We are unable to interpret the curriculum effectively well to the betterment of our needs and the environment. During our own time, when we were in primary schools or secondary schools, we never had access to computer. There was no GSM; there was no facebook or some of the facilities we now enjoy. Let me even take you to my own case, I was the first to do Comparative Grammar at PhD level, which was some years back. Now, what I did at PhD level is now discussed at first degree level. Yet, you are telling me that the quality of education is falling. It is not!. What has happened is that we are loading present day children with unnecessary materials, with what they will not need.
