Stakeholders in the education sector have called for more support to complement the government in repositioning public education.
They stated this in Ibadan at the 42nd Post-Graduation Reunion of Eyinni High School, Ibadan Old Students Association, Class of 80.
In his keynote address, the Vice-Chancellor of Lead City University, Ibadan, Prof. Remi Adeyemo, said education is critical to global development, hence the need to prioritise it.
“One major step to reposition secondary education and prepare individuals for successful living is the provision of adequate human and material resources for effective teaching and learning in schools.
“Education affects our understanding and the difference between right and wrong.
“Every public primary and secondary school depends heavily on the government for the provision of required resources. However, the current economic crisis being witnessed globally is placing a limiting factor on what the government can provide,” Adeyemo said.
Also, the School Governing Board Chairman, Eyinni High School, Ibadan, and an alumnus, Kunle Kalejaye, lamented the school’s sordid and terrible infrastructure and facilities.
He called for more alumni support to tackle the school’s myriad of challenges.
“We are battling with land grabbers; if not for the vigilance of some of you, they would have stolen all the school’s land.
“We really have to come together; we can’t afford to abandon the school. The government can no longer sponsor education alone.
“At Eyinni today students are sitting on the bare floor, so we really have to do something,” Kalejaye said.
In an interview with the Rev.d Michael Tosin-Oni, the Chairman, of the Great Class of 80, said the celebration was to highlight the role of alumni in the development of public education in Nigeria.
“We are not criticising the government. Our topic for the celebration is to examine the impact the alumni association can make towards the development of education in Nigeria.
“We know that the government has its hands full and that we want to be part of those helping the society and to give back to the society.
” So celebrating 42nd post-graduation was to be thankful to God and my message to everyone that has passed through one school or another is ‘Let’s go back to where we came from and develop it and I believe Nigeria will be better, by doing so,” Tosin-Oni said.
NAN reports that the event’s high point was the presentation of awards of excellence to teachers who taught Class 80 and individuals who had been making an impact in promoting the school.
