The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) has raised concerns about the increasing cost of education in the country. The union warns that high school fees and other charges are making it difficult for many families to afford quality education for their children.
At a workshop in Abuja on September 12, 2024, NUT President Audu Titus Amba highlighted the problem of underfunding in public schools. He explained that this neglect has allowed private schools to charge high fees, putting education out of reach for poor and less-privileged families.
The NUT is calling on the Nigerian government to invest more in education. They want the government to increase education funding to meet international standards, which recommend spending 6% of the country’s GDP and 20% of the national budget on education.
The union launched a campaign called “Go Public! Fund Education” to push for better funding of public schools and support for teachers. They believe this will help ensure free, high-quality education for all Nigerian children.
Amba pointed out some key issues in Nigeria’s education system:
1. Not enough money is being spent on education compared to international recommendations.
2. Over 18 million children are not in school.
3. There’s a shortage of nearly 195,000 teachers in public primary schools.
4. Private schools are becoming more common, with over 91,000 private basic schools compared to about 80,000 public schools.
The NUT president warned that relying too much on private schools could lead to less government investment in public education. This could make it harder to provide free, quality education for all, especially for disadvantaged children and those in rural areas.
Dr. Yusuf Sununu, the Minister of State for Education, acknowledged these challenges. He assured that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration is working to improve the education sector and support teachers’ welfare.
Dr. Dennis Sinyolo, a guest speaker from Ghana, noted that Nigeria has the highest number of out-of-school children in the world. He suggested investing more in education, improving teachers’ pay and working conditions, and using more technology in schools.
The NUT emphasized that while private schools can help, the government needs to control the commercialization of education. They believe that free, quality public education is crucial for Nigeria’s development and future success.
This issue highlights the ongoing debate about how to balance public and private education in Nigeria. As costs rise and quality varies, finding ways to provide affordable, high-quality education for all Nigerian children remains a significant challenge for the country.
