A former Executive Director of Finance and Account in Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), Sonny Iroche has called on the federal government to consider decentralising admissions into Federal Colleges, Universities, and other tertiary institutions to allow them set their own examinations and choose their admission criteria.
Iroche made this known on Sunday delivering the keynote address during the University of Nigeria’s 64th Founders Day celebration on the topic: Resetting the Falling Standards of Education in Nigeria: Addressing the Challenges and Embracing the Future.
In his address, Iroche said that one of the most pressing issues that has marred Nigeria’s educational system over the years is the continued centralisation of admissions through the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB).
He noted that while this system was originally intended to streamline the admission process, it has inadvertently created bottlenecks and inequities.
“The situation is further exacerbated by the quota system, which lowers the admission threshold for applicants from some so-called educationally disadvantageous states, to the detriment of those that have been classified as educationally advantageous state, with much higher admission threshold,”.
He maintained that this has over the years denied deserving students from placements in federal educational institutions and such students find themselves trapped in a cycle of rejections, while the meritocracy we aspire to, remains elusive.
“We must advocate for a more equitable and transparent admission process that truly reflects the capabilities of our students, allowing them to thrive in an environment that nurtures their potential,” he said.
Iroche also used the occasion to call on the federal government to improve its budgetary allocation and address the death of funding which has plagued public universities over the years.
He stated that while successive governments have promised reforms, we find ourselves grappling with inadequate budgetary provisions which have left institutions scrambling to provide basic amenities, let alone invest in innovative research and development.
“Our GDP to education ratio is alarmingly low, reflecting a disinterest in the future of our nation’s intellectual capital. We must mobilise resources and campaign for increased investment in education—because without funding, we cannot fuel the engines of growth and development,”.
He noted that the federal government allocated 7.9% of its total budget for 2024 to education, adding that while this was a slight improvement over previous years, it is still grossly inadequate.
“At $23 per capita, public expenditure on education in Nigeria is inadequate by any standard,” he said. “Of the $23 per capita spending on education, states spend $14, leaving the federal government with only $9 per capita. As a result, Nigeria’s public tertiary institutions educators are some of the least paid in the country.”
Gideon Arinze
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