Text of a Lecture delivered at the invitation of Ondo State Public Sphere
Akure, Thursday, November 5th 2015.
Tertiary Education
The architecture of tertiary education in the state needs to be reconfigured. Besides the unclear binary distinction between RUGPOLY and the universities, there are no apparent interlinkages among all the four tertiary institutions. Furthermore, the lack of attention to teacher education at the tertiary level contrasts markedly with the other states in the South-west that have either a College of Education (Lagos, Osun and Oyo states) or a University of Education (Ogun state). It is also noteworthy that Akure Division is the only one of the state’s five constituent cultural and administrative divisions without a state-owned higher education institution. Recommendation: There is need for a summit of all relevant stakeholders to critically review the tertiary education sub-sector in the state. The Summit’s recommendations should be developed into a Fifteen-Year Higher Education Plan to be implemented by successive governments.
… the recent establishment of a University of Medical Sciences, Ondo (UMSO) raises questions about the state’s prioritisation in respect of the three education sub-sectors: should a huge investment at the tertiary education level have priority over increased funding for public primary and secondary education?
A rapid survey of three public secondary schools and three private secondary schools in Akure North LGA in March 2015 revealed three success factors in the private schools that are missing in the public secondary schools: stability of school leadership, fairly conducive learning and teaching environment, and provision of boarding for students in two of the three schools. Are there lessons the government can learn from these success factors to promote improved performance in the public secondary schools?
READ THE WHOLE PAPER THROUGH THE LINK BELOW:
ADAMOLEKUN’s The Challenge of achieving Educational Excellence in Ondo State
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2015. 5:05 a.m. [GMT]
emotanafricana.com 
November 10, 2015 at 10:00 am
I think one of the main problems is lack of continuation for most of the initiatives, also before starting it is clear no real research work to see likelihood of sustainability – it is all about 4 years.
I suppose this calls for interested public to keep talking until we get the ear of those making inconsiderate decisions.
LikeLike
November 13, 2015 at 12:57 pm
Dear Fola,
Very correct! It is a major problem that needs urgent attention but unfortunately, Nigerian state governors have unprecedented power – constitutionally-vested but most through power grab. This leads most to just do their own thing. It the public shows it’s aware and “keep talking, we may get the ears of those making inconsiderate decisions” that affect the education of millions and eventually contribute to delinquency and lack of development.
Thanks, and regards,
TOLA.
LikeLiked by 1 person
November 9, 2015 at 10:24 pm
Hmnn, our public education from primary to tertiary seems to be the same story everywhere. I am not sure how a nation can grow when a section of its population is neglected. Even some of the private ones are worse than what public used to be.
LikeLike
November 10, 2015 at 9:32 am
Dear Folakemi,
Indeed, the findings are amazing. It is scary that each governor goes on this seemingly unthought steps of locating universities, polytechnics, especially in their areas without thought of the quality of those who will feed into these institutions. The last governor, late Dr. Agagu, not only named a Poly after late Giwa, his close ally but went ahead and locate a higher institution in Ondo Waterside, his home constituency.
I was personally shocked to learn of Ondo State founding a Medical Sciences University because I know a bit of the problem in the state’s primary and secondary schools.
The kind of problems being started by various governors in educational area in some parts of the countries will take decades to correct, e.g. Osun’s policy of having hundreds of SCHOOLS bedecked in same school uniforms! Now, I do not think the state can even afford to pay for it.
Consolidation, rather than starting new universities, new policies on what students wear which parents had always afforded, et cetera would be better so that quality education can be produced with the limited resources St hand to feed into the scores of universities that are facing a very scarce resource: qualified lecturers. Personalization of governance may give heady feelings to governors right now but the problems which are already apparent will get even worse I the years ahead as public students would increasingly difficult to qualify for university admissions. Private students would still get admitted as private universities, perhaps more than the public, would need students’ tuition to stay afloat.
My regards, as always,
TOLA.
LikeLiked by 1 person