Minister: Why FG Encourages Private Participation in Education

Minister of Education, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau

Sheriff Balogun in Abeokuta

The Minister of Education, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau, on Monday said the federal government would  continue to encourage private sector participation in the delivery of education at all levels because the idea is aimed at encouraging access to quality education.

Speaking in Abeokuta, Ogun State capital yesterday during the 60th National Council on Education Meeting (NCE), the minister said the desire of any nation was to provide universal access to quality education that would enable individuals to attain full personal potential and productive capacity in the society.

Shekarau, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, Dr. MacJohn Nwaobiala, said there are 50 private universities in the country as against only three in 1999, adding that four new private Polytechnics are currently licensed to increase access to technical education.

He said all the efforts are geared towards contributing to the national development and positioning the nation to compete favourably at the global level.

He added that, "the concurrent jurisdiction, which the education sector enjoys enables the federal, state and local governments as well as the private sector and other stakeholders to own and run schools from the pre-primary to the university level."

He said, "If well harnessed, this would address the need for access and equity among Nigerians. It is therefore imperative to pursue with vigor the core mandate of the education sector in order to strengthen the policy formulation process and ensure effective implementation at all tiers of government."

He therefore, identified low enrolment, completion and transition rates in basic education; high rate of about 10.8million children of school age that are not enrolled in schools; and low carry capacity at the nation's tertiary institutions, among challenges facing the nation's education sector.

He said the present administration has demonstrated resolute determination to make quality education accessible to all.

However, the host, Ogun State Commissioner for Education, Segun Odubela, in a welcome address, said the state government allocated 22 per cent of her budget annually to education sector since its inception.

Odubela said, "Ogun State is a foremost state in the advancement of quality education and providing access and equal opportunity for all citizens of Nigeria to functional education, thus contribution to national development."

Source: ThisDay