Invest more in education to sustain democracy, Cleric urges FG

An Islamic Scholar, Alhaji Abdulazeez Sirajudeen, has urged government at all levels to invest more in education in order to sustain democracy in the country.

Sirajudeen made the call during the 10th anniversary of the Minaret Group of Schools held on Tuesday in Akure.

The 10th anniversary is themed, ‘Qualitative education for global leadership and sustainable development: Muslims on call’.

He said, there is no doubt today that the nation’s educational system, due to its inefficiency, has not only failed humanity but has left us in a serious quest for leadership.

“We can authoritatively say that democracy is not working in Nigeria. Our
educational system is not producing responsible, useful, productive and independent adults.

“We are standing on a time bomb in this country, if something urgent is not done drastically and aggressively to overhaul our educational system which is a fruit of colonialism.

“The government is not investing adequately in it.

“Our schools are characterised by dilapidated structures, inadequate personnel and educational infrastructure, and the curriculum is not reflecting the realities of life.

“If we must rescue our country from this crossroads, then we must, as a matter of urgency improve on our education so as to reflect our problems and challenges with a goal to provide practical and sustainable solutions,” he advised.

The scholar, who explained that the educational politics in the country as a whole, and Ondo state in particular, had taken a dangerous dimension, said the nation’s education system was only quantitative and not qualitative.

He, therefore, called on Nigerians, especially Muslim leaders, to join hand with the government to rescue and improve education system in the country.

“The only panacea to this ugly and dangerous journey is mobilisation of all our resources toward ensuring that our children acquire quality education,” he said.

He added that quality education would not only sustainably develop them but also propel them to fill the leadership vacuum the world was experiencing.

The chairman of the occasion, Professor Isiaka Amoo, of the Department of Chemistry, Federal University of Technology, Akure, charged the public to partner government to contribute to the development of education in the country.

“Government needs to provide all necessary things that can give us quality education and must be ready to spend more money on education.

“However, government cannot do it alone. The individuals that are capable or that have resources should partner the government so that our educational system can improve,” he said.

Proprietor of the school, Alhaji Junaid Yunus, stressed that governments and parents needed to find a lasting solution to examination malpractice in schools.

He urged parents to invest more and give their children sound education in order for them to blend with global leadership.

“We need to address the issue of examination malpractice in our schools.

“Here, at Main Minaret Group of Schools, we have zero tolerance for examination malpractice because it has no value and it is a future destroyer,” he said. (NAN)

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