Old students seek public-private sector collaboration to tackle falling education standard

Badagry (Lagos State) – Iworo Ajido Model College alumni have advocated for public-private partnerships to address the nation’s declining educational standards.

They issued the demand on Friday during the Iworo Ajido Model College Old Students’ Association’s 2023 Annual General Meeting and Reunion in Badagry.

Professor Olusegun Whenu, an alumnus and lecturer at Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo, suggested that companies work with the government to put an end to the problem.

The fishery professor claims that since the government is unable to solve the problem on its own, cooperation is required.

“The budget for education should be increased to cater for building of infrastructure in schools because we know how things work outside the country.

“We all know that the standard of education is falling, but the truth is that government cannot fund education alone,” he said.

Mr Akinyemi Ashade, a former Commissioner of Finance in Lagos, who is also the student of the college, urged the government to continue to provide infrastructure in schools to enhance teaching and learning in the country.

According to him, all stakeholders have roles to play, starting with the government that owns the school, the teachers, the students, the parents and old students.

Ashade said that the association had been trying to look back through regular visits to their alma mater in order to see how things could be improved there.

“This platform is helping us to improve the level of the school and make it better than what we left behind, hoping that other people coming behind will find it attractive to learn to better their lives,” he said.

Bishop Ifedola Okupevi, the Diocesan Bishop of Lagos (Anglican Communion), also a former student of the college, said religion had roles to play in education.

“Our leaders should please note that they have bigger roles to play in the economic, political, health, power and educational aspects of Nigeria.

“If all these aspects can be put in place, the falling standard of education will gradually pick up,” he said.

In his remarks, President of the association, Mr Okelowo Oyedele, said that the major achievements included: organised of seminars, career and inspirational talks for the students and maintaining good relationship with the school management.

“This has led to remarkable improvement in the educational standard, as reflected in the success story recorded in the last 2023 May/June WASC.

“The association made available relevant textbooks to the SSS III students during the 2022/2023 academic session to enhance their performances both at internal and external examinations.

“New tables and desks were also purchased despite the paucity of funds, while some of the in bad shapes were repaired,” he said.