By Lukman Olabiyi
Federal Government (FG) has called for robust and adequate policy implementation by all stakeholders in order to achieve the 2030 education agenda.
The agenda is number four on United Nations Sustainable Development Goal, which aims to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all by 2030.
FG acknowledged that inefficient and policy summersault has hindered the growth of the education sector, calling for concerted effort from all stakeholders to address the issue.
The Permanent Secretary (PS), Federal Ministry of Education, Mr. Andrew Adejo made the call yesterday in Lagos while, speaking at the opening ceremony of the 67″ National Council on Education meeting, with the theme “Addressing the Challenges of Policy Implementation: A Panacea for the Achievement of Education 2030 Agenda.
Adejo said that it is important for stakeholders in the education to build a system that delivers strong foundation for life-long learning and using education as a tool for national development.
The PS who was represented by the Director Educational Planning and Research and Development of the Ministry, Mrs Anigbogu Uju at the meeting, explained that theme of the meeting is apt in view of the well-crafted policies that are faced with ineffective implementation in the sector.
Adejo mentioned that lack of regular review of educational policies, inconsistent monitoring and evaluation to check policy implementation that reflect national needs and aspirations, are some of the major impediments to develop the sector.
“When policies that guide a nation are not implemented at the appropriate time the consequences are backwardness, under development, unemployment for graduates, poverty, insecurity, etc. However, in order to tackle the challenges of policy implementation all hands must be on deck.
“Over the years, successive governments have been confronted with numerous challenges which majorly centers on paucity of funds for funding education programs and activities. However, I am happy to note that both the Federal Government and many state governments have began to prioritise funding education as witnessed in the budget estimates already before the National Assembly and some state governments. I do hope other states would also emulate this example for the good of our nation.
“It is not enough to have adequate funds to show positive improvement in our education sector, we must all commit to put in our best to ensure that
programmes are delivered appropriately to reach the desired beneficiaries.” he said
He therefore called on policy implementers, curriculum planners, developers as well as policy-makers to imbibe implementable and realistic policies that will not only make the educational system functional but globally competitive.
The Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu said that it has become expedient to reposition the education policy by making and implementing strategy to deliver graduate students who will blend with the labour market demands.
Governor, represented by the Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Mr. Jamiu Alli-Balogun added that every education stakeholders must strive to work at ensuring self-reliant youths are produced through the state and national educational system.
Sanwo-Olu said that theme of the NCE meeting was an avenue to co-create and collaborate towards enhancing quality of teaching and learning that would provide more refined educational models and proffering lasting solutions to the challenges of policy formulation in the education sector.