By Sodeinde Temidayo David
The Executive Secretary of Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), Mr Suleiman Bogoro, has blamed low financing for the poor quality of education in Nigeria.
Speaking at the 13th thematic meeting of the TETFund Research and Development Standing Committee (RDSC), Mr Bogoro said this problem, if not adequately tackled, could lead to a big crisis in the education sector.
He noted that the crisis in the sector cuts across all levels from primary through secondary and tertiary levels of learning, stating that the inadequate fund has made it difficult to improve teaching and learning.
But he said TETFund was looking forward to when some areas that have suffered inadequate funding from the appropriation window will be taken care of, including making more funds available to institutions.
He, however, said the recent increment in the nation’s education budget by 50 per cent and plans to scale it up to 100 per cent by 2025 was one way of government recognising the challenges in the sector
The TETFund boss stated that the government has announced its intention from the budget year of 2022 to raise the education budget by 50 per cent and scale it up and gradually double it to 100 per cent by the year 2025.
According to him, this is something that is not immediately expected but the government has made the pronouncement.
“So, I imagine that the 2022 budget will reflect that 50 per cent increase,” he noted.
“The most vibrant economies are so because they have allowed education to dictate the way forward through qualitative research, to make a difference. In Nigeria, it cannot be different,” he added.
He also noted the government’s recent move of teachers’ retirement age from 60 to 65, saying the pronouncement is one way to recognise that basic education is the foundation and encourage teachers.
The TETFund boss also lauded the federal government for steps to professionalize teaching and introduce special allowances for teachers, among other incentives.
Modupe Gbadeyanka 
Dipo Olowookere