Globally,education is considered as a human right that should be accorded to all human beings. In facts it was the reason a lot of fundamental human rights bodies consider education as a fundamental human rights. However, in Nigeria educational sector,there is still darkness and absolute deception. It is full of favouritism and nepotism only the wards of the overlords are granted a qualitative education. Exploiting the masses but still claim to be running free education. They keep reinstating the phrase”Education is the best legacy” but how are we to convince the next generation that it is truly the best legacy when we have rich criminals and poor graduate. Education in Nigerian schools today has been politicize which seriously affected the development of educational institutions. Today many educational institutions are opened and run in many states on political ground or other flimsy reasons. In Nigerian schools today admission in universities, colleges, polytechnics,monotechnics are sometimes guided by politicians not academic performance. On the other hand,there is gainsaying the fact that primary education is the first cadre that a child climbs in his educational journey.It is as pivotal as ones existence for it serves as the first contact for developing a childs basic literary skills,thinking faculty and transforming him into being a better person among his peers.This is the reason most nation allocates large portion of their national budget spending to the educational sector.Hardly surprising,the reverse order is the case here in Nigeria.
Before now, education in Nigeria has passed through some certain stage of development before the advent of formal education. Nigeria use to have indigenous system of education which involves the participation of all members of the communities. The western kind of education was welcome by the local communities because it creates room for their participation in some key sectors of the country and hence made them members of the missions. When government assured the full control of education responsibility, all alone with financing it with oil money the participation of local communities were not encouraged and this enhance distortion to the entire educations system. In this regard the strength of government to provide the necessary schools materials has become weak, now the government sick for alternative of sharing the responsibilities with other source of income. Sincerely speaking, there is no head hidden in the fact that Nigeria schools are below standard of normancy in view of scarcity of resource to finance their schools and its facility are out of use and irregular payment of teacher salaries. It the predicament that government transformed the funding and administration of primary education to local government has generated a lot of difficulties in the educational sector because; the local government could not afford to shoulder this responsibilities of primary schools. Primary education is left unconcerned for since federal government couldn’t make authentic policy statement about whose responsibility is it to handle this important level of education and this has been the problem since till date. Now, the primary education is still been handle by the federal government but yet no drastic change.They have failed in their responsibility of empowering the local communities accordingly,leaving them in the ensuing drama of making a choice between sustainability and proper education.Notwithstanding,the local community are also endangering themselves by not devising a measure of lifting themselves away from the quicksand and without and iota of doubt I still see no hope in the nearest future if we fail to make drastic change in the point about to be highlighted below.
To begin with,Finding effective ways to involve and engage community is key – understanding a community’s unique strengths and challenges is a right place to start to successfully bring it into schools to contribute and affect positive change. This can be done through awareness programs, adult education, citizenship responsibility and roles. Introduce open day’s initiative: Invite all community to attend regular school meetings so they can see and know what is happening and encourage them to take up roles. For instance, individuals can offer mentoring services and overseeing some school activities, among others. Mentoring students on their academic performance, behaviour and life is very important for the growth and development of learners. Proper mentorship leads to good performance as the learners feel those who help and encourage them deserve nothing less. A student without a mentor is like an explorer without a map. Volunteering is one of the most common and popular ways to encourage community involvement in schools: Connect with community to benefit from their various strengths, competences and generosity. Enlist volunteers like local businesses, civic organisations, charities, non-profit foundations and other groups in the community to come in before, during and after school. Volunteering can come in many different ways and forms: invite local leaders, alumni and well wishers to visit the schools and speak about their professions on career’s day. Encourage community members to get involved by volunteering with enrichment opportunities such as tutoring, fine arts clubs, sports clubs and many others. Create and publicise sponsorship and donation programmes/needs throughout the community to give local organisations and businesses the opportunity to partner with the school. The justification is that not every individual, organisation, business and family will have the time and capacity to participate in-person and on-site volunteer opportunities and engagements. Further more; creating meaningful partnerships with the community is essential. For example, partnering with scholastic suppliers to supply at subsidised prices would make materials affordable to children.
Conclusively,as we seek to refine and reform today’s system of education, emphasis on community involvement is crucial. Get community involved even if it means taking school meetings and discussions to the community – this could be to places of worship, social places and even work places. The prosperity of schools as critical learning centres will only accelerate with full involvement of the community in them. The fact that community plays a vital role should not be downplayed or overlooked. Learners’ success is generally the result of three groups namely; teachers, parents and community collaborating to provide the best opportunities for the future.
A Research conducted by Abdulkabeer Ibn Tijani
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