As part of the process of preparing for the upcoming Youth Assembly at the UN during which members of Cares Global Network (publisher of Willows Magazine) would be representing the Nigerian Youth Council (NYC), we asked our delegates to do a Willows Mirror report on their MDG goals. Here we share with you Lanre Jolaoso's paper. Lanre is a member of CGN and a Willows Magazine columnist.
Achieving Universal Primary Education - Lanre Jolaoso
Education is a critical issue in the development of any
nation, a nation that fails to invest adequately in it would obviously suffer
the consequences. A lot of attention is needed particularly in developing countries
such as ours if the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) targets are to be met. I
was opportune to have done some parts of my national service in some part of
Northern Nigeria; there I was able to witness the apathy residents have towards
education, particularly “western education”. Even with the incentives of feeding in schools
offered by the local and state governments to keep the children in school,
there are still large numbers of them who engage in other things like street begging
and hawking during school hours amongst others.
The schools that exist there also lack the infrastructure
to work efficiently; from the non-availability of study materials to the use of
unqualified teachers and so on; a situation that has led to the heavy reliance
of youths corps member who must also be mentioned are mostly not trained
teachers. A lot of investment and
sensitisation has to be done in these areas in order to ensure sustainable
development and deter youths from being misled into extremisms and other vices.
There are significant
social and economic differences between developed and developing countries. The
underlying cause of these differences is rooted in how one has been able to
invest in Education and how the products of this investment are contributing
towards his economy and nation building; and how the other has failed to
adequately invest in this sector. All nations that have attained
development and those on the path to it are nations that have taken education
seriously and have devoted the recommended budgetary percentage into the
development of its youths and educational sectors.
The UN has to review the MDGs particularly that of
achieving universal basic education which in my opinion is most crucial; and
look at ways of ensuring compliance by member states towards commitments made
for the actualisation of the Millennium Development Goals. The only chance
developing nations have to attain development is if the target of achieving
universal basic education is met. Hence a higher priority must be placed on it
and all efforts must be geared towards attaining it. The Politicisation of the
issue of education must cease and all stakeholders must genuinely put hands on
deck to make sure that every child in Nigeria is given the right to
quality basic education.
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