Reactivating public education: Saving our future from grip of exorbitant private school fees

POINTBLANK With Smart Emmanuel
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During our secondary school days, our Physics teacher often reminded us of a profound quote by Pythagoras : “The beginning of every government starts with the education of our youths.” This statement accentuates a timeless truth that no government can thrive without prioritizing education.

It is no coincidence that the early colonial masters chose to work closely with the enlightened; they understood that education is the foundation upon which leadership, governance, and societal progress are built.

Sincerely education is the bedrock of national development, social mobility, and personal empowerment. Yet in our nation today, a worrying trend has taken root, the decay of public schools and the rising dependence on private primary and secondary institutions.

This situation is not just an educational concern; it is a national issue that affects the fate of our children, the faith of our nation, and the collective hope for a better future.

A cursory glance into our public school system reveals a disheartening reality. Once the pride of our educational heritage, public schools have been left in ruins structurally, administratively, and morally.

Classrooms that once shaped the dreams of leaders are now characterized by cracked walls, leaking roofs, broken desks, and overcrowded spaces. The management system is often unchecked, riddled with bureaucracy, mismanagement, and a lack of innovative vision. Most painfully, these institutions have become the last resort for families who simply cannot afford the skyrocketing fees of private schools.

The role and status of public school teachers, once revered as nation builders, have also been diminished. Today, many of them work under poor conditions, with irregular or insufficient salaries, inadequate teaching materials, and almost no access to professional development. The government’s apathy towards their welfare has demoralized many, leading to a decline in dedication, passion, and overall quality of instruction.

This decline in public education has opened the floodgates for the proliferation of private schools, institutions that often operate without proper regulation or standardization. While some private schools offer quality education, many others exploit the vacuum left by the failing public system, charging exorbitant fees that place a heavy burden on families. For countless parents, it’s a painful dilemma: either endure the inadequacies of public education or struggle to pay the excessive costs of private schooling. In most cases, families are forced to stretch their resources to breaking point, with some taking loans just to keep their children in school. This is not sustainable.

What makes this situation even more distressing is the consistent neglect of the education sector in our national budget. Education, which should take a lion’s share of our annual budget allocation, continues to receive a pitiful fraction.

This underfunding is not just a figure on paper it translates into broken classrooms, unpaid teachers, outdated curricula, and a generation of children whose potential is stifled. It is heartbreaking that in a country teeming with human and natural resources, education the very tool that can lift us from poverty and ignorance remains so grossly undervalued.

It is time for a bold and urgent response. Our government must rise to the occasion and recognize that revitalizing the public education system is a nonnegotiable national priority. The first step is to reactivate and rehabilitate public schools across the country. This means renovating school buildings, providing adequate infrastructure, and ensuring a conducive learning environment for every child regardless of their background.

Secondly, public school teachers must be accorded the respect and support they deserve. Their salaries should be competitive, paid on time, and backed with incentives such as housing allowances, health benefits, and continuous professional development. A motivated teacher will always deliver better results. Also, systems of accountability and performance evaluation should be instituted to maintain high teaching standards.

Thirdly, the issue of exorbitant private school fees must be addressed. While we cannot stop private institutions from operating, the government has a responsibility to regulate their fees and ensure minimum quality standards. Private education should not be a necessity due to public school failure; it should be a choice based on preference. If public schools are strong and reliable, the desperation for private education will naturally decline.

Furthermore, if the government is unable to fully finance the public education sector, it can reintroduce minimal school fees in public schools, but with a well-thought-out system that guarantees affordability and transparency. This payment structure must not become a profit-making venture, but a way to support quality service delivery while ensuring that no child is denied education due to poverty.

Additionally, our leaders must be involved in monitoring and advocating for quality education. The education of our children cannot be left in the hands of the government alone. Every stakeholder must be a part of the process, including parents, alumni, religious bodies, NGOs, and private sector partners.

Reviving our education sector is not just about improving literacy rates, it is about securing the very foundation of our nation’s future. A country that fails to educate its children prepares itself for a future of social unrest, unemployment, crime, and stagnation. Conversely, a country that invests in public education plants the seeds for innovation, productivity, equity, and sustainable development.

In conclusion, we must take a stand. The status quo is unacceptable. We must demand better for our children and for generations to come. Let us call on the government to wake up to its responsibility, reawaken the dreams within our public schools, uplift our teachers, regulate the excesses of private schools, and place education at the forefront of national development. Only then can we say with confidence that our faith in this nation and its future is not misplaced. We need education, quality, accessible, and affordable to move forward.

YAGAZIE!