Education in Abia state, especially in the public sector is in a state of dysfunction. The students are disillusioned with public education. Their teachers are frustrated in the face of poor motivation and Lack of good facilities.
What is clear is that successive governments have paid lip service to revamp a sector bedevilled by low budgetary allocations, poor incentives for teachers and it is for those reasons and more that the states educational system is in a mess.
Education infrastructure needs to be revamped, especially at the primary level. School graduates often find it difficult getting jobs that match their education, the younger generation frequently sees little practical value in staying in school beyond a few primary grades.
For how long will this continue, nobody knows.
We should appreciate all those who have contributed selflessly over these past 59 years to the promotion of Education. This is the time to remember people such as Prof. S.O Awokoya, the architect of the first free primary education programme in Nigeria. Alvan ikoku who was among the first set of Nigerians to build privately funded secondary schools and all those who built regional universities, polytechnics and colleges of education, secondary and primary schools, the teachers who toiled over the years to advertise, globally, the innate qualities and talents available in the country.
Education experts say, it is difficult not to agree with them.
NWAGBOGU AMARA GODGIVE writes from Umuahia
