By Who Bewitched Our Leaders? By Abisola Obasanya
Who bewitched us?BBC, Cbeebies UK, where is the Nigerian ETV?
Who bewitched us?
These leaders have children that school or schooled all over the world abroad. Yet, they can’t copy and implement simple principles and practices!
Who bewitched us?
Some of their children arrived Nigeria and have been taking online classes from their various schools abroad. Since March- 2nd term, they went on Easter break and have resumed school since April 20th. However, online classes is not 3rd term in Nigeria.
Who bewitched us?
The almighty GSCE/IGSCE has allowed predicted grades- formative assessment, which may be the new order of the day but uneducated and corrupt WAEC and JAMB systems are saying 3rd term has not resumed.
Who bewitched us?
They have paid fees to all these schools abroad since some collect twice a year and there is a term’s deposit for defaulters and they are saying Nigerian schools should be charging monthly for online classes? How will teachers in private schools be paid?
Who bewitched us?
We understand that we parents are not working and things are hard but truly schools differ from one another. Why can’t you let the schools deal with their parents on case by case basis? Let the parents go to schools they can really afford. Schools are online now, parents can even enrol abroad through online learning then school owners will have to give reasonable discounts. School owner, this is the time to focus on service delivery and give good discounts, loads of parents do not have adequate income to pay your huge fees. Some school owners may not even be able to deliver online education unless the Government intervenes.
So who bewitched us?
Why is it difficult for the state ministries of education to set up their own e-learning platforms to cater for the students? Even private schools will be able to access this. Or are they just to manage public schools?
Who bewitched us?
Is this not a good opportunity to meet up with the world? But instead, they are building more gaps?
Who bewitched us?
Why are simple things always complex for us and our trusted leaders fail to rise up when they truly should? Which other opportunity are they waiting for to enact a technologically compliant educational system?
Who bewitched us?
I read yesterday that some UK councils are supplying laptops to underpriviledged students so that no child is left behind and we are saying 3rd term can’t be done through online learning when China- the root of COVID-19- has resumed school?
Who bewitched us?
Is this not the time to make the business case with IT service providers, offer them sensentives, reduction in taxes – Microsoft, Google, MTN, Airtel, Glo, Samsung, Hp, Apple, Zinox etc and in turn get free or highly subsidised data for 3 hours each day on selected e-learning platforms and fo them to also make laptops available for each Nigerian educator/student/school in need?
Who bewitched us?
Oh sorry, they cannot because there no adequate data. They don’t even know the records? They don’t have each child’s photo or know where they live or if their parents details and economic status.
Who bewitched us?
They keep saying children from state schools are children of market women, but those children are on facebook, day and night even from age 13 and below.
A lot of them have phones that browse and they journey through and fro school and their parents monitor them through phones more than children in the private schools?
Who bewitched us?
Is this not time to build an app and get every Nigerian child’s information in there; state by state, from LG to LG and monitor the progress, health, welfare, from school to school, from LG to LG, to even check the level of education and dropouts rate? I will deliver this in a state in 6months but NO; they won’t give people like us with practical educational sophistication the opportunity.
Who bewitched us?
Some states have 1million, 2 million plus children and cannot manage them?
To provide decent schools, train teachers, quality education and good healthcare seem a mirage.
Who bewitched us?
When will all the money they are borrowing touch and truly reform our educational system?
Are we going to use all the money to buy food for the poor?
Who bewitched us?
We are truly bewitched because we are allowing same things over and over. Even when good people get to the corridor of power in Nigeria, they are not savage enough to deliver.
Are we all not tired of talking, webinars, stating the problems, tv shows, interviews? We know the problem and they know the problem but they lack the zeal and love to implement because they steal enough money to pay for their own children and great grand children’s education abroad.
Lord, send us a saviour! Deliver us from our wicked and illiterate leaders.
Abi Obasanya is an Educational consultant and Founder of Arc Lights Foundation
