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| A.B. Kagu Ph.D |
Opposed to the
commonality of political populism are the weighty frontiers of virtuous
leadership that often demand the understanding and cascading of ominous
peculiarities against a range of impending priorities to foster legitimate
societal needs. ‘A scale of preference’ as the economist will like to say;
certain preferences need not be scaled at all; they are innately at the top of
all imports and must be persuaded no matter what. For Yobe State and indeed
many parts of Nigeria, Education should intuitively be one of such preferences.
The declaration of
a State of Emergency on Education by Gov. Mai Mala Buni during his inaugural
speech is a bold admission of the reality of schools in the state. This purposive
proclamation that came without trepidation speaks volumes. Devastated by years
of insurgency and with an alarming level of illiteracy, any and every
proposition for the future of Yobe State cannot afford to underrate the
overwhelming distress in its education system, especially public schools where
90% of school-aged children are accommodated and taught, to continue plummeting
the way it is happening today. Observing this policy resolve from a macro-economic
context, one is tempted to interrogate the comparative significance of what, by
all measure will require massive capital investment.
On a scholarly
scale, the significance of investing in education is of prodigious
legitimacy. Numerous studies have
validated the principality of improving both the quality and access to
education. Since the last four decades, far-reaching outcomes have emerged from
researches conducted, especially in developing economies, which brought to the
fore the need to investing in basic education.
Findings by the
likes of Andrew Forster, who studied the green-revolution in India reveals how
growth in education can be a major catalyst for human capital development,
which then ‘transforms poverty to prosperity’. This mirrors the prevalent
discourse on alternating the profitability of investment as Gary Becker pointed
out to how ‘investing in quality education is one of the most effective means
for an economically viable future’. Others have also made informed submission
on the relationship between education and growth. For instance, the Global
Partnership for Education demonstrates how the quality of education is central
to the achievement of all ‘Global Goals’, especially the goal to end extreme
poverty, as the changing nature of the global economy is one that is driven by
literacy. They led evidence that illuminates how improved literacy explains the
developmental gap that emerged between East Asian Countries and those on
Sub-saharan Africa over the last five decades. In his recent findings, Ojala
Otieno also illustrated how investment in, and expansion of access to quality
education has a ‘direct link with the growth of skilled
population in developing economies’.
By these, one will
clearly see reasons why many countries around the world kept increasing their
budgetary allocation to improve the education sector. Hence, the idea of a
special and robust intervention to resuscitate education in Yobe state is a
lofty one. By pursuing this path, Governor Buni is, no doubt, streamlining his
priorities in ways that will empower future generations to compete favorably in
the global arena.
Struggling at the
bottom of almost every index and indicator, economic and social, it was brave to
admit the inherent setback that this aged-long misfortune has caused the state.
It is also significant that such a firm position was taken in ways that the
future may be confronted via a strategy that supports what Bowman and other
scholars theorized as ‘Human Investment Revolution’, which in economic thoughts
has education as a key component.
The Technical
Committee set up to investigate and recommend on how best to deal with this
scourge of falling standard, especially in Basic and Secondary Schools has given
an honest account of what is at stake across the hundreds of schools in the
state. They have also raised careful and feasible observations and
recommendation on what must be done to rescue the system.
Undoubtedly,
the findings and submissions are as complex as the task ahead. However, the
overwhelming battle will subsequently rest on Buni’s desk to deliver on this
futuristic resolve, which will involve series of massive expenditure that the
government has to bear. Although we are dealing with a project whose effect can
only be seen in the long term, an educated society is certainly the most potent
tool to drive economic and social development in this age and time. If effectively executed, this whole idea will
unquestionably turn out to be one of Buni’s greatest legacies and also one that
will certainly accrue over the life-cycle of generations to come.
Abubakar
Bukar Kagu Ph.D
Director,
Centre for Research and Capacity Development on Humanitarian Studies, Yobe
State University
abbakagu@gmail.com
Good observation
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