Dysfunctional education system reason poor parents taking children to private schools – Prof Lai Olurode

A former National Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof Lai Olurode, has disclosed that the dysfunction of the education system in the country was the reason poor parents were enrolling their children in private schools.

Olurode noted that people of the lower class do not have a business with the private schools if the politicians give priority to education.

The retired professor of sociology urged those in power to go back to the drawing board, adding that citizens would prefer to send their children to public schools if they are on per with the private ones.

Olurode spoke in Iwo on Thursday during the presentation of a N500,000 scholarship awards to six indigent but brilliant students of The Wings School and Agbaje College, Iwo.

Sixteen schools which includes public and private were said to have participated in the competition where the awadees emerged.

The scholarship was given to the students by Engr. Najeemdeen Olurode and Mr Sam Olumekun.

Also, a book titled ‘The Backbone of English Language’ authored by Mariam Adebukola Ololude, was launched during the program.

Olurode while appreciating the sponsors of the scholarships, appealed to Nigerians to always find a way of helping the needy.

He said, “Poor parent should not have any business sending their children to private schools if the public schools in the country are functional. Things are hard already and if will be another stress for poor parents who seek good education for their children to send them to private school because of the state of the education sector in the country.

“The first generation of the first set of elites in this country, most of the were products of public schools. Most of my generation as well were products of public schools and they are doing well today.

“The public space is where you build the spirit of nationalism. That is where you meet people of diverse backgrounds where you built national character.

“If the public schools becomes dysfunctional, society will be at a loss. That is why the government need to do more for the public spheres. There is the need for us to return back to how our public institutions were before.

“If the presence of facilityes in the public schools is comparism with the private schools, no one would be willing to take their children to the private schools.”

Earlier, the Akire of Ikire-Ile in Ola-Oluwa Local Government Area, Oba Abdulazeez Olatunbosun Adebamiji, urged well-meaning Nigerians to help those who are in need.

Oba Adebamiji noted that helping the poor children have good education is better than spending money on frivolities.

The monarch also called on government at all level to take education as a priority, urging the beneficiaries of the scholarship not to disappoint their sponsorers and parents.

Also, the College Liberian, Federal College of Education, Iwo who is the book reviewer, Dr DF Iyanda, commended the author of the book on the job, calling on parents to get the book for their children.

Dr Iyanda who was represented by Mr Buraimo, charged the scholarship beneficiaries to be good ambassadors of their school.

The author of the book, Mariam Adebukola Olodude in her word, acknowledged the role of Proffesor Olurode in the production of the book.

Ololude who noted that Professor Olurode inspired and charged her to write the book, said the book simplified English language and it’s rules for students.

The author called on parents to always monitors their children progress in their academics, as well as use the book in teaching them.

For the Engr Najeemdeen Olurode category, Babatunde Sherifff (The Wings School SS3) emerged 1st and got a scholarship of N100,000 while Awoyoka Abdulaziz from Agbaje College (SS3), Iwo N80,000 scholarship for picking up the second position.

Mustapha Yusuf (The Wings School SS3) who emerged third was awarded a N70,000 scholarship.

For the category of Mr Sam Olumekun, Akanni Sofiya (The Wings School SS1) got a N100,000 scholarship,
AbdulAzeex Abdulsalam, also from The Wings School (SS1), got N80,000 scholarship while an SS1 student of Agbaje College,
Abdulsalam Roheemo, was awarded a N70,000 scholarship.