The federal government on Monday expressed worry over ineffective implementation of policies in the education sector.
The permanent secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, Mr. Andrew Adejo, expressed the concern during the 67th National Council on Education (NCE) meeting held in Ikeja, Lagos.
The theme of the NCE meeting is, “Addressing the Challenges of Policy Implementation: A Panacea for the Achievement of Education 2030 Agenda.”
Adejo, who was represented by the director, Educational Planning, Research and Development (EPR&D) in the ministry, Mrs. Obianuju Anigbogu, said there was the need to ensure proper implementation of education policies, for a robust sector.
The permanent secretary said the education policies faced delays and the lack of regular reviews to reflect national needs and aspirations, “the lack of consistent monitoring and evaluation to check policy implementation.”
“When policies that guide a nation are not implemented at the appropriate time the consequences are backwardness, under development, unemployment for graduates, poverty and insecurity.
“In order to tackle the challenges of policy implementation all hands must be on deck,” Adejo said.
He, however, said both the federal government and many state governments had begun to prioritise funding education, as witnessed in the budget estimates, already before the National Assembly and some state governments.
“It is not enough to have adequate funds to show positive improvement in our education sector, we must all commit to put in our best to ensure that programmes are delivered appropriately to reach the desired beneficiaries.
“Effective monitoring and evaluation of the National Council on Education (NCE) decisions has also been identified as a game-changer in actualising policies, this will not only make our educational system functional but globally competitive.”
Also speaking, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos state said the NCE was a major stakeholders’ forum designed to brainstorm and collectively articulate ideas, towards improving education service delivery of the country. (NAN).
