Peter Obi Criticizes FG for Education Sector Crisis

Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nation Democrat Party, criticized the Federal Government's management of the education sector, attributing the ongoing crisis to weak leadership and ineffective policies. He pointed out the failure of the policy to separate junior and senior secondary schools, which has not improved learning outcomes, as evidenced by poor examination results.

Obi cited that only 38% and 32% of candidates passed English and Mathematics, respectively, in the 2024 West African Senior School Certificate Examination. He emphasized that Nigeria's investment in education remains inadequate, with only 6.17% of the total expenditure allocated to the sector, far below UNESCO's recommended benchmark of 15-20%.

Obi lamented the government's failure to support students in international science competitions while neglecting to fund local educational needs. He urged the government to prioritize investments in education, healthcare, and job creation to avoid long-term societal consequences.

Obi's comments followed an announcement by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, regarding the phased policy on school separation, which has contributed to high dropout rates.