The National Parents Teachers Association of Nigeria (NAPTAN) has urged a collaborative effort between academic unions in tertiary institutions and the Federal Government to enhance the nation’s education quality in 2024.
In an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria, NAPTAN’s Deputy National President, Adeolu Ogunbanjo, acknowledged the sector’s progress in the outgoing year but stressed the need for improvement through cooperation.
Ogunbanjo emphasized that addressing challenges such as salary increases and allowances should not lead to disruptive strikes, as they adversely impact students.
He specifically urged against a recurrence of issues like the University Academic Staff Union (ASUU) strike and controversies surrounding the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS).
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Insecurity was identified as a significant challenge affecting the education sector, with Ogunbanjo calling on the military and security agents to prioritize the issue in 2024.
He stressed the importance of stern measures to curb school kidnappings and restore confidence among students and parents.
Regarding the Students Loan Bill, set to be implemented in 2024, Ogunbanjo expressed expectations among Nigerians and appealed to the Federal Government to ensure accessible and seamless processes for benefiting students.
He also called on ASUU to address service delivery issues, particularly concerning missing results, urging the union to improve its services to universities, students, and parents.
Commending the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) for not increasing examination fees in 2024, Ogunbanjo appealed to the Federal Government for more grants to tertiary institutions, emphasizing the importance of research funding.
The Deputy National President acknowledged the allocation of N50 billion in the 2024 budget for the student loan scheme, proposed by the Federal Government, and echoed the sentiments expressed by political figure Bola Tinubu in November.
Tinubu emphasized the implementation of the student loan scheme as a sustainable model for funding tertiary education and increasing access to higher education.
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