President Goodluck Jonathan has said that his administration will continue to encourage private sector investment in the nation’s education sector with a view to raising standards.
He also welcomed opportunity for mutually beneficial partnership between the federal government and the Church and other stakeholders so as to further strengthen the sector.
The President spoke on Sunday at the Catholic Bishops conference of Nigeria (CBCN), 2014 first Plenary Meeting with the theme: “Church and state partnership in providing quality education for Nigerian People”, held at the Catholic Pro-Cathedral in Area 3, Garki, Abuja.
According to him, “There are many challenges such as the rising expectations of teachers resulting in industrial actions. Of course you know we just dealt with the university teachers and now we are left with polytechnic teachers.
“The government has also shown sincerity of purpose to resolve such differences that may arise from some inherited problems not caused by this administration.
“Our commitment is to continue to raise standard and ensure quality. We will continue to encourage private sector investment in the education sector.
“It is to this end, that the present administration has been devoting more resources to education sector with the sector now receiving more funding than it has been in the past”.
On the security challenge in the north eastern part of the country, President Jonathan called for continuous prayers, stressing the need for partnership between the government and the church.
“I will urge the church to pray that we overcome the challenge of terrorism and other heinous crime in our country,” he said.
Also speaking, Senate President, David Mark, said “I must commend Mr. President for the courage he exhibited because I am aware that at one point, he was under serious and tremendous pressure not to sign that bill into law by some of the most powerful nations on the earth. But he demonstrated courage and patriotism, we must thank him”.
The President of CBCN, Archbishop Ignatius Ayau Kaigama, in his welcome address called for return of mission schools to the owners.
Kaigama, commended some states, like Benue, Anambra, Delta, Lagos, Ekiti, Plateau, Ondo and Ebonyi, who have demonstrated their commitment to continue to pay salaries of teachers in mission schools, give grants to private schools for infrastructural development and rebuilding of mission schools.
On the upcoming national conference, Archbishop Kaigama had this to say, “May the spirit of reconciliation and understanding inspire delegates and others who participate in it. If we approached in the right spirit, the dialogue could address matters of national significance for the common good of Nigeria and Nigerians.
“It (national conference) should not be mainly concerned about debating or agitating for sectional or regional interests, exclusive rights to resources or even the division of the country.
“More pressing issues in educational, medical or infrastructural development, if well addressed will render all these agitations unnecessary. The conference should truly be concerned about fundamental issues such as how to make our public and civil service officials more accountable, more selfless and more devoted to duties.
“It should ask serious questions and make recommendations about youth social welfare, welfare of pensioners, study how to neutralise an environment saturated with the toxic culture of corruption, the ungodly struggle for political power, the exorbitant cost of governance and above all to evolve effective strategies to avoid the embarrassing terrorist situation brought about by some factors perhaps previously neglected”.
