Education Summit; Stakeholders, CSACEFA call for increase in Education funding in Imo

To address the challenges of the education sector, the Civil Society Action Coalition on Education for All (CSACEFA) has called on the Government to make more budgetary provisions for the sector to meet the UNESCO requirement and at same time asked stakeholders to support goverment in funding the sector.

The Coalition opined that the increase in funding is very necessary to address various challenges facing the sector for transformative impact in the state.

Speaking during the Education Out Loud (EOL) project, Education Summit organized by Civil Society Action Coalition on Education For All (CSACEFA) in collaboration with the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, and IMSUBEB yesterday at IMSUBEB Multi purpose hall, the Commissioner for Primary and Secondary Education, Prof. Johncliff Nwadike said that the education of children must be taken seriously, adding that Children represent 20% of world’s population, while 100% of the future of the country lies in education of the children. He insisted that if the education sector is not financed, the state and country at large will have no future and happiness.

Prof Nwadike

Prof Nwadike noted that government cannot do it alone, while calling on individual stakeholders to contribute their quota to the development of education. He frowned at the poor renumeration of teachers by especially private schools.

He called on communities to mobilize efforts in rebuilding their dilapidated schools and protecting them, stressing that alumni associations should come in and support their alma-mata.

He revealed that Imo State government is planning to establish technical colleges across the 27 LGAs. He disabused the minds of those who say, education is a scam, insisting that education develops a people. He urged corporate institutions to deploy their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds to developing education in the state.

In her comment, the Executive Secretary, Secondary Education Management Board (SEMB), Dame Azubuike Augustina said the Board is doing her best towards ensuring that education receives attention in the state. She encouraged everyone to make contribution to the development of education.

In her goodwill message, the Ag. Chairman IMSUBEB, Mrs Okeke, Ifeoma reminded participants of the power of collective action in shaping the destiny of the children and the nation. She emphasised that Education for All is the responsibility of all, not the government alone.

In his submission, the traditional ruler of Ubomiri autonomous community (Ishi Ubom of Ubomiri) HRH, Eze, Emma Saint George Eke, who spoke passionately said that parents should begin to introduce their children to learning skills. He expressed fear that if nothing is done to make education transformative, those who do technical jobs might fizzle out of the land in the next few years. He pointed out that regrettably, what attracts the youths of this days is quest for drugs, taking of excessive alcohol, cultism, among others which puts their future in danger. He urged the stakeholders to continue to put in their efforts to elevate the status of education in the State.

In her Paper Presentation on the theme of the Summit: Education Financing: The Role of Critical Stakeholders in Imo State, Blessing Duru, Director of Programs Alliances for Africa (AFA), said that the budget of the State on education is abysmally inadequate to address the challenges of education in the state, adding that government which is a major stakeholder must first set a standard for quality education, provide training for teachers, ensure employment of professional teachers, increase the budget to have funds to address identified challenges and ensure timely disbursement of same for purposes of transparency and accountability. She recommended putting concerted efforts into getting philanthropic grant’s for the sector and establishment of educational subsidies, amongst others.

In her remarks, the Southeast Coordinator of CSACEFA, Mrs. Eunice Egbuna appreciated the Imo State stakeholders especially the commissioner for Primary and Secondary Education, SEMB, IMSUBEB, CSOs for their support in promoting education, stressing that it is a privilege, that Imo State is one of the States that have organized the education summit. She urged the stakeholders to continue the good work until the education financing is enhanced.

In his opening speech, CSACEFA Coordinator, Imo State chapter, Elder Kenneth Amogu appreciated CSACEFA National Secretariat for considering Imo State worthy to be part of the Education Out Loud Project. He noted that the Education Out Loud EOL Project Education Summit is coming at a time every education stakeholder in the State needs to redouble their efforts in ensuring that the SDG 4 is achieved, adding that education in the State is yet to become transformative which aims to eradicate poverty. He lauded stakeholders for making out time to attend.

One of the highlights of the summit was Imo CSACEFA presentation of an analysis of the 2024 State Budget, relating it to the Education sector.

The Secretary of CSACEFA, Imo State chapter, Juliet Okeiyi made the presentation that showcased the budgetary allocation to the sector in 2023 as 4.98% of total state budget and in 2024 the allocation to the sector stood at 4.23% of total state budget. The presentation also revealed the very low budgetary provision (N3m) in 2024, for teachers professional development, amongst other. The presentation made recommendations on how to address critical challenges facing the sector and called for a Gender Responsive Education Sector Plan (GRESP) for the state, increase in the sector budget, improvement of teachers professional development funds provisions, curriculum review, school security and infrastructure, Quality Sector Data base, engagement of professional teachers including male teachers, among others.

The representative of the Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Budget, Economic Planning and Statistics, Mr. Obinna Ojiaka posited that the education sector budget line must align with the government’s 10 years development plan of 2023-2033.

The UNICEF Desk Coordinator of IMSUBEB, Dr. Mrs. Chinwe Adim-Madumere encouraged participants to continue to contribute to the development of education at their Individual levels, while appreciating all and sundry for coming.

Participants at the summit were drawn from representatives of the office of the Accountant General of the State, Ministry of Women Affairs and gender development, Ministry of Tertiary and Technical Education, IMSUBEB, SEMB, media, civil society organizations, School Based Management Committees (SBMC), NCWS, Traditional Authority, among others stakeholders in the education sector.

In a communique issued at the end of the summit, participants agreed as follows; Education financing is the responsibility of every stakeholder, but starting with the government being the major stakeholder. Government should increase Education Sector funds to meet best practices, and have the resources to address the identified present challenges like, need for a Gender Responsive Education Sector plan, teachers training and professional development, Sector Data Base, Need to leverage technology, and for SMART Schools in the state for transformative Education, while government works to increase the budgetary allocations to the sector, corporate organisations should make provisions for the state Education sector through their CSR funds, Faith Based organisations should also partner with Government in funding the sector, communities must use their vigilante groups to protect Education projects in their domain and encouraged to embark on Education related projects at their own schools, individuals and Philanthropists should see the need to set up Education support schemes and foundations especially for the poor households, CSO should work with Government to attract available international, and Philanthropic funding for Education related interventions.