An educationist and former Rector of Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Waheed Kadiri, has lamented what he described as “over-regulation” of the Nigerian education system.
Kadiri, who was president of the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (NITP), faulted the federal government and policymakers on the regulation, saying if care is not taken it would further deepen decay in the education system.
He spoke in Abeokuta, Ogun State, during a media roundtable organised by “Friends of Waheed Kadiri” as part of activities marking his 70th birthday.
The former rector also bemoaned the politicisation of education and lack of professionalism among lecturers in various tertiary institutions across the nation.
He wondered why lecturers in different tertiary institutions still teach “outdated subjects” in the 21st century, adding that most of the subjects being taught in schools are no longer relevant in the technology-driven age.
Kadiri called on the federal government to review the teaching syllabus at the higher level of education in the country to change the “poor” narrative of the educational sector.
“Government has politicised education. We have over-regulated the educational system. The National Universities Commission (NUC) determines everything in the university system and this won’t help the matter. Professional programmes should be regulated by professional bodies and not NUC.”
