Maiduguri, Nigeria – October 15, 2023 – In a bid to address the persistent issue of underfunding in Nigeria’s tertiary institutions, Professor Abdulfattah Abaoba, a distinguished scholar in Computer Engineering at the University of Maiduguri, has proposed a significant overhaul of the country’s educational system.
Speaking at a seminar titled ‘In search of Robust Funding Paradigm For Education In Nigeria,’ organized by ABK Alliance Limited in Maiduguri on Saturday, Professor Abaoba emphasized the urgent need for what he termed the “contraction” of Nigeria’s educational system. This contraction, as per his recommendations, involves the merging of higher education institutions, including universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education, based on the courses offered in the national curriculum.
Under this system, institutions would specialize in specific courses and fields of study, rather than attempting to offer a wide array of disciplines. This, according to Professor Abaoba, would lead to greater efficiency and improved resource allocation in the education sector.
Furthermore, Abaoba suggested that certain courses should be offered exclusively by a select number of universities, and there should be a reduction in the number of students admitted to particular disciplines. He argued that implementing a “Market-based Admission” system would help prevent the admission of an excessive number of students, which strains the resources and capabilities of educational institutions, leading to graduates without employment prospects.
By adopting the market-based approach, students would be admitted and graduated in accordance with the current demands of the job market. This strategy aims to reduce the expenditure on training a surplus of graduates for jobs that do not exist, aligning education with the needs of the economy.
In addition to the proposed contraction of the education system, Professor Abaoba recommended a hybrid teaching and learning approach that combines traditional methods with information and communication technology (ICT). This hybrid model, he argued, would save substantial funds that would otherwise be allocated for constructing and maintaining educational infrastructure.
The hybrid system would reduce the emphasis on physical infrastructure, with the exception of laboratories and workshops, while encouraging the use of cyberspace for teaching and learning. Professor Abaoba emphasized that adopting these measures would lead to significant cost savings for educational institutions and enhance the quality of education, ultimately streamlining the nation’s education system.
Professor Abaoba’s call for reform in Nigeria’s education sector reflects the growing concern for effective funding and the need to adapt to changing educational landscapes through innovative approaches.