Only "Painful" Decisions Will Save Nigeria, Says Anwukah, Minister of State For Education

..... Plans Are Underway to Restore Value of Education.
BY INNONEWS.COM

ANWUKAH

If Nigeria must survive and blossom, only painful decisions that will lead to the progress of the country must be taken by the Buhari Administration, according to Anthony Anwukah, Nigeria’s Minister of State for Education.

Anwukah who spoke to Forum of Imo Newspaper Editors (FINE), an association made up of editors of Imo State based Newspapers and Online News outfits, said it is important subsidy of petrol is removed in order to save so much funds for Nigeria.

He said 78% of the nation’s revenue is consumed by oil subsidy and debt profile of the country, stressing that only subsidy removal will give the nation a breather.

 Anwukah said the nation’s economy was bruised by the Jonathan administration, adding that if the immediate past government had won re- election and continued in office, Nigeria would have crumbled.

He spoke on the need for Nigerians to pay their taxes regularly and explained that the economy of the nation was so battered by the previous PDP administration.

“Nigeria is the only place in the world where the people find it difficult to pay taxes.  If we must move away from the present economic condition we should not be talking of fuel subsidy now. Subsidy has been a drain on the nation and the President is worried about the situation” he explained.

The Minister said plans are underway to restore the value of education in the country.

 He said “The state of education in the country is worrisome. We met an education system that was run by pretenders.

“However, we are conversant with the situation and we are trying to put the education system back on track.

The former Secretary to Imo State Government added that part of the measures to be introduced to sanitize the system is to restore value in the education system by ensuring that only those qualified to teach teach in the schools.

“We are introducing a system where every teacher has to undergo a two years moratorium. Teaching will cease to be an all comers affair and every teacher has to be registered with the Teachers Registration Council and have a Teachers certificate.

 The Minister revealed that values ought to be restored in the teaching profession, admitting that the primary school system has been worst hit because there have been no professional techniques applied in the teaching job.

“There must be value in education. Our values must be re- introduced at all levels and it must be recovered. Quacks in the teaching job will be stopped. Our teachers must have instruments of the teaching profession. And there will be incentives for teachers of science and others.

He admitted that task ahead is challenging, but maintained that the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu and his humble self are conversant with the problems plaguing the education system in the country, stressing that their portfolio fall within their competence.