Education crises: Students group to hold townhall on wayforward

A students group, Education Right Campaign(ERC), on Wednesday said it would convene a town hall meeting on November 13 to discuss the lingering crisis in the education sector.

Mr Hassan Soweto, ERC national coordinator, told newsmen that the meeting would comprise the Nigerian students, workers, trade unions, civil society groups, community and social groups.

Soweto said the groups would jointly discuss all the issues surrounding the Academic Staff Union of University (ASUU) and the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnic (ASUP) strikes and collectively take a resolution on it.

“As we mobilise for the battle to save public education, the ERC is also poised to play a role in mobilising the youth to join Nigeria’s working and poor masses to liberate Nigeria, “he said.

Soweto noted the need for a democratic running of schools and the education sector at large by the Federal Government.

He said that the decision making structures of schools and the education sector must include elected representative of workers, parents and students to ensure judicious spending and proper utilisation of resources.

“While we support and call for increased and proper funding of education, we however stress the need for democratic running of schools and the education sector at large.

“We have no doubt that Nigeria has enough resources to provide a pubilc – funded, free and democratically – managed education system,” he said.

Mr Michael Ogundele, ERC, National Secretary urged the Federal Government to immediately honour the agreement reached with ASUU and ASUP, so that student can resume school.

Ogundele called on the National Association of Nigeria Students (NANS) to retrace its step and join ASUU and ASUP in its struggle to save public education.

He further charged the Inspector General of Police to call his men to order and desist from harassing public University lecturers and education group during their protest for better funding of public education.

ASUU had embarked on an indefinate strike since July 1, and ASUP had resumed its suspended strike 25 days ago to press home several demands from the federal government.