Improving access to education must come off as an intentional effort on the path of government in conjunction with key, strategic industrial establishments. Certain infrastructural provisions must be made to bring education to the doorsteps of the less privileged of our society and give everyone male and female alike a chance to acquire formal education at least up to basic reading and writing literary level.
By improving access to education, we mean reorienting many of our locals who see no use for sending their wards and dependents to school. Efforts must be made to make education a priority for citizens in every African country. This would help reduce our out-of-school children’s statistics that has tainted the continent for a while. Our youthful population must be made to understand and feel the impact of applying one's self to an educational regimen. Government must adopt the UNESCO recommendation of setting aside at least 26% of a country's yearly budgetary allocation to see that public schools are built and well maintained, instructional materials are available to aid and improve learning outcomes and education workers are well motivated and incentivized to impact knowledge on their students.
A society cannot grow past the level of her interest in the education of her citizenry. While access to public education is made hassle free, the academic performance of beneficiaries (youths and students) is bound to witness a major boost. Industries which are the growth drivers of an economy must coordinate with education bodies and ministries to devise a curriculum that would effectively sync the classroom feeds with industrial needs. That way, students can have hands-on, practical work experience in their disciplines. This would spur them to put up a good showing academically so as to stand a chance of landing the dream jobs in their field.
Access to education will promote and provide avenue for research that would proffer solutions to some of our socio-economic challenges. An educated citizenry would translate to an informed nation where there is an abundance of skilled workers to control the factors of production. They would also be able to make good political choices.
Access to quality education is one of the hallmarks of most industrialized nations of the world. Africa must begin tow that line with immediate effect.
credit: Sam Adedoyin/ edit: ToluRock