By Abubakar Yunusa Abuja
The Old Students Association of Federal Government Girls’ College (FGGC), Bida, has decried the falling standard of education in Nigeria, saying all hands must be on deck to reverse the trend.
According to the association the present crop students, unlike their old counterparts, do not take education seriously.
Global President of the Association, Bukola Olatunji stated this at a Press Conference in Abuja at the weekend to mark the 48th anniversary of the school and first Global Reunion and Annual General Meeting of the Association.
Olatunji said though the issue of declining education standard was not peculiar to Nigeria alone, there is a need for individuals and government to come up with practical steps to address the challenge.
On her part, Global Secretary of the Association, Angela Atanda, lamented that the problem of insecurity were rampant in virtually all unity schools in Nigeria. She said former students of unity schools in the country under the aegis of the Unity Schools Old Students Association, USOSA were working with relevant goverment agencies to keep the schools safe.
“The USOSA has been doing so much, the truth is our own association alone can’t go to the government and speak but we have a national body that speaks on behalf of all unity schools in Nigeria and we all know that the problem of insecurity in Nigeria does not applied to Bida ,it applied to all unity schools in Nigeria.
Speaking on sexual immorality among secondary school pupils, Olatunji noted that over the years, society has witnessed deterioration in its moral, social and educational values, especially among youths.
“Insecurity is not just the north anymore, it has also spread to the South, east and West. It is a problem and we have situation where security personnel in schools are taking girls from the school and give to men outside. The security issues is general and I can say here that USOSA has been working on that with the ministry of education, security agencies to stem the tide.”
She however, maintained that the core responsibility of child upbringing is on the parents. She said: “The issue of sexual immortality is not something peculiar to girl schools or same sex schools even those who never had opportunity going to secondary school.
The association’s AGM, which held at the weekend was graced by dignitaries, including a member of the association and Deputy Governor of the Central Bank, Mrs. Aisha Ahmad, who delivered the keynote address.
The association also took good will messages from friends and partners, including the Minister for Women Affairs, Dame Pauline Tallen; First Lady of Niger State, Dr Amina Abubakar Bello; Director, Africa Office, MacArthur Foundation, Dr. Kole Shettima; and President General of the Unity Schools Old Students Association (USOSA), Mr Lawrence A. Wilbert.
“I have seen people not educated at all who were homosexuals, lesbians, but more of homosexual and this happens in every area and is not restricted to one part of the country and not even restricted to one nation.
“Moral training for girls child is not assignment for Federal Government Girls College, Bida Association but it is an assignment for every parents to take care of their children and give them strong foundation that would not make them doubt their sexuality
“Moral training is not about what an association like this can do, but it is important to note that going back to school in 2016 was amazing and it was first time going as a group to see what has happened to our school, many of us wept but things have changed dramatically since then, it was a very emotional day for us”.
“It is not just unity schools, something has happened to us. I was in a group of some people that went to visit the United States and they were talking about the issue of people not coming to class but they still got a degree. The quality of education is falling everywhere and it is our duty as individuals to make a difference in our little spaces”, she stated.
Olatunji disclosed that the school has produced over 4,000 graduates, who are in practically every field of human endeavour and are making their alma mater very proud.
On her part, Global Secretary of the Association, Angela Atanda, lamented that the problem of insecurity were rampant in virtually all unity schools in Nigeria. She said former students of unity schools in the country under the aegis of the Unity Schools Old Students Association, USOSA were working with relevant goverment agencies to keep the schools safr.
“The USOSA has been doing so much, the truth is our own association alone can’t go to the government and speak but we have a national body that speaks on behalf of all unity schools in Nigeria and we all know that the problem of insecurity in Nigeria does not applied to Bida ,it applied to all unity schools in Nigeria.
“Insecurity is not just the north anymore, it has also spread to the South, east and West. It is a problem and we have situation where security personnel in schools are taking girls from the school and give to men outside. The security issues is general and I can say here that USOSA has been working on that with the ministry of education, security agencies to stem the tide.”
The association’s AGM, which held at the weekend was graced by dignitaries, including a member of the association and Deputy Governor of the Central Bank, Mrs. Aisha Ahmad, who delivered the keynote address. The association also took good will messages from friends and partners, including the Minister for Women Affairs, Dame Pauline Tallen; First Lady of Niger State, Dr Amina Abubakar Bello; Director, Africa Office, MacArthur Foundation, Dr. Kole Shettima; and President General of the Unity Schools Old Students Association (USOSA), Mr Lawrence A. Wilbert.
