BENIN CITY – Prominent social-cultural organization in Edo state, Etsako Club 81 has commenced what it termed the journey to savage the deteriorating standard of education in the Edo North senatorial district for the benefit of the young and unborn generations of the senatorial zone, the state and the country at large.

The club said that the worrisome state of primary and secondary education in the region leaves a sour taste in the mouths, hence the need for the indigenes from the area to pull efforts and resources together and collaborate with the State government, communities, Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), investors in the region and well meaning individuals to address the challenge.

This year’s activity of the club brought together seasoned, retired and serving educationists, including experts in vocational training, traditional rulers and Afenmai indigenes resident across Nigeria, Europe and America in a town hall webinar conference with the theme: ‘Education, the way forward in 2021 and beyond.”

Speakers expressed shock at the abysmal level that primary and secondary school education has fallen, saying that something urgent needs to be done.

President of Etsako Club 81, Dr. Mahmudu Dako in his address traced the challenge to failure by successive administrations to build on the free education policy of the late Professor Ambrose Alli in the old Bendel state which he added opened the vista of education for indigent families of the period.

The Club President said that Edo North region is face with little and poor quality teaching personnel, inadequate supervision of academic activities, descript infrastructure, parents lackadaisical attitude to child education and political interference in the running and management of schools.

He however said that with supports from well meaning sons and daughters of Afenmailand, Etsako Club 81 would join hands wit Edo State and local government in the zone to revamp the falling education standard in their homeland.

According to him, the club desires to equip schools in the region with teaching equipment and ensure that well trained and dedicated staff tutor students in the area, as well as enhance conducive learning environment.

Keynote Speaker and Vice Chancellor, Edo State University, Professor Emmanuel Aluyor, proffering solutions on how to arrest the situation urged government to establish a teacher training and technical colleges in Edo North so as to train and develop the manpower needed to ensure the the plans and efforts been put in place to address the parlour standard does not meet similar challenges in the future.

Other speakers at the webinar included the National President of All Nigerian Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS), Mr. Aslem Izuagie; retired Directors of Education in Edo state, Mrs. Queensly Okhumale and Mr. Stephen Oshoke; US based girl child campaigner, Mrs. Grace Egbagbe Esq.; the Aidonojie of South Ibie, HRH Aliu Danesi; President of Afenmai World Congress (AWC), Dr. David Iyalomhe who spoke from California in the United State of America and Mr. Patrick Inobemhe Esq

They all lamented that Afenmailand is faced with dire consequences in the near future if nothing is done to urgently arrest the deteriorating standard of education in the region.

They observed that thousands of their children, either lack basic reading and mathematics skills or are drop outs for various reasons and therefore advocated establishment of learning centers in communities and towns in the region, provision and upgrade of dilapidated schools infrastructure and addressing poverty in rural communities

They also called on governments at all levels to change their attitude towards the development of education and tackle corruption in the education ministry.

They challenged communities in Afenmailand and well meaning indigenes to assist the state and local governments by adopting a child or teacher for training in order to improve educational manpower development.

The United State based President of Afenmai World Congress (AWC), Dr. David Iyalomhe disclosed that AWC would soon embark on the provision of school materials to selected schools in Etsako land, with setting aside of N7 million to provide desks, chairs and other instructional materials for schools in the area.