The presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 general elections, Peter Obi has lamented the poor performance by Nigeria students in the recently released results by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC).
TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports that the results released by the examination body recorded a 7.69 per cent decrease in the performance of candidates who sat for the examination in Nigeria.
In reaction, Obi in a statement on Monday called for an increased investment in the education sector as he stressed that the government investment in education remains poor.
The former Anambra governor also lamented what he called constant decline in “our educational performance and other critical areas” which he said “demands urgent attention and action.”
He said that “with our claimed literacy rate of over 50%, we are still ranked 187 on the global scale of literacy, reflecting a visible lack of commitment to education in the country.
“Our investment in education, as with other critical areas, remains poor.
“A total capital expenditure for the entire education sector, including the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), was allocated N330.3 billion.
“For a country with about 81,520 schools at the primary level and 23,550 schools at the secondary level, such an amount is visibly poor,” he stated.
He pointed out that “the aggressive investment in education we made in Anambra State under my administration greatly transformed education in the State, and still bears fruits to this day.
“I sincerely congratulate all the students who sat for the 2024 WASSCE, especially those who made impressive results.
“I applaud their efforts, hard work, and dedication to their studies, which paid off.
“And to their respective schools, management, staff, and teachers – I especially celebrate you all. Your contributions to the educational growth and overall development of our society remain laudable.
“In the famous words of Nelson Mandela, ‘Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world’.
“Our commitment to a New Nigeria where education will be prioritised remains firm.
“A New Nigeria is possible,” he said.