• Underfunding: The education sector has been neglected, and poor funding is a major problem.
• High Cost of Education: The cost of education is alarming, making it difficult for parents to provide quality education for their children.
• Poor Implementation of Educational Policies: The Nigerian policy/curriculum has been reviewed and redesigned several times but remains ineffective due to poor implementation.
To address these challenges, the association plans to:
• Engage Stakeholders: Collaborate with stakeholders within and outside USOSA to improve public education.
• Promote Cultural Understanding: Teach children to think critically and see beyond divisions.
• Restore Unity Schools’ Glory: Introduce new ideas to elevate the support for public education.
Addressing the Unity Schools Old Students Association, Walson-Jack stressed the importance of inclusivity, cultural ties, and harmony among students. She envisioned a Nigeria where schools teach children the beauty of every tribe, cultural strength, and shared destiny, fostering cultural understanding and bridging long-standing divides. However, she expressed concerns that today’s unity schools are filled with students from the same tribe and tongue, unlike in the past when people from different tribes gathered in the same schools.
Walson-Jack also regretted not having enough time to execute her ideas during her tenure at the Federal Ministry of Education but was confident that her successor would continue her work. She encouraged the association to collaborate and introduce new ideas to restore the glory of unity schools.
USOSA President-General Mike Magaji acknowledged the challenges facing public education in Nigeria and outlined plans to stimulate stakeholder interest in unity schools. The association aims to engage stakeholders to elevate support for public education, especially at the secondary school level.
