EDITORIAL: As Schools Resume

Schools will resume next week within the context of a cost – of – existence crisis. In a country with millions of children already unacceptably out of school, enrolment figures is bound to drop further, and this is alarming.

Only a handful of state governments are taking countervailing steps such as the provision of school buses and the use of bursaries to augment the shortfalls in school fee payments.

With public sector schools already in dire straits due to underfunding, something must be done to prevent the private sector schools from collapsing.

The present crisis presents an opportunity to take a fresh look at the funding of schools in a situation of declining disposable income. New forms of intervention must be explored. If the number of those out of school continues to rise, the social consequences will be devastating.

READ: EDITORIAL: Preparing For School Resumption

It is important to note that at this juncture, governments at all levels, especially the states, must think outside the box to manage the situation. Incentives like free scholar buses, subsidised taxes for private schools, and other measures are needed in the interim to mitigate the effect of the dire economic situation.

Equally vital at this juncture is the need to provide more teachers at the public primary and post primary levels in Osun. Feelers from our lead story this week speak to why it is vital to hasten the recruitment process to not deny the upcoming generation quality education.

We must do more to save our future.