Former education commissioner decries UTME mass failure as reflection of Nigeria’s education crisis

The dismal performance of candidates in the 2024 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) has reignited concerns over the declining quality of education in Nigeria, as highlighted by Professor Oluyemisi Obilade, a former Commissioner for Education in Osun State and ex-Vice Chancellor of Tai Solarin University of Education.

Speaking at a recent public discourse session titled ‘The Crisis in Nigeria’s Education Sector: Are we raising a generation of illiterates?’, hosted via Zoom under the ‘Boiling Point Arena’ series, Professor Obilade lamented the systemic failures plaguing the education sector.

The UTME results revealed that only 23 percent of candidates nationwide scored above 200 out of 400 marks, indicative of a pervasive decline in educational standards.

Addressing the root causes behind the mass failures, Professor Obilade attributed the challenges to multifaceted societal issues.

She criticised the prevailing culture where academic pursuits are undervalued, and materialism supersedes the pursuit of knowledge.

According to her, the erosion of cultural values, pervasive corruption, and neglect of educational infrastructure have contributed to the crisis.

“The educational system is in shambles,” remarked Professor Obilade, highlighting issues such as inadequate staffing, obsolete facilities, underfunding, and rampant corruption in admissions and staffing.

She emphasised the urgent need for collective action and governmental intervention to reverse the downward spiral.

To remedy the situation, Professor Obilade proposed a holistic overhaul of the education sector, advocating for the restoration of dignity to the teaching profession, increased investment in teacher training and infrastructure, and a comprehensive curriculum review to align with current needs.

Echoing similar sentiments, Professor Kolawole Kazeem, former Provost of College of Education, Ilesa, emphasised the shared responsibility of all stakeholders in addressing the crisis, not solely relying on government intervention.

In response to the discourse, Ayo Arowojolu, convener of the ‘Boiling Point Arena’, underscored the importance of such dialogues in seeking solutions to societal challenges and advocating for meaningful reforms in the education sector.