The Senate President, Ahmad Lawan has urged governments at all levels to invest more in public schools to improve the standard of education in the country.
Lawan made the call at the grand finale of the 2022 National Quiz Competition organised by the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS) held in Abuja on Thursday.
It was gathered that the competition was on “The Legislature and Democracy” organised for secondary schools across the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and the six geo-political zones.
In his remarks, Lawan said: “I feel that public schools are not doing so well compared to private schools.
“Out of the seven schools for this quiz competition, only three are public schools and four private schools. And that tells a story.
“The story tells me that our private schools appear to be more successful and therefore can win and beat public schools.
“This is very significant to us. It is a wake-up call. Government must invest in our public schools.”
Lawan while underscoring the importance of education said that education at the basic level particularly, and the secondary school level should not only be mandatory but free for all citizens across the board.
The senate president, however, said that private schools must be supported financially saying that they are also partners in national development.
Lawan who is also the Chairman of the NILDS Governing Council said that the institute was using the instrumentality of the quiz competition to create awareness, knowledge and understanding of the history, role and function of the Nigerian legislature.
He called on the management of NILDS to collaborate with research institutes and relevant agencies of government to develop a curriculum for schools on legislative and democratic studies.
In a goodwill message, Director-General National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) Malam Balarabe Ilelah said that the commission identifies with the objectives of NILDS.
Lawan urges govts to invest more in public schools