By Charles Ayodele
A Professor of Educational Management in the faculty of Education, Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti, EKSU, Professor Babatope Bukola Arogundade, has lamented over the erratic efforts to actualise conducive work environment in Universities across the Country.
Delivering his lecture at the 73rd Inaugural lecture of the Institution with the theme: “Repositioning work environment towards sustainable educational development in Nigeria”, he noted that Nigeria’s educational institution are lacking the required conducive work environment that could ensure sustainable educational development in terms of provision of physical facilities, participation in decision-making process, among others.
In his words, “There had been a common belief among Scholars, Researchers, Educational planners and administration that conducive work environment deserves priority attention.
“No sufficient efforts has been made to actualise this in Nigeria’s educational institutions.
“Nigeria’s educational institutions are not enjoying the required conducive work environment that could ensure sustainable educational development in terms of provision of physical facilities, motivation, participation in decision-making process, authority/staff/student relationship, information services, effective supervision, adequate financial and others.”
While calling on the federal government to honour the recommendation of 26% expenditure on education by UNESCO, he also advocated for more provision of facilities like good lecture rooms, equipped laboratories and libraries, good offices space, lecture theatres and recreational facilities.
He urged the federal and state government to adequately fund the Institutions across the country in order to enhance the effectiveness of both the lecturers and students alike for the objectives which is within the orbit of the goal for sustainable development.
“The importance of school facilities cannot be over -emphasized. Hence there should be more provision of such facilities like good lecture rooms, equipped laboratories and libraries, good offices space, lecture theatres and recreational facilities in order to enhance the effectiveness of both the lecturers and students alike for the objectives which is within the orbit of the goal for sustainable development.
“Special training programmes such as seminars, induction courses, conferences and workshops that are capable of improving the school work environment and academic programmes should be provided to facilitate sustainable development.
“Proper monitoring and supervision of educational institutions should be done to enhance sustainable development. No organization can function effectively without supervision. It is a formative, supportive and developmental tool which has to be provided to improve and promote growth and development.
“The government should address the problem of funding the educational institutions adequately, provide necessary infrastructure, conducive teaching and learning environment, make teachers’ welfare a matter of priority and equip the educational institutions. The government should as a matter of honour the recommendation of 26% expenditure on education by UNESCO and think ahead to meet these needs to prevent incessant strike.
“Participation in decision-making process in the school system should be effectively utilized since it was discovered that it helps in achieving sustainable development goals. The students, teachers, non-teaching staff and other education stakeholders in the educational institutions should be involved in making decision affecting the school system. The decision reached by all will be strictly adhered to, for a better sustainable development.
“The flow of information is a central element that needs to be ‘ present in aU organizations and lack of it could lead to u attainable organizational goals. Hence, the government, the management of institutions, staff, students, parents and other education stakeholders should embrace the use of information communication and Technology skill (ICT). Its importance can be seen in individualized instruction, problem solving, information retrieval and administrative data management.
“The management of educational institutions should adopt situational type of leadership for better administration to improve the school system. They should adopt effective leadership styles that would motivate both staff and students to work effectively. There is need to monitor the academic wellbeing of students. There is also the need to practice open door policy with teachers and students so that they can accommodate and listen to students’ complaints. Management of Nigerian educational institutions should be more conscious of the credibility of their graduates as they release them into the labour market bearing in mind that the world has become a global village.” He added
In his remarks, the Vice Chancellor of the Institution, Professor Edward Olanipekun lauded the Prof. Arogundade’s effort, adding that adequate funding is required for the smooth running of any educational sector.
Also present at the lecture were the Olorun of Orun-Ekiti, Oba Olusola Osalusi Joshua, Ewi in Council, Funmi Adeitan, Dayo Adakeja Rev Canon A, Adaralegbe of Cathedral Ministry, among others.
