The Provost of Kwara State College of Education, Ilorin, Dr Isiaka Saka Opobiyi has called on state governments across the country to introduce educational tax to take care of the funding of primary, secondary and tertiary institutions to save the sector from total collapse.
Opobiyi made the suggestion in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital while answering questions on a Radio Kwara personality interview programme, ‘Playing Host’.
The outgoing provost observed that the education sector is dwindling due to inadequate funding and said except urgent steps are taking to source for funds to provide infrastructures and other academic projects as well as regular payment of salaries, the situation will further degenerate.
He commended the idea of TETFUND introduced by the Federal Government which according to him, saved most tertiary institutions from collapse and called for a replica at the state levels lamenting that resources are no longer available as in the past to fund the education sector.
Dr Opobiyi attributed incessant strikes in our tertiary institutions to anxiety, non-patience and lack of funds hence the need for government to address those issues to sustain the education sector by looking inwards to funding the sector.
The educationist whose tenure as provost of the college would expire on the third of May, 2018, said he is fulfilled as he was able to ensure that all academic programmes in the institution are fully accredited except two which are given interim approval and that he was able to reduce the debts he met to manageable level.
According to him, the desired objectives of establishing the college by past leaders had been achieved and appealed to anyone that would succeed him not to derail.
Dr Opobiyi disclosed that about 15 people initially applied for the position of provost of the institution but only 13 appeared for the interview and screening stressing that the succession process had being completed and now awaiting the final approval by the council of the college and the state government.
He appealed to his successor to focus more on completing the entrepreneurship complex and the fine art complex and to be focused in the discharge of his duties.
The provost enjoined students to stay away from partisan and active politics most especially while on campuses but rather focus more on their academic pursuit.
