Lack of fund is the greatest challenge of Michael Otedola College of Primary Education, MOCPED, its provost, Dr. Nosiru Onibon, has declared.
This is as he appealed to Lagos State government to support the institution financially to enable it overcome its challenges and improve on its present standard.
Onibon who spoke at the fourth convocation ceremony of the institution held on Wednesday in Epe, said the challenges being faced by the school kept on piling up, but without the financial ability to surmount them.
His words: “The challenges facing the education industry as a whole, this College inclusive, is inexhaustive and can therefore not be catalogued.
“Suffice it to say that adequate funds are required to address the needed infrastructure, training of manpower, conducive teaching and learning environment and benefitting offices, procurement and materials to meet the security challenges of the ever teeming youthful students exhibiting exuberances emanating from social vices.
“Our greatest challenge is paucity of funds. Much as we are thanking the Lagos State Government for its efforts, like Oliver Twist, we are asking for more financial intervention from our proprietor.”
The provost listed some of the challenges of the school as including funding for the commencement of the implementation of transmutation to Open and Distance Learning University; need to increase monthly subvention to address backlog of pension and tax liabilities; over N800 million debt obligation; need for prompt release of fund for infrastructural challenges; road network; college master plan; linked bridge to access the rest of the college land mass and drainage system.
Others, he said, included perimeter fencing and landscaping of the premises.
He also listed some of the achievements of his administration to include the making of some of the classrooms in the school to be more conducive for teaching and learning through complete renovation; implementation of the academic calendar without obstructions; improved ICT centre; commencement of CBT for some general courses and increase in the enrolment figure.
He added that his administration had also cleared the backlog of students result since 2013/14 session, paid for and taken delivery of 5,000 copies of plain certificates.
According to him, the school had also sponsored trainings and conferences individually and collectively for staffers.
