Dr. Toyin Ajayi says Education Funding Crisis is Affecting Quality Learning Across Nigeria
The Proprietor of Preston International School, Akure, Dr. Toyin Ajayi, has blamed poor funding for the declining quality of education in Nigeria, citing its impact on teacher welfare, academic standards, and the availability of qualified educators. Speaking at a leadership training programme in Akure, he urged federal and state governments to increase investment in education to meet global standards. Ajayi also called for curriculum reforms that prioritize creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving over rote memorization, warning that inadequate funding and poor remuneration are driving skilled teachers and lecturers out of the profession.
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Dr. Toyin Ajayi of Preston International School says poor funding is weakening quality teaching and learning in Nigeria, calling for increased investment and curriculum reforms.
The Proprietor of Preston International School, Akure, Dr. Toyin Ajayi, has expressed concern over the persistent underfunding of education in Nigeria, warning that the trend continues to hamper quality teaching and learning across all levels of the country’s education system.
Ajayi made the remarks on Wednesday during a leadership training programme organised by the Servant Leader Foundation for 83 students drawn from six secondary schools in Ondo State.
Speaking at the event held in Akure, the Ondo State capital, he identified inadequate funding as one of the most critical challenges confronting the nation’s education sector, from primary schools to tertiary institutions.
According to him, insufficient budgetary allocation has negatively impacted teacher welfare, weakened academic standards, and contributed to a shortage of qualified educators in schools and universities across the country.
Ajayi urged both the Federal and State Governments to significantly increase investment in education, noting that Nigeria’s spending on the sector remains below internationally accepted standards.
“The problem we have as a nation is that we find it difficult to move on to ensure that we have comparable standards globally. Funding is a major issue,” he said.
The education advocate warned that continued neglect of the sector could further worsen the brain drain affecting schools and higher institutions, as many skilled teachers and lecturers seek better opportunities in other professions and countries due to poor remuneration.
He stressed that improving teacher welfare and creating a conducive learning environment are essential steps toward raising educational standards and achieving sustainable national development.
Ajayi also called for urgent reforms in Nigeria’s curriculum and assessment system, arguing that the current approach places excessive emphasis on memorization rather than critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving skills.
He noted that modern education systems around the world encourage diverse approaches to learning and assessment, allowing students to demonstrate understanding through different methods rather than relying on a single correct answer.
“In many of our marking schemes in Nigeria, it is just one answer. Whereas in international curricula, you can have several different ways of answering the same question and still get marks because it shows understanding,” he explained.
The school proprietor urged policymakers and education stakeholders to prioritize reforms that will align Nigeria’s education system with global best practices and better prepare students for the demands of the 21st-century workforce.
