Donald Duke blames Boko Haram activities on illiteracy

Former Governor of Cross River State, Donald Duke, has stated that illiteracy was behind the ongoing Boko Haram campaigns in the country.

Duke called on President Jonathan’s led government to partner with those who could raise the standard of education in in the country.

The former governor in a communiqué issued yesterday from an address he delivered at the annual luncheon and merit award ceremony of the Government College, Ibadan, noted that the fallen standard in the educational system was quiet alarming.

He said, “Sixty-seven per cent of school age children in Borno State are currently out of school. This is the root of the Boko Haram problem facing the country.

“Something must be done urgently about the educational system; if not, the future is very bleak for our country.”


 
Also speaking at the well-attended event, professor of medicine, Oladipo Akinkugbe, shared the same view with Duke.

According to him, “The incursion of government into the area of ownership of schools had further complicated an already parlous state of affairs. Voluntary agencies had been the forerunners of secondary education for over a century.

“The extent of government participation had been limited to regulating and monitoring through inspectorate divisions or ministries.”

He added, “The pass rate in secondary schools has nose-dived to less than 10 per cent.

Akinkugbe also decried the “low morale of teachers, caused by poor salaries, overcrowded classes and under-staffing in schools.”

Dailypost