.Launch ₦1bn Endowment Fund for College
The Ekiti Baptist High School Old Students Association (EBHSOSA), Igede-Ekiti, Ekiti State, has raised the alarm over the steady decline in the quality of secondary education in Nigeria, attributing the situation to weak accountability, examination malpractice, poor oversight and inadequate funding.
The alumni association also announced the establishment of a ₦1 billion endowment fund aimed at providing sustainable financing for the school's long-term operations. The fund, which was launched about a year ago, has so far generated over ₦100 million, according to the association.
The President of the association, Ifelola Oyebade, disclosed this on Tuesday while addressing journalists at a press conference ahead of activities marking the 70th anniversary of the school. The anniversary celebration is themed "70 Years of Excellence: Honouring the Past and Nurturing the Future."
Oyebade warned that examination malpractice and weak oversight are eroding learning outcomes nationwide, noting that the culture of diligence and hard work that once defined Nigerian secondary schools has largely disappeared.
He said the situation has been replaced by a system in which students engage less in intensive reading, lack access to basic textbooks and notes, and increasingly rely on teachers to supply examination answers.
The EBHSOSA president further argued that the growing reliance on objective-based examinations without adequate supervision has weakened academic standards, making it easier for students to guess answers without a clear understanding of subject matter.
While acknowledging the financial burden on government, Oyebade noted that state authorities now shoulder responsibilities previously borne by parents, including tuition and welfare costs. He insisted, however, that education deserves higher priority in national budgeting.
He therefore called on relevant stakeholders across the country to urgently address the declining standards before the situation becomes irreversible.
"Many students no longer study because they already know that answers will be written on the board for them during examinations," Oyebade said.
"Some teachers are promoted based on pass rates rather than genuine learning outcomes, creating pressure to inflate results at all costs.
"This trend is damaging the education sector. Unless we are ready to change course, it will continue to drag the nation backwards.
"Education is too important to be underfunded. Increased government investment in schools will reflect not only in student performance but also in national development.
"Education is the foundation of any nation. If we fail to fix it now, we risk losing an entire generation."
Oyebade added that the alumni association has implemented several interventions to restore excellence at Ekiti Baptist High School, including the renovation of classrooms, roofing, windows and landscaping, as part of efforts to complement government initiatives.