Charles Dale Memorial School’s students went on an excursion to Igwuruta Community Secondary School both in Port Harcourt in Rivers State to experience what education looks like in a public school.

This is in line with the disposition of Douglas Adams, who said; “Any man who can hitch the length and breadth of the galaxy, rough it, slum it, struggle against terrible odds, win through, and still knows where his towel is, is a man to be reckoned with.”

According to Alex Onyia, the chief executive officer of Educare, a leading education technology platform on his X handle @winexviv, “The private school students had classes together with the public school students and they got to experience first-hand the state of public schools.”

In what looks like exposing the students to the sad reality of the government’s underdeveloped education, many Nigerians have expressed dissatisfaction with the ugly development.

Stakeholders are worried that the government at all levels is not taking education seriously hence breeding half-baked graduates, unlike in the 1970s and ‘80s when standards were appreciable, substantial, and competitive.

Nigeria now unfortunately parades schools whose standards are lower than the lowest anywhere churning impractical educated persons.

Christian Ibekwe, a professor of obstetrics and gynecology decried the poor state of public education, especially the basic schools in Nigeria. He blamed the situation on inadequate funding.

“Underfunding is the problem and private schools are better funded hence, the students tend to do better,” he said.

Ibekwe recounted how public schools were funded in the 1970s compared to the miserable states of many public schools today.

Ugo Daniel speaking about the initiative taken by Charles Dale Memorial School said; “It’s good to have a sense of reality you’re not in touch with. It helps balance one’s view of life.”

An in-depth investigation on the position of public schools in Nigeria shows glaring decayed structures and the absence of learning and teaching tools as well as qualified and motivated teachers with demoralised parents to conveniently handle the education sector successfully.

Every year, the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) gives intervention funds to all the 36 states and the federal capital territory to improve access to basic education in the country.

However, experience has shown that a good number of states do not seem to be eager about funding basic education, just as can be seen at Igwuruta Community Secondary School where students do not have enough furniture and facilities to learn.

Abiola Ogunleye, a digital marketing executive described the prevailing situation where public schools are deteriorating while the private ones are thriving.

“Sadly, the situation of things is gradually becoming like this with privately owned schools over the government-owned institutions,” he said.

Ogunleye attributed the dichotomy to primarily lack of the quality of service, and expressed his worries that this is gradually entering into public tertiary institutions in the country.

However, he frowned at the idea of the excursion wondering who approved such an adventure and the motive behind it.

“I don’t think the ‘excursion’ from the private school is proper, though. Who approved that visit? What was the intention behind the visiting school, and what effect do they want it to have on the public school pupils?” he queried.

“Public school students can still do very well; it’s just the condition of learning that is the first barrier for many of them,” he added.

Meanwhile, many Nigerians fault the idea behind the excursion. Ibrahim Suleiman said the idea of taking private school students to a public school is a selfish one.

“I’m sorry, but this is a selfish move. I see the intent, but the lack of emotional intelligence is astounding.

“So, no thoughts were spared for pupils of the government school and how this makes them feel?” he asked on his X official handle @edomalo.