An education consultant has publicly called for the dismissal of Nigeria's minister of education, Tunji Alausa, asserting that the country's learning system has failed to move beyond basic schooling and is ill-equipped to address the nation's pressing challenges.
Expert Blasts Education System as Mere Schooling
Peter Piper made the remarks during an appearance on Breakfast Central, a morning programme on News Central TV, where the conversation centred on the rising cost of education in Nigeria. Speaking on July 14, 2026, Piper drew a sharp distinction between what he described as mere schooling and genuine education, arguing that Nigeria currently offers only the former.
“What word? Failure. I boldly told you here without mincing words that we don't have education going on in this country. What we have is schooling. And I'm saying it is time to stop going to school. We need to stop schooling and start educating. Educate people based on the necessity. So if you ask me to make an assessment, I think the minister of education should be sacked because he has not brought in anything revolutionary. He has not shown a deviation from the thought process of the past,” Piper said.
Curriculum Should Address National Challenges
Piper further argued that a functional education system must go beyond certifications and timetables, enabling citizens to engage with and resolve the real issues facing the country. He criticised the current curriculum as disconnected from Nigeria's challenges.
“We need a minister of education that will come out and say, can we sit down and think what are the challenges we have in this country? Based on the challenges, it is the curriculum is something that will be based on the challenges of your country. That's what forms the curriculum. A curriculum is not just something you imagine. So if you ask me in one word, what do I think about education in Nigeria? There is no education. What they are doing is schooling. All the universities, colleges of education, you know, polytechnics, monotechnics, secondary schools, they are all schools, not places of education,” he added.
What Is Nigeria's Schooling Problem?
Piper's position is that the existing system produces graduates who pass through classrooms without developing the critical thinking or problem-solving capacities needed to contribute meaningfully to national development. His criticism of Minister Alausa was direct, suggesting that the leadership at the federal level has not driven the kind of structural reform the sector requires.
The consultant did not outline a specific alternative model during the interview but indicated that a fundamental rethink of the system's purpose was necessary. His comments reflect a view held by a number of education stakeholders in Nigeria, who argue that the country's learning institutions are structurally misaligned with the demands of a modern economy and the country's development goals.
Why Does Education Reform Matter?
Piper's call comes amid broader concerns about the rising cost of education and the quality of graduates. The federal ministry of education has previously dismissed reports about changes to the BEA scholars programme, describing such reports as entirely false and misleading.
Ridwan Adeola Yusuf, a Current Affairs Editor at Legit.ng with over nine years of experience covering education in Nigeria and Africa, reported this story. He holds a Higher National Diploma in Mass Communication from the Polytechnic Ibadan and has completed the Google News Initiative Lab workshop.
