Nigeria May Lose British Intervention In Education Development, Envoy Warns

British Prime Minister, Theresa May to sustain foreign intervention on education, tons of criticism may prevent the opportunity./ AFP Photo / Daniel LEAL-OLIVAS

The British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr. Paul Arkwright has alerted that the British government may reduce its foreign intervention to the nation’s education sector.

The Guardian Nigeria report continues:

The envoy who disclosed this in Kano while inspecting Teachers Development Programme (TDP) at Sa’adatu Rimi College of Education said the intervention may be reduced due to series of criticism trailing the exercise in recent times.

Arkwright said despite the promise of the British Prime Minister, Theresa May to sustain foreign intervention on education, tons of criticism may prevent the opportunity.

On the significance of the TDP intervention, the British envoy said he was in Kano to examines the progress saying that only evidence- based and results could guarantee future investment on the project.

The British government through the Department for International Development (DFID) is spending about £36million on Teachers Development Programme (TDP) as part of strategic development plan to improve quality of teaching and learning in both basic and tertiary education in Nigeria. The project covers some states in the northern part of the country including Kano state.

He said, “Although it was part of the campaign promises of the present Prime Minister to sustain spending on TDP initiative and others in Africa, the government is facing criticisms in so many quarters on the necessity of the spending.

“And for me to report to London that we have visited the project and suggest future spending on it, we must have justification for that. We have seen poor budget allocation and neglect of education but for me to report back to the British government for continued support, I need to see the impact made so far.

Deputy Provost of the College Dr. Kabiru Ahmed Gwarzo disclosed that over 80 teachers benefited from the TDP. He explained that the impact of the intervention is evidence in the performance of students.