A former Kwara State Commissioner for Education, Alhaja Ajoke Yusuf, has called for sustained commitment to the development of Nigeria’s education system, while reflecting on the changes the sector has undergone over the years.

Yusuf made the remarks yesterday while appearing on Arinwoye, a weekly programme hosted by Fatimah Yusuf on Emirate 98.5 FM, Ilorin.

Recounting her early career, Yusuf said she began teaching after attending United Primary School and the WTC Kabba, where she completed a three-year teacher training programme and obtained a Grade Three Teacher’s Certificate. She was subsequently posted by the Native Authority to teach at Okesuna Primary School.

She said her husband, who was also a teacher, encouraged her to pursue further training, telling her: “Apply and go for your Grade Two.”

Reflecting on the education system of the past, Yusuf said teaching and learning were less specialised, noting that schools did not have separate science or commercial classes as they do today. She said the structure and organisation of education had changed significantly over the years.

She also recalled that discipline was more strongly enforced in schools in the past, with teachers and parents exercising greater authority over children.

On classroom conditions, Yusuf said classes during her teaching years typically had between 20 and 30 pupils, compared with some classrooms today that accommodate more than 50 students.

She warned that overcrowded classrooms make it difficult for teachers to give individual attention to students, stressing that “patience and endurance are essential to learning.”

While acknowledging government efforts to improve the sector, Yusuf urged continued investment and commitment to education. She attributed her own achievements to the support and encouragement she received from her family, particularly her father and uncle.