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Author: Chinyere Nwachukwu

  • Moghalu advocates re-alignment of education curriculum

    Chief Arthur Mbanefo (middle) with other dignitaries at Fifth Arthur Mbanefo Lecture in Lagos on Tuesday

     

    Lecture

    Chinyere Nwachukwu

    Lagos, June 11, 2024 (NAN) A political economist, Prof. Kingsley Moghalu,  says Nigeria must re-align its education curriculum in line with the rapidly-evolving global landscape.

    Moghalu, a former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, also said that increasing importance of technology, science, entrepreneurship and teacher training in driving economic growth and innovation had also made the realignment compelling.

    He spoke  at the Fifth Arthur Mbanefo Lecture in Lagos on Tuesday.

    The lecture was organised by the Arthur Mbanefo Digital Research Centre (AMDRC),  University of Lagos.

    It had the theme: “Education and National Development: Meeting Nigeria’s Challenge in the 21st Century”.

    The lecture was part of activities to celebrate the 94th birthday anniversary of Chief Arthur Mbanefo, the donor of the centre.

    According to Moghalu, Nigeria is urgently in need of educational policy that can enhance human capital development and bolster its standing within the global community.

    Moghalu, also the President of the Institute for Governance and Economic Transformation, said the realignment must prioritise access and quality education by emphasising literacy, skills and national values.

    According to Moghalu, the strength or failure of any nation  depends on the strength of its education system.

    He added that education remained the only pathway to development.

    “This is  the foundational truth. We must prioritise our education by allocating 70 per cent of the curriculum to technology, science, entrepreneurship and teacher training.

    “Nigeria can better equip its youth with the skills and knowledge needed to compete in the 21st Century economy, foster entrepreneurship and improve the quality of education across board.

    “I also recommend that ethics becomes a compulsory subject in the education curriculum in Nigeria at both primary (in a simplified and elementary form) and secondary schools in a more comprehensive form.

    “This will help to achieve the educational objective of creating good and responsible citizens,” he said.

    Moghalu also said that there was the need to shift the pedagogical practices of the Nigerian classroom from one that emphasised rote memorisation to a more intellectual engagement, creative thinking and experiential learning.

    He said  that it was imperative to foster a connection between the academia and industry to improve the socio-economic impact of education.

    According to him, tertiary students require exposure to real-world challenges which their education is designed to help them to address.

    “A well-educated populace not only enhances personal fulfillment, but also addresses local challenges, elevates societal well-being and fosters social cohesion.

    “However, the current Nigerian education landscape grapples with many challenges, undermining the nation’s human capital potential.

    “As of 2020, Nigeria’s human capital index, as assessed by the World Bank, stood at 0.36, positioning it 168th out of 173 countries.

    “This is a marginal improvement from 0.34 in 2018, where it ranked 152nd out of 157 nations surveyed,” he said.

    The political economist said that the sluggish growth underscored  the persistent obstacles hindering  effective education of Nigeria’s populace.

    “For Nigeria to play a significant role on the global stage in the years ahead, it must effectively develop and deploy its human capital to propel national advancement.

    “Given its central role as the primary purveyor of human capital development, the education sector assumes heightened significance in Nigeria’s developmental agenda,” he said.

     

    According to him, understanding the intricacies of Nigeria’s educational challenges is vital for devising effective solutions.

    He listed the challenges to include hindrances to access to quality education, erosion of education quality and inadequate financing.

    “Investing in education, training, research and development. and supportive policies can help develop a skilled workforce equipped to drive innovation and create value, while also providing adequate monitoring and evaluation.

    “ The National Education Policy suffers from implementation challenges. Innovative policy reforms are sometimes crippled at the implementation stages due to factors such as lack of adequate human capacity, inadequate funding, and corruption,” he said.

    Earlier, the Vice-Chancellor of the institution, Prof. Folasade Ogunshola, lauded Mbanefo, a former Pro-Chancellor of the university, for demonstrating love for  advancement of education through  support for the centre.

    According to her,  AMDRC which began full operations in 2018, is a digital research hub where students and relevant stakeholders can have access to digital resource learning to advance research and post-graduate studies.

    She said that the centre had brought to fruition, Mbanefo’s dream.

    The vice-chancellor said that the annual lecture series had since become the flagship event of the centre.

    “The university of Lagos has been in the forefront of Artificial Intelligence and digital learning.

    “We have over 23 research centres and four innovation and technology hubs,” she said.

    In his remarks,  Mbanefo, who turned 94 on Tuesday, expressed satisfaction at the operations of the centre.

    He urged the Federal Government to seek appropriate ways to encourage members of the academia.

    “There is the need to recognise the role that members of the academia play in nation building,” he said. (NAN)

    CCN/IGO

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    Edited by Ijeoma Popoola

  • Strike: WAEC appeals to NLC, TUC to consider candidates

    Strike

    By Chinyere Nwachukwu
    Lagos, June 2, 2024 (NAN) The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has appealed to the organised  labour to consider  students  sitting for  West African  Senior Secondary Certificate Examination, as it plans an indefinite strike.
    The Head of National Office of WAEC, Dr Amos Dangut, made the appeal in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Lagos.
    He said that the council shared in the concerns of the organised labour and those of the entire Nigerian workers.
    According to him, most of WAEC’s employees in Nigeria are  members of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) or Trade Union Congress (TUC), both of which called for the strike scheduled to start on Monday.
    “The attention of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has been drawn to a notice of the commencement  of an indefinite strike by NLC and TUC effective Monday, June 3.
    “WAEC shares in the concerns of the generality of Nigerian workers, as most of its employees in Nigeria consist of members of both unions.
    “It is also worthy of mention that the unions have always been partners with WAEC in the successful implementation of its mandate through the years.
    “On this premise, therefore, we wish to, however, gently remind the unions  of the ongoing conduct of the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE)  for School Candidates, 2024.
    “The examination commenced in Nigeria and other member-countries of WAEC,  The Gambia, Liberia and Sierra Leone, on April 30, and is scheduled to end by June 24.
    “The  week, June 3 to June 7, is scheduled for the conduct of such papers as Physics, Economics, Government and Civic Education across the federation and some West African countries,” the WAEC boss said.
    According to him, any  disruption in the activities  and arrangements for the conduct of the examination will place candidates at a major disadvantage in their academic pursuits.
    “We hereby appeal to all stakeholders and the unions  to cooperate with the council, as always, to allow the continuous smooth and peaceful conduct of the examination as has been scheduled.
    “We remain committed to excellence and the service of the Nigerian people within the mandate of the council,” he said. (NAN)
    CCN/IGO
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    Edited by Ijeoma Popoola

  • LASWA, Marine police, Navy collaborate to curb crime on Lagos waterways

    Waterways
    By Chiazo Ogbolu
    Lagos, June 2, 2024 (NAN) The Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA) says it is working with the Marine Police and the Nigerian Navy to curb insecurity on Lagos waterways.
    Mr Oluwadamilola Emmanuel, General Manager of LASWA, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Lagos.
    According to Emmanuel, beyond the Marine police and the Navy, LASWA has its command and control centre to monitor the waterways adequately.
    He spoke against the backdrop of reported cases of crime and criminality along the state’s waterways.
    “On issues of banditry, piracy and other crimes along the waterways, we have the numbers, but how many people did we hear that were kidnapped last year around the Lagos inland waterways?
    “It does not mean that Lagos is not proactive, we are actually proactive as regards security on the waterways and that is why we are collaborating with Marine police, Navy in that regard,” he said.
    On the security of the newly inaugurated Omibus, the general manager noted that the boats would be handed over to private operators, to whom the security of the boats would be in their custody.
    “In terms of safety of these boats, in the last one year, I can barely say with the count of my fingers,  if we have heard of theft of either parts or boats,  on our waterways. This has been the trend in the last few years.
    “Also, any operator to whom the boats are handed over to, know what it entails, because they are going to sign an agreement and they will be held liable for anything.
    “We should also remember that these boats are insured. So, insurance will definitely cover it, in case of any damage or theft, be rest assured that whatever it is, it will be replaced, wether the boat itself, or any of its parts,” he said.
    Emmanuel, however, added that the owners themselves had a responsibility to play as well as LASWA, the regulator, in ensuring safety of the boats. (NAN)(http://www.nannews.ng)
    CAN/CCN/FAA
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    Edited by Chinyere Nwachukwu/Folasade Adeniran

     

  • Glamourise teaching to attract youths – education administrators urge governments

     

     

    Teachers
    By Oluwakemi Oladipo/Millicent Ifeanyichukwu

    Lagos, June 2, 2024 (NAN) Glamourising  teaching will be a major way  to attract the youth to the profession, some education administrators have said.

    The administrators said on Sunday that scholarship awards, automatic employment  improved salary and stipends would attract more people into teaching.

    They spoke in interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) against the backdrop of dearth of qualified teachers, especially in core subjects, in many schools.

     

    According to the 2022/2023 Universal Basic Education Commission National Personnel Audit Report, there is a shortage of 194,876 teachers in public primary schools in Nigeria.

     

    The report shows that only 499,202  of the 694,078 teachers required at the primary school level were available.

     

    Dr Wahab Afeez, Provost, Federal College of Education (Technical), Akoka, Lagos, said that decline in enrolment  of students for the Nigeria Certificate  in Examination (NCE) and Professional Diploma in Education (PDE) Programmes  was getting worrisome.

    Describing the situation as unhealthy and disturbing for the teaching profession, Afeez said there was an urgent need for governments to step up efforts in tackling the trend.

    According to him, the development is gradually exposing the country to unqualified and unprofessional teachers who may put the future of students at risk.

    The provost also appealed  to the Federal Government to  consider improved welfare package for students in colleges of education  to attract more Nigerians into the teaching profession.

    He also  called on  the federal and state governments to consider  scholarship awards to prospective students to boost enrolment into colleges of education.

    Azeez said that the Committee of Provosts was  making efforts to address dearth of qualified teachers.

    “In the 2022/2023 academic session, we enrolled 382 NCE students and 30 PDE students.

    “For this current  2023/2024 academic session, we have 353 students enrolled for the NCE and 43 for the PDE.

    “When compared to what obtained in the previous academic years in the institution, you will discover that the  number has dropped.

    “On our part, in 2022, we mounted programmes such as Primary Education Studies (PES) as a new NCE course, while PDE programmes are in line with the previous Technical Teachers Certificate,” he said.

    Afeez said that all the courses were designed to enable the college to  produce well-trained teachers.

    Prof. Bidemi Lafiaji-Okuneye, Vice-Chancellor, Lagos State University of Education, Otto/ Ijanikin (LASUED),  urged  the federal and state governments to consider  re-introduction of  payment of stipends to students in colleges of education, aside scholarship.

     

    According to her, there is also the need to give students automatic employment after their training as teachers.

     

    “Teachers reward is no longer in heaven, but on earth. Teachers needs to be celebrated more and taken care of, with enough benefits.

    “Back in the days, governments used to give students those benefits, while  they were undergoing training as teachers, which were definitely part of the attraction to the profession.

     

    “Whatever made them to stop that process, I definitely do not know,  but governments needs to go back to the good old days.

    “Governments can also give scholarships to our youth to study education, which can help to attract more youths to the programmes.

    “Governments and private school owners must intensify efforts to increase  salaries and welfare packages as well as  other benefits for teachers,” she said.

    The vice-chancellor said  that no fewer than 8,500 graduates had so far been produced by the institution in the last five years.

    According to her, the institution admits about 2,000 students yearly.

    She noted, however, that some left after the first year, to rewrite  the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination.

    According to her, this is because the interest of the students is in getting admission into the university, rather than college of education.

    “Before our transmutation from college to university, we discovered that a lot of students who came to the college of education could not get placement into the universities of their choice. They saw it as a last resort.

    “Now that we are a university of education, the number of interested or prospective candidates have increased tremendously, so much that we cannot admit all.

     

    “For instance, over 8,000 candidates applied to this institution last session to study various education courses, but of this number,only the best 3,500 could get admission due to the quota given to us by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB).

     

    “We had to write to JAMB to increase the quota for admission, which made us  to admit about 4,500 students in the last admission process.

     

    “This is our second year as a university, we currently have over 7,000 students at both the 100 and 200 levels,” she said.

     

    Lafiaji-Okuneye warned that  employing unqualified teachers in schools would lead to under-development of students, under-development of schools and under-development of teachers.

     

    “Teacher’s training is about the passion, deeply knowing how to teach  to make students to develop interest in all subjects.

    “Governments should have good standards for teachers so that only qualified teachers can be attracted to the teaching profession today and in the future,” she said.

     

    Lafiaji-Okuneye said that LASUED was endowed with quality manpower and  adequate infrastructure to broaden, deepen and strengthen the teaching profession in Lagos and Nigeria at large.

    The Principal, King’s College, Lagos, Mr Andrew Agada, said that qualified teachers had since been identified as key tools in achieving effective teaching and learning outcomes.

    According to him,  the success of any human  endeavour, particularly in the sphere of education, is  linked to the quality of individuals performing the responsibilities. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
    OKG/MIL/CCN/IGO
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    Edited by Chinyere Nwachukwu/Ijeoma Popoola