Innovation
By Tolu Dada
Abuja, May 7, 2018 (NAN) Dr Christian Ejeh, the CEO of Specwaves International, says teachers and students of sciences in secondary schools need to be trained by the government periodically to accelerate innovative thinking.
Ejeh made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Abuja.
The scientist, whose company specialises in the provision of solar systems, said training of teachers and students of sciences was inevitable as technology had continued to dominate every sector of the economy.
“ Technology continues to dominate in all industries including healthcare as well as retails. So, technology needs to be integrated starting from the classrooms.
“Human and capital investments are required, especially in science and technology to advance the economy of a country,’’ he said.
Ejeh however regretted that educators and learners were faced with hurdles as there was a general lack of support for education technology initiatives.
“It is clear that schools in Africa are lagging behind when it comes to adopting new technologies in the classroom because of lack of funding, infrastructure, training and development,’’ he said.
Ejeh said that implementing technology solutions in the classrooms required funding “though it is costly, but a budget needs to be put in place in order to introduce these new educational trends and technologies.’’
“ Nigeria has to look for a way to catch up with countries that had made significant investments in ICT in education so that it can reap its benefits in the future generation and catch up with other countries.
“Developed and middle-income countries have made significant investments in ICT education and we are all benefitting from their inventions in one way or the other.
“ There is the need for appropriate teacher training and development provided and it needs to be long enough for them to grasp the concepts behind teaching with technology, so that they have hands-on experience in using the technology and passing it on to their students,’’ he said.
According to Ejeh, teachers have to use new digital tools and apps to efficiently solve key problems at classroom level.
He added that this would not only improve teaching and learning but would also enhance problem solving at economic level.
Ejeh called on private and corporate bodies to wade in and refurbish Africa’s educational infrastructure.
“ If individuals and corporate bodies can at least assist by always donating tablets or educational mobile devices to secondary schools as a means to aiding teaching.
“The effort can drastically improve and impact the way learning is delivered,’’ he said. (NAN)
TOLU/KTO
Edited by Kamal Tayo Oropo/Grace Yussuf