THE Fafunwa Educational Foundation (FEF) was established to, among others, promote and fund educational research in universities, a member of the FEF Academic Committee, Prof. Bimpe Bolarin, has said.
Mrs Bolarin, a retired Professor of Educational Psychology, Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo, said the foundation, established in January 1995 by the former Minister of Education and Youth Development, also promoted forum for dialogue between education practitioners and policy makers.
Prof Bolarin, who spoke at a news conference at the University of Lagos (Unilag) Akoka, Yaba, ahead of the FEF’s 2nd National Conference holding at the Faculty of Education auditorium from September 24 to 28, said: “The conference is titled: ‘Nigeria’s Basic Education, How Functional?’ with the sub-theme: ‘Repositioning Nigeria’s Basic Education for Sustainable Development through Arts, Education, Health, Science, Technology, Entrepreneurship, Governance and Security.”
She said one key focus of the Universal Basic Education (UBE) was termed ‘Functional Education; which implied that education should meet the needs, yearnings and aspirations of the country, in terms of enriching individual’ knowledge and personality, as well as equipping him to undertake specific task and employment functions essential to sustain and transform the nation.
According to her, “this was one of the passions of the late Prof Fafunwa . However, 18 years after the launch of UBE, there are still serious concerns about the functionality of skills and knowledge acquired in schools.
“The conference hopes through sharing of knowledge, experience and workable ideas, there will be critical appraisal of Nigeria’s educational system and review of its functional roles and relevance to the sustainability and development challenges being experienced in recent time.”
Prof. Bolarin said Prof Omaze Anthony Afemihe of the Institute of Education, University of Benin, will be keynote speaker, while the chairman is an international education strategist, Prof. P.A.I. Obanya.