A lecturer in the Biochemistry Department of the University of Benin (UNIBEN), Dr Jerry Orhue, has called for a review of the Nigerian curriculum for failing to achieve the purpose of education.
Orhue made the call at the 2016 Speech making and Prize giving programme of Doregos Private Academy in Ipaja, Lagos State.
Education delivery in most schools in Nigeria, according to Orhue, only achieves 50 per cent of its goal because of lack of transfer of skills.
Speaking on the topic: “In Pursuit of an Impactful Culture of Creativity and Innovation in Education”, Orhue said: “Contemporary education system in Nigeria has only focused on just 50 per cent of the goal of education. Knowledge is good, and it is said that ‘knowledge is power’, but knowledge that cannot translate into solution to societal challenges is not only defective, but outright impotent.”
Lack of skill, he said, was retarding national development and would continue until the education system is revitalised to breed citizens who can be creative and innovative.
To rebuild the education system, he said teachers must be retrained and motivated through public recognition.
Orhue also said the curriculum must encourage enquiry-based learning and science fairs. He said doing so would give students the opportunity to seek solutions to challenges and test their solutions.
By exposing the pupils to international programmes and collaborating with various organisations, Orhue said the system would produce better students.
The school’s executive director, Mr Benardinho Doregos, said the school, in its 20 years of existence, has made efforts to groom pupils, who are creative and entrepreneurial through its science fairs and other programmes.
Over 100 prizes were presented to pupils and teachers, who distinguished themselves in academics and other areas of school life at the event. The star of the day was Bruce Omogbolahan, the school’s head boy, who carted away 56 awards for being the overall best while in SS2. Other star prize winners are Folarin Pelumi, who got 32 awards (SS1), and Bello Abubakar, who got, 30 (JSS2).
The school’s administrator, Mrs Olufunmi Ogunsi, in her speech, said the school excelled in various areas in the past year. She congratulated the prize winners for their achievements.
“I am very proud of our award winners today and they should be proud of themselves. I, therefore, congratulate them as well as our parents, who are a veritable part of this process as they have contributed immensely to these achievements,” she said.