The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Educationist

  • Educationist seeks more training for teachers

    An educationist, Dr Raheem Adebayo Issah, has identified inadequate human capacity development as one of the key factors affecting education at the basic level.

    Issah spoke briefly after the final stage of the inter-secondary schools quiz competition organised and sponsored by his school – Nana Aisha Memorial Schools – in Ilorin.

    Seven of the 20 participating schools featured as finalists. They include: Zarat Model College; Omega College; and Government Day Secondary School, all in Ilorin.

    Other schools in Ilorin were: Ajoshe Model College; Government Day Secondary School; Ilorin Community High School; and Nana Aisha Memorial Secondary School. They all competed in Mathematics, English Language, Current Affairs, Economics and Basic Sciences.

    Issah, who compared the country’s  education system with the western world, bemoaned Nigeria’s emphasis on paper qualification, unlike the Western system which also priotises technical and vocational education. To add salt to injury, training of teachers is also not taken seriously, Issah further lamented.

    This development, according to him, explains why half-baked students flood secondary schools and, as misfits, are pushed into tertiary education where such students continue to seek fraudulent means of passing examination and graduating.

    Issah, who is also a medical practitioner, noted that while many public schools care less about quality services, many private schools that took off with good intentions , became disoriented along the line.

    “I am using this opportunity to call on government at both state and federal levels to renew the culture of organising regular capacity building programmes for teachers from primary up to tertiary institutions. This, I believe, will augment their skills and knowledge for better performance,” Issah pleaded.

    He noted that his school organised the competition to encourage healthy competition among the pupils

    Issah admonished participants to devote more time to their studies, adding that this is the only way to prepare themselves for leadership role in future.

    At the end of the contest, Nana Aisha Memorial Secondary School emerged the overall winner, followed by Omega College. They were rewarded.

  • Educationist canvasses resources for indigenous language teaching

    Proprietress, Goszamheights Schools, Akowonjo, Lagos, Mrs Stella Okonkwo has called for the provision of literary resources required to promote  teaching and learning of indigenous languages in schools. She lamented that the lack of literature on varying topics poses difficulty in complying with the National Policy on Education which requires elementary schools to educate pupils in the language of the immediate environment.

    According to the sociologist who spoke at the school’s maiden Christmas Carol, the idea was laudable to boost cultural heritage but availability of materials has limited its effectiveness.

    “We have not got to that stage,” Said Okonkwo, “I think it’s challenging because you must have the materials, literature and resources. For instance, if I have the literature that can teach children new words in Yoruba. you can walk into a bookshop and buy it.

    “What we have is Yoruba as a subject, we don’t use Yoruba to teach Home Economics or Social Studies. But the truth about the language is that it helps your confidence and boldness as a person.

    ” I don’t think in Nigeria we are lacking in the area of policies, what we are lacking is in implementing those policies. I schooled in Lagos and I remember this book by J. Olayemi, ‘Karo O Jire’. I speak Yoruba, I read Yoruba, that’s how good I am in Yoruba but I’m Igbo,” she said.

  • Improve teachers’ lot, educationists say

    Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education (AOCOED) Provost Dr Ladele Aina, has advocated the improvement of teachers’ lot through human capacity development.

    Dean of the Faculty of Education of the Lagos State University (LASU) Prof Clement Fasan, who made the same call, said it took extra expertise to teach.

    The duo spoke at a maiden interactive session orgainsed by the institution for workers during World Teachers Day (WTD).

    Aina called for a more supportive environment for her colleagues.

    Aina said: “Today, we call for the creation of a supportive teaching environment, functional teacher training institutes, prompt payment of teachers’ salaries and safeguard for the rights of teachers. The vicious cycle of declining professional conditions of teachers must be broken to improve the quality of learning for all. As we recruit teachers, we must continue to improve the quality of learning for all.”

    Fasan, a co-discussant at the event, recalled the theme of this year’s WTD -Valuing teachers, improving their status as ‘ideal’, saying teachers need to be motivated to do more.

    “I must confess, it is not easy to teach,’’ Fasan added.

    He continued:”The theme of this year is quite appropriate because it focuses on celebrating teachers.  We need to encourage them through consistent training, so they can improve on their performances and automatically improve on the society.”

  • ‘Nigerian curriculum not deficient’ says educationist

    ‘Nigerian curriculum not deficient’ says educationist

    Mrs Ifueko Thomas is among educationists who do not believe education standard is poor and the Nigerian curriculum deficient.

    Brooke House School, Lekki Proprietor, which opens its doors to pupils for the first time on September 18 in pre-school up to primary three,  said the standard stipulated by the National Policy on Education and the curriculum was high but education providers have not been able to meet up in terms of quality.

    “I do not believe the standard of education is falling. I believe the quality of delivery is faulty. Our curriculum is rich, but we are not meeting up to it.  To meet the standard we have set, we need a particular quality of teachers and resources,” she said.

    Mrs Thomas, who worked at top management level at Corona School, Agbara, and Salvation International School Ikeja, said her school would fully deploy the Nigerian curriculum and use various proven methods to implement it.

    “Our lessons, which will be founded on the Nigerian Federal Ministry of Education nine-year basic education curriculum, will incorporate aspects of the International Primary Curriculum, the Montessori programme, the High Scope programme and the Reggio Emilia from Italy,” she said.

    Mrs Thomas also said her school would accommodate children with special needs by providing specialists who can teach children with lower spectrum autism disorder, dyslexia, as well hearing and speech impairment.  She said the school is collaborating with a researcher at the University of Lagos to monitor progress of the children.

    Regarding teachers as the most important resource in achieving quality education service delivery, Mrs Thomas said her school would place priority on teacher development.

    “As far as I am concerned, the teacher is the most important factor in imparting knowledge.  We are going to encourage and enable teachers to continue professional educational development.  Those already with me have gone to do their Post Graduate Diploma in Education, Diploma in Early Childhood Care Education; and some are doing their B.Ed or masters,” she said.

    At the end of schooling, she said the Brooke House School child would get well-rounded education.

    “The child that comes out of Brooke House will be proud of his heritage but internationally minded.  Resources are in place to take children from crèche to Primary 3,” she said.

  • Ogundeko: Exit of soldier, educationist

    Today, the remains of the late Foundation Director General of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, Maj. Gen.(Otunba) T.B Ogundeko (rtd), OFR will be laid to rest. He died in his home town Ijebu-Mushin on July 8, aged 84 years.

    The Alumni Association of the National Institute, AANI in a condolence message conveyed by its  President, Major-General Lawrence AnebiOnoja(rtd) to his family, people and government of Ogun State  singled out “the remarkable contribution of late Maj. Gen. (Otunba) T.B. Ogundeko OFR to the growth and development of the country”.

    The late African writer, Chinua Achebe in his book “There Was a Country” stated that Nigeria that once produced public officers who not only worked harder but smarter with integrity and selflessness for public good. The late Maj. Gen.(Otunba) T.B Ogundeko was the face of Nigeria that once worked and delivered service for Nigerians and indeed all Africans. Sadly, names of some public holders almost in sectors are identified with self-enrichment and ruination of public institutions. Commendably T.B Ogundeko’s signature was synonymous with institution-building long before Barack Obama’s belated admonition to African leaders about strong institutions during his Ghanaian visit in 2009. His imprints are verifiable, indelible and sustainable. He was past Commandant Nigerian Military School (1962-1972); past Director Nigeria Army Education Corps (1972-1978) and Founding Director General, National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) Kuru among others. In his popularized tribute to the late General, Lt. Gen T Y Danjuma described Major General Timothy Babatunde Ogundeko as “…the best Direct Commissioned Officer that ever served in the Nigerian Army”. He recalled that all…”the professional soldiers who served with Timothy remember him as a mature and seasoned teacher who transformed the Nigerian Army Education Corps through his foresight, dedication, determination and diligence. He also transformed the attitude of the officer corps towards continuous learning and the acquisition of knowledge”.

    The former Chief of Army Staff recalled how late General facilitated the establishment of the Command Secondary Schools “to meet the needs of the children of Army personnel, a feat “soon copied by other Services of the Nigerian Armed Forces”.  His remarkable and historic role in the establishment of the prestigious National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru however stood him out as a committed public administrator.  Established in 1979 by the Federal Government, NIPSS Kuru has continued to serve as a high level centre for reflection, research, and dialogue where academics of intellectual excellence, policy initiators and executors and other citizens of practical experience and wisdom drawn from different sectors of national life in Nigeria, meet annually to reflect and exchange ideas on the great issues of society, particularly as they relate to Nigeria and Africa in the context of the dynamics of a constantly and rapidly changing world. Today, the National Institute has graduated over 1500 participants that include three former Heads of State, former governors, traditional rulers, serving and past top level executives from various walks of life such as the presidency, states and local governments, civil service, Armed Forces, academia, labour and para-military institutions among others who are adding value to the country. As the pioneer Director of the National Institute, Major-General Timothy Babatunde Ogundeko presided over the institute between 1979 and 1981. An educationalist to the core, General Ogundeko was the Director, Army Education Corps before his appointment late in 1978 by General Obasanjo, then Head of State, to bring into fruition his (Obasanjo) dream for the establishment of the National Institute. In an interview with 2015 National Institute Yearbook, General Ogundeko who creatively coined the motto of the National Institute, “Towards a Better Society” and also designed its logo narrated how he travelled to notable countries like the UK, the US, India, Pakistan, Malaysia and Germany to understudy their national institutes with the objective of pioneering the National Institute at Kuru, Jos. As first Director General, he established the 38-week intensive Senior Executive Course (SEC), inaugurated the Alumni Association of the National Institute during the graduation ceremony of SEC 1, March 1980.  He successfully graduated SEC 1 and SEC 2 before retiring voluntarily on health grounds at the age of 49 in 1981, just before the commencement of SEC 3.  General Ogundeko recalled to the NIPPS editors how on account of his commitment to NIPPS to the inauguration of SEC 1 in 1979, he had complications from an eye surgery.  He reminisced: “….just before the first course started in 1979, I had to go for medical treatment in the UK, I had an eye surgery.  I needed about 14 days to recover from the surgery. However, I kept receiving telephone from Nigeria reminding me of the September target date for the official opening of the new institute. So I requested for discharge, explaining to them that I was urgently needed back home.  When I came back, what I remembered was that I was still bleeding in the eye in which the surgery was conducted because I was seeing red.  It was certainly bleeding but I could not complain. We had a successful inauguration on September 3, 1979”.

    Ogundeko belonged to the generation that selflessly served the nation even at the expense of their personal well-being.

    President Muhammadu Buhari in his tribute to the late , Maj. Gen. Timothy BabatundeOgundeko said the deceased “will be long remembered for his towering role as an educationist and public administrator, who immensely contributed to the procedure and processes of training potential leaders in security and socio-political environment of Nigeria”. Undoubtedly an accomplished patriot, the late General was saddened at the recent commitment deficit to nation-building by contemporary public office holders. Witness him: “When I listen to news….the most depressing thing is corruption.  There is much corruption in the country to the extent that the funds available to this country and to the states have been terribly eroded.  Some state governments cannot pay salaries of workers six months. That sort of thing should not happen, but it is taking place. Listening to the news daily on radio and television depresses one.  Those who are appointed to positions are exploiting such for personal gain.  But what can one do?  What can one say about that?  I think with determination the government’s effort to fight corruption will succeed, even though it is not going to be easy”. The celebrated South African poet, BM Themba, once wrote that “Blessed are the dead. For they will; Never be suspected…”

    May his soul rest in perfect peace. Certainly the late Gen. Timothy Babatunde Ogundeko is blessed because he would no longer be suspected of lamentation about our free fall from development of the past to underdevelopment of the recent times. But he would be better honoured as the nation resolves in his words “with determination” to make a difference from corruption to development agenda.

     

    • Aremu, mni is Secretary General, Alumni Association of the National Institute, (AANI), Abuja.

  • Educationist seeks conducive atmosphere for low cost schools

    An educationist, Dr Gboyega Ilusanya, has urged governments to create an enabling environment for low cost private school providers. He said governments could do this by regulating the schools to enable their growth, facilitate access to finance and collect data that can help stakeholders make informed decisions.

    Ilusanya, who leads a team, Developing Effective Private Education Nigeria (DEEPEN), made the appeal at the 2016 Congress of the Association for Formidable Educational Development (AFED), held at the National Arts Theatre, Orile Iganmu, Lagos, last week. Ilusanya spoke on the theme: ‘Socio-economic impact of low cost education in Nigeria: The need for more enabling environment.’

    He argued in favour of low cost school providers, saying they are also improving access to education, contributing positively to the economy through employment and improving on learning outcomes.

    He also advised low cost education providers to key into research, as the data incurred through this process will bring to light their influence and impact on the society.

    Ilusanya said: “It is essential that we open our doors for more meaningful research so that the impact of low cost private education can be unearthed while what is needed to be improved upon is also communicated.”

    The Director-General, Lagos State Quality Assurance, Mrs Ronke Soyombo, said Lagos State is always interested in partnering any low cost school, provided such school meets the recommended standard.

    “The government is passionate about infrastructure in its schools and is willing to embrace any good partner in progress if its meets its basic requirements,” Mrs Soyombo said.

    On his part, National patron of AFED,  Prof Pat Utomi said: “Education for all is desirable. If people are educated they can produce a way out of poverty for them. Take pride in what you are doing because it is a noble thing to do.”

    The association’s president, Mrs Esther Dada, said AFED is committed to reducing the number of out-of-school children. Dada advised its members to upgrade their technical skills so that public confidence in them can be emphasised.

    “I want to encourage members to brace up for the challenges ahead because of the enormous responsibilities and public expectation. We need to upgrade our technical skills regularly in order to meet our schools’ requirements,” she said

    High point of the event was presentations of cash and prizes to best pupils of member schools in unified examination. n educationist, Dr Gboyega Ilusanya, has urged governments to create an enabling environment for low cost private school providers. He said governments could do this by regulating the schools to enable their growth, facilitate access to finance and collect data that can help stakeholders make informed decisions.

    Ilusanya, who leads a team, Developing Effective Private Education Nigeria (DEEPEN), made the appeal at the 2016 Congress of the Association for Formidable Educational Development (AFED), held at the National Arts Theatre, Orile Iganmu, Lagos, last week. Ilusanya spoke on the theme: ‘Socio-economic impact of low cost education in Nigeria: The need for more enabling environment.’

    He argued in favour of low cost school providers, saying they are also improving access to education, contributing positively to the economy through employment and improving on learning outcomes.

    He also advised low cost education providers to key into research, as the data incurred through this process will bring to light their influence and impact on the society.

    Ilusanya said: “It is essential that we open our doors for more meaningful research so that the impact of low cost private education can be unearthed while what is needed to be improved upon is also communicated.”

    The Director-General, Lagos State Quality Assurance, Mrs Ronke Soyombo, said Lagos State is always interested in partnering any low cost school, provided such school meets the recommended standard.

    “The government is passionate about infrastructure in its schools and is willing to embrace any good partner in progress if its meets its basic requirements,” Mrs Soyombo said.

    On his part, National patron of AFED,  Prof Pat Utomi said: “Education for all is desirable. If people are educated they can produce a way out of poverty for them. Take pride in what you are doing because it is a noble thing to do.”

    The association’s president, Mrs Esther Dada, said AFED is committed to reducing the number of out-of-school children. Dada advised its members to upgrade their technical skills so that public confidence in them can be emphasised.

    “I want to encourage members to brace up for the challenges ahead because of the enormous responsibilities and public expectation. We need to upgrade our technical skills regularly in order to meet our schools’ requirements,” she said

    High point of the event was presentations of cash and prizes to best pupils of member schools in unified examination.

  • Educationist seeks conducive atmosphere for low cost schools

    An educationist, Dr Gboyega Ilusanya, has urged governments to create an enabling environment for low cost private school providers. He said governments could do this by regulating the schools to enable their growth, facilitate access to finance and collect data that can help stakeholders make informed decisions.

    Ilusanya, who leads a team, Developing Effective Private Education Nigeria (DEEPEN), made the appeal at the 2016 Congress of the Association for Formidable Educational Development (AFED), held at the National Arts Theatre, Orile Iganmu, Lagos, last week. Ilusanya spoke on the theme: ‘Socio-economic impact of low cost education in Nigeria: The need for more enabling environment.’

    He argued in favour of low cost school providers, saying they are also improving access to education, contributing positively to the economy through employment and improving on learning outcomes.

    He also advised low cost education providers to key into research, as the data incurred through this process will bring to light their influence and impact on the society.

    Ilusanya said: “It is essential that we open our doors for more meaningful research so that the impact of low cost private education can be unearthed while what is needed to be improved upon is also communicated.”

    The Director-General, Lagos State Quality Assurance, Mrs Ronke Soyombo, said Lagos State is always interested in partnering any low cost school, provided such school meets the recommended standard.

    “The government is passionate about infrastructure in its schools and is willing to embrace any good partner in progress if its meets its basic requirements,” Mrs Soyombo said.

    On his part, National patron of AFED,  Prof Pat Utomi said: “Education for all is desirable. If people are educated they can produce a way out of poverty for them. Take pride in what you are doing because it is a noble thing to do.”

    The association’s president, Mrs Esther Dada, said AFED is committed to reducing the number of out-of-school children. Dada advised its members to upgrade their technical skills so that public confidence in them can be emphasised.

    “I want to encourage members to brace up for the challenges ahead because of the enormous responsibilities and public expectation. We need to upgrade our technical skills regularly in order to meet our schools’ requirements,” she said

    High point of the event was presentations of cash and prizes to best pupils of member schools in unified examination.

  • How to pass UTME, by educationist

    How to pass UTME, by educationist

    The first hurdle, which many secondary school leavers find difficult to scale is the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB).

    The failure rate of students in this examination has soared in recent years, particularly since the JAMB introduced computer-based examination.

    But  the Mandate Private School (MPS) Chief Learning Officer, Akesan, Lagos, Rev. Sunday Attah, said this needs not be so.

    He said as far back as 2008, MPS introduced the CBT and made e-learning compulsory from basic to SS3.

    “I must quickly say that the reason for the failure of many students in the examination is their lack of exposure to computer from secondary schools. Expectedly, such students will lose self-confidence in the examination hall. Any student who is jittery in the examination hall as a result of his or her inability to operate computer will fail woefully,” he said.

    He continued: “The first step we took was to transform our SS1-SS3 classes to e- learning classrooms. Each of the students has laptop and teachers’ notes are transferred to students’ laptops through wireless devices. We have given ourselves a time frame to introduce the intensive ICT (Information and Communications Technology) education to our primary section, which will make pupils from Primary 1 to SS3 computer literate and internet friendly. These pupils and students are taught by competent computer teachers in the use of word processing, multimedia, internet, e-mail, desktop publishing, networking and computer aided designs,” Attah added.

    Attah further shed more light on the step the management of the school took to guard against examination malpractices.

    His words: “Since 2007, we stopped registering external candidates for SSCE.The reason is that we do not know the academic background or the strength of these external candidates, and whether they are morally upright or not. The decision was to prevent examination fraudin the school.”

    He further disclosed that the school’s intolerance for malpractice has instilled in the students the culture of self-reliance, hard work and academic excellence.

    Attah, who doubles as the proprietor, expressed his dissatisfaction with the high taxes levied on private schools by governments.

    His words: “Akesan community where the school is located, is not a high brow area. As a result, we cannot afford to charge high fees because most of our parents are average parents. Yet, we do our best to provide qualitative education. The government should slash these taxes because education is a social service which both the government and the private sector must ensure is of high standard.

    “The reduction of these levies is important so that owners of private schools will have enough funds to pay their workers as well as equip their schools,” he said.

  • Future of education lies in STEM, says educationist

    Future of education lies in STEM, says educationist

    An educationist, Dr Dolapo Ogunbanwo, has said the future of education is in Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).

    Ogunbanwo, who is the administrator of Lekki British School, Lekki, Lagos, said the world over, the focus has shifted to the aforementioned to keep pace with the emerging trends in engineering and technology.

    STEM system of education fosters in pupils in the secondary school level innate curiosity to make discoveries on their own without being spoon fed.

    She said:  “People will ask if your school is going technical because if you look at the acronym STEM, it means science, technology, engineering and mathematics.’’

    She continued: “Children as I said, are very curious about things around them. So, STEM system of education allows pupils make discoveries possible for those who can ask question on anything they are taught in school. The system encourages the application of all the four disciplines in STEM to be used to aid studying and learning.”

    She said at Lekki British School, where she works, the system has fully taken off and the results have been encouraging.

    “The reason Lekki British School is doing STEM is because the world is changing and we don’t even know the kind of jobs these children that we are having now will be doing in their life. If we go back a few decades, we didn’t have anything like that,” she said.

    According to her, embracing STEM to impart knowledge would not in any way jettison students’ interests in other disciplines that are not science-inclined. The system, she assured, would make learning easier and pleasant as basic knowledge of science, would be deployed into other disciplines to aid learning and understanding.

    Ogunbanwo said STEM has been tested the world over as the most appropriate way of imparting knowledge on pupils.

    “It is a question-oriented learning. If you ask question, we will allow you to find the solution. The teachers only facilitate, but not to teach them. And when I am finding solutions to problems I’m doing a research. The pupils now see themselves as researchers. They now know that they can discover knowledge by themselves. They take ownership of the answers provided. That is briefly what we are trying to do,” she said.

    Asked if the school was pioneering STEM, she said: “STEM is not new. It is everywhere. It is just that we have been doing it without knowing that we are doing it. It is already in Nigeria.  But we really need to be doing it consciously because we educators, who train teachers, always tell those most people refer to as natural born teachers, who have affinity for teaching, that it is not enough to be talented, you must hone your talent.

    “They should be taught to be conscious of what they are doing because it is desirable to master the art and act of teaching. As a teacher, I must know why I am a teacher, if it is working for me, if it is not, and why it is not.’’

  • Educationist seeks scrapping of JAMB

    National Chairman, Education Reformers Association of Nigeria (NRAN) Dr Femi Oyewole, has called for the cancellation of JAMB-Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination conducted between February 27 and March 17 in over 500 centres nationwide.

    He spoke at the seminar organised by NRAN in collaboration with EMCOY Favour Group of Schools, Ogba, Lagos in which he is also the proprietor.

    If the examination were allowed to stay, thousands of candidates who would have secured admissions into various higher institutions this year would be denied of such opportunities, he contended.

    Oyewole explained that there was nothing wrong with UTME exercise per se adding: “This one conducted by JAMB was not only poorly organised but shows some of their staff were unskilled and deficient in carrying out the project.”

    In view of the development, Oyewole said NRAN would be heading to the National Assembly next week to challenge the exam and persuade the lawmakers not only to cancel it, but to also move a motion for JAMB dissolution.

    “JAMB is no more relevant to our education system, as it was in our time. As an educationist and a cleric, I feel bad seeing JAMB as a mere extortionist body to candidates and their parents. Let every higher institution conduct its own entrance examinations, as it once was before JAMB,” he stressed.

    Oyewole said further: “The forthcoming debate (by the National Assembly) that JAMB results should have a lifespan of three years during which a candidate could tender such for admission into higher institutions, is unnecessary. The right thing is for JAMB to be dissolved; the board’s performance is getting poorer every year and has become a cog in the wheel of the nation’s education progress.”

    He expressed disappointment over the attitude of some private schools that perennially owe their workers salaries. According to him, it would be difficult for a teacher who was not paid at the end of the month to give right directions to the students.

    He called on the Lagos State in particular to sanction any private school that defaults in meeting its obligation to its employees.