By Olanrewaju Adesanya
Education experts and government officials have aligned thoughts on the grave need for home grown solution to our educational challenges, that will attend to our peculiarities as regards near perfect character moulding (omoluabi) ethos, thus helping to restore our age long values and virtues.
Erudite scholars especially those from the professorial cadre, who peopled the panellist session of the two days education summit, tagged Creating a sustainable Fit-For-Purpose Education Model, held at Eko Hotels & Suite Vitoria Island Lagos, charged the atmosphere with facts and statistics pointing directly to the ills of our society, made worse by the poor use of our Universities potential as against what obtains in other climes.
Professor Olanrewaju Fagbohun the former Vice Chancellor of the Lagos State University (LASU),Professor Olufemi Bamiro former Vice Chancellor University of Ibadan (UI), Professor Josiah Ajiboye the Registrar/Chief Executive, Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN), Senior Special Assistant to the President on education intervention, Fela Bank-Olemoh, equally referred scholars like Mrs Ayida Otobo, Mrs Adesuwa Ifedi Senior Vice President, Heifer Africa all explored our educational sector critically to advance workable frameworks that can better address our challenges as a nation.
In reaction to the moderator Ms. Folami Omikunle’s prompt, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on education intervention Mr.Fela Bank-Olemoh was quick to add the importance of having much more partnership with private sector with clearly set boundaries to check unwholesome moves.
Bank-Olemoh affirmed that government remained a bad business man so the private sector participation is critical,” there is no way, we can solve our educational sectors problem without the private sector.
He also stated that setting of boundaries is cardinal for government, while in partnership with the private sector as it helps them to remain firm in their resolve to deliver good governance.
“Setting of boundaries even when close to them is key, without the well set boundaries, we won’t be able to be firm enough to ensure true collaboration. Bank Olemoh said.
https://sunrise.ng/fglasg-experts-brainstorm-on-need-for-purpose-driven-education-system/
In the chain’s of discourse Professor Olanrewaju Fagbohun gave critical analysis of the inherent potentials of the education sector in clear comparison with existing clear departure from what ought to be, especially the fact that the education system is not skewed towards a purpose as it obtains in other climes.
Professor Fagbohun cited a disconnect occasioned by the deliberate jettison integrated indigenous practice, we are used to-Character modelling. He urged that the sector reverts to that integrated system geared towards developing the children.
He however, raised eyebrows about the disjointed manners by which laudable initiatives are being implemented, warning that this if not addressed may lead us back to the same point in the sector, as previously held educational conferences dealt with issues right after Nigeria’s independence but the problem had always been implementation.
Addressing the audience which includes teachers and lecturers as well as top functionaries at the state and federal level of the educational sector, Professor Fagbohun touch on the need for more support to be availed the teachers, to make them recognize their roles in the 6-3-3-4 system, especially targeted at modelling and grooming future leaders.
He specifically noted that demoralizing and demotivating words like ‘drop-out’ remains a distorting language that need be discontinued in the school’s parlance as it clearly tones down on the dignity of labour.
Appraising his experience and winning streaks while at LASU, he cited the positive vibes the Ready-Set-To-Work scheme brought into the institution, a model he claimed exposed the students to work ethics prior entry into the labour market, having been opportune to take on real life perspectives through periodic interface with business moguls and successful CEO’S, who already made their mark’s in various industries.
For Mrs Alero Ayida Otobo the transformation strategist whose cardinal input is needed for the desired reforms in the educational sector, she maintained that data processing is key to eliciting a policy that addresses issues dispassionately for workable end results.Data collation, collection and right use to take decision matters.
According to her the formative years of a child need be accorded much attention, more of child centric way of thinking by government will pay off positively as it will ensure an holistic development.
Mrs Adesuwa Ifedi in her deep reflection majors on the need for student to gather hands-on experiences for them to fit into the after school realities perfectly.
A regulator Professor Josiah Ajiboye in his submissions however, opined that though technology will not replace teachers in the Nigerian context, teachers who possess the technological skills will.
Professor Olufemi Bamiro while discussing the required direction for a change in the sector maintained that the Universities ought to be solution providers, he also raised a poser,” how is the Lagos State government challenging the sector?
“Building a system that can be both reactive and proactive in developing the education system for now and future.
“The University’s role is to develop solutions, what has been their intellectual input into governance for instance.
“In South Africa, a University in Cape town was challenged to look into the textile issue, Universities ought to be agent of development we need to be involved, collaboration in real action. You need go out there and create value.” Professor Bamiro said.