Gov. Udom wants education in Nigeria reviewed
Gov. Udom Emmanuel has called on relevant authorities in the nation’s education sector to consider restructuring the educational system to meet current realities.
The governor made the call while addressing participants at the concluding session of the 1st Akwa Ibom State Education Summit and Exhibitions.
He maintained that education must be tailored towards producing entrepreneurs and craftsmen in vocations that will add value to the society, adding that Akwa was already making moves to achieve that.
“I am looking at a situation where certain categories of skilled labour are produced here and when the need arises for their services such craftsmen would be fetched here”, he stated.
Governor Udom further disclosed that ten indigenes of Akwa Ibom state are to be enrolled for studies in textile engineering in a Europe based institution come September, 2020.
“Yesterday, officials of an institution in Europe watched this programme live and communicated to me, saying that by September next year, they will grant scholarship to ten Akwa Ibom citizens to study Textile Engineering,” he said.
He noted with displeasure that lack of capacity building has been the major problem in the society, saying “the problem in Nigeria is not unemployment but capacity building, if we can build our capacity, certificate will not be an issue”.
The governor hinted that arrangements have been completed for the establishment of Computer Laboratories in at least 10 schools, one in each of the 10 Federal Constituencies of the state.
He explained that the Modular Classrooms built in Primary Schools within the Uyo urban are technologically designed to fast track communication with schools in the remote areas, pointing out that the technology will simplify learning as knowledge will be transferred with the in-built facilities.
Earlier while delivering a lecture the Chief Human Resources Officer, Dangote Worldwide, Logos State, Mr. Usen Udoh, advocated a change in teaching method and curriculum of studies .
Mr Udoh whose lecture was titled: “knowledge as a Bedrock for Entrepreneurship, Job And Wealth Creation”, said that 21st century education adopts problem identification method and ability to solve such problems, rather than training on grammar qualification.
He said emphasis is on skilled based education and that internship and industrial experience are preferred to theoretical experience as employers do not look at certificate but qualifications that can solve problems.
He however called on the organisers of the summit to come up with educational roadmap that will transcend different administrations in
the State.
For a former Vice Chancellor of the University of Uyo, Prof. Akaneren Essien, he identified appropriate funding of education as key to functional education, maintaining that there exist a nexus between capacity building and funding of education.
Prof. Essien pointed out that poor or improper funding and implementation of projects in the educational system could have poor effects on student’s performance.
He therefore called for collaborative funding of education, which he explained, covers funding from family, Parent Teachers Association , Corporate bodies, Government, Alumni Associations etc. in order to achieve the desired results.
(NAN)
