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Economic Confidential,
November, 2009
FEATURES
Exchange Programmes
By
Chinedu Vincent Akuta
The
greatest challenge will be how to raise the standard of education in
Nigeria with minimal or no government involvement. Please do not ask
me why, because events in and around our educational sector has
shown us how serious our government can be when it comes to
improving the educational standards. Part of the reason why our
“rulers” do not give education the required attention is because
some of their children are studying overseas. Many are studying in
nearby Ghana and other African countries. This reminds me of a
suggestion that I made earlier that all government functionaries
should have their children study in Nigeria while they are still in
government positions. Exception should be for people on foreign
services.
It
should be an unpatriotic act to have your children studying abroad
while you’re holding a government position. Nigerians should take
this matter to the National Assembly and all states Houses of
Assembly to pass a law prohibiting children of government
functionaries from studying abroad while their parents are still
holding government positions. Same should apply to health care.
Perhaps a policy in the above direction might bring some seriousness
on the part of government officials and thus usher in changes in our
education and healthcare system.
Having said the above, I want to propose exchange programmes between
the private universities and government universities. I want the 41
private universities, polytechnics, and other privately owned higher
institutions to design an exchange programmes particularly for the
students of public universities. The idea will be to cross exchange
ideas, learning skills, study experiences, share books, journals
etc. I want the private universities to take up the challenges of
improving the standard of education, by assisting the students of
public universities using the mechanism of exchange programmes. On
the fallen standard of education in Nigeria , private institutions
(universities, polytechnics etc) cooperation with government
institutions provides a viable option that can improve the quality
of education. Exchange programmes should also be encouraged between
government and private owned primary and secondary schools.
A
lot has gone wrong with the public schools. The lack of funding
(below the UNESCO standard of 26% of annual budgets) is a big
factor. The industrial disputes between the government, Academic
Staff Union of Nigerian Universities (ASUU), Senior Staff
Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), Non Academic Staff
Union of Universities (NASU), National Association of Academic
Technologists (NAAT) etc, has taken its toll on Nigerian students.
Let us also factor in the internal university crisis, like the
tussle to become the University of Benin Vice Chancellor etc. All
these have negative effects on the students. Obviously, when two
elephants fight, the grass will suffer. The grasses in this case are
the Nigerian students who are paying the price.
As
it stands, I appeal for a rescue plan from the private sector.
Education is light and knowledge will forever govern ignorance.
Ignorance is also a disease. I want the private sector (parents,
teachers, non governmental organizations, business community,
churches etc) to embark on a massive campaign to raise the culture
of reading. Let the private sector do whatever it will take to get
Nigerians reading. We need to read more to improve our standards.
Let the Nigerian people take this as a challenge to encourage
children and youths to read, as this will have a clear and positive
effect on academic achievements in school and outside the school.
Another fact we need to understand is that, low levels of literacy
can lead to poor outcomes amongst students, which in turn can lead
to high unemployment, crimes, etc.
Nigerians need to encourage their children and the youths to read
more science and technology courses. It gave me serious concern when
I learnt that South African government is recruiting mathematics and
sciences teachers from Nigeria . This is an area we need most. This
is also another brain drain, but again they will remit foreign
exchanges back home. In the absence of our oil revenue, remittances
from Nigerians abroad are the second largest source of foreign
exchange. Though that I will not blame any teacher that leaves
Nigeria , but my advise is, let them fashion a way of transferring
their foreign experiences back to Nigeria .
We
need also to encourage our people to study skills acquisition in
addition to their normal academic programme. We can design skills
acquisition courses at the end of every academic year for our
children/youths etc. This will take away their mind from crimes etc.
An idle mind is a devils workshop. Let us also encourage our people
to take overseas distance learning courses. Exposure to overseas
distance learning might be a better way for people to experience the
standards of education in the western world. Quiz competitions
amongst students should be encouraged as well.
I
will recommend adult education for parents and families who are not
educated. There is need to educate our uneducated parents and
families. I have said these because, the child’s first and most
important teachers are the parents or the family members. Educated
parents will likely engage in their children’s education. Better
still, there could be home study programmes if parents are educated.
In a report on Time Magazine of November 23 2009 edition, many
Chinese students spend twice as many hours doing homework than their
United State counterparts, partly due to family involvement. I will
ask private educational providers to design programmes whereby
tutors can visit people at their work places or business places to
deliver lecture. I understand some people might be too busy to leave
their offices/business to attend adult education centers, in such
situation, tutors can visit such people.
I
will also propose the establishment of community libraries and
learning centers in every community. This project should be
undertaken by the communities. It could be a room or two. Nigerian
communities/villages should build community libraries the same way
they established community banks. Many communities established
community banks, same spirit should adopted to build community
libraries. It should be equipped and managed by the communities.
Nigerians at home and abroad should donate books to these libraries.
I
will recommend an arrangement whereby the federal, state and local
governments will grant tax waivers to private institutions in return
for them to increase their yearly students’ enrolment, offer
scholarships, studentships, funding, etc. Let me also propose more
private sector (companies, banks etc) collaboration and funding of
research projects in private universities.
Finally, I wish to appeal to Nigerians to participate and join the
fight against global warming. Turn off your electrical
appliances/lights when not in use. Plant a tree or sponsor one to
plant on your behalf. Government and companies should send less
paper work and do more email, telephone, and sms. May God bless
Nigeria .
Chinedu Vincent Akuta
An
activist and leader of “Support Option A4 Group” Leicester-UK
akutachinedu@yahoo.com
http://briefsfromakuta.blogspot.com/ |
