Community without hierarchy is a catalyst for change.
The axiom that no society can rise above the quality of its teachers and the Education System delivery is most demonstrable in kogi state at the moment than at any other time in the state’s history. The challenges of the lack of the political will and government commitment; gross under funding; dysfunctional policy structure and system; inadequate and dilapidated infrastructure; outdated teaching, learning and research facilities; lack of desirable attention to teacher education and professional development; and appropriate curriculum concerns; are just some of the fundamental issues needing to be addressed by Gov YAHAYA Bello
KOGI needs to attain the vision in education, what are required aren’t simply reforms however a revolution of sorts. There must be a drastic overhaul of the prevailing education system by the Government.
PRIMARY EDUCATION
I Plead to Gov Yahaya Bello’s administration on behalf of kogi citizen compulsory and free primary education should get on top of our education agenda. There’s no getting away from enforcing the Constitutional commitment to compulsory education
In the current system of education, the shortage of opportunities for creativity for lecturers as well as students is consistent. Excessive use of textbooks and external examinations, to the exclusion of the method of education, is partially liable for this. Entire generations of teachers haven’t noted any other system and changes within the past system
I plead for adequate training/seminars for kogi staff/teachers to target areas of learning that can be worked on, computer-aided teaching and technology led learning has to be there in major reforms. The State Governments should please facilitate this method by bringing about rules for continuous teacher quality up-gradation.
LEARNING TO LEARN
The current system of book-based and theory-oriented teaching doesn’t instill independent thinking. It ought to be modified to create the scholars learn by practice and experience. This could be initiated from the primary level of education.
Value systems
To build our state with sensible character and citizenship, it’s vital that value education is introduced in pre-school and strengthened in primary, secondary and higher education across the state.
Education Infrastructure
Just as economic infrastructure is seen crucial for the industrial sector, the development of infrastructure of educational institutions should be seen as important to a knowledge society.
Inadequate And Dilapidated Infrastructure
No sector is as characterized by decayed and dilapidated infrastructure as the Education Sector in the state. Collapsed primary school classes, blown off roofs of secondary school classrooms, and uncompleted and abandoned projects in tertiary institutions are still the hall mark of this challenge in the state’s educational institutions. The situation is such that the level of infrastructural deficit has not resulted in total collapse because of the Education Trust Fund (ETF), now Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) or SUBEB interventions as well as This is especially so for State-owned institutions at all levels. What we have today as result of the infrastructural decay in our educational institutions is the average of some 50% deficit that makes most kogi state schools unattractive.
Outdated Teaching And Learning Facilities
Many of our schools are still operated with the outdated “white chalk and black board” facilities with teachers and lecturers shouting themselves hoarse in classrooms. 90% of our teachers and lecturers are still yet to be computer compliant and many more learners do not know what ICT Platforms for learning are all about. Most shocking is the Open and Distance Learning (ODL) platforms as in the case of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) which are still struggling to adopt relevant technologies to deliver the expected mandate.
Lack Of The Desirable Attention To Teacher Education And Professional Development
There is large scale domestication of illiteracy and miss-education in our educational institutions across the state today, essentially because our teachers are inadequately trained in subject matter, pedagogy and professionalism.
There is a Teacher Education policy that the Ministries of Education don’t even seem to know about, talk less of initiating the implementation of its contents. There is untoward proliferation of Teacher Education Programmes by various institutions which completely water down standards and quality under the watch of the various regulatory bodies. The consequence has been widespread and unchecked mass failure, academic fraud and unprofessional conduct in the sector at all levels should be drawn close attention to
Research in education
Basically Analysis in the least levels ranging from the undergraduate level within the science and technology fields ought to be inspired. Even the infrastructure offered for analysis and development is poor and archaic.
Physical Education
There is no stress on physical development in our school curriculum. There’s a desire to encourage sports activities by providing the required infrastructure. The prevailing resources of Sports Authority in the state and different sports bodies within the country ought to be utilized for this critical space.
Extra-curricular activities
One day per week (preferably Saturday) must be mandatory put aside for extra-curricular activities like games, study visits, arts and crafts and similar activities at the primary school and secondary school level.
I therefore acknowledge our new administration Gov Yahaya Bello for his effort in making kogi a better place to hasting up and help to build the future the future of our children and the future of KOGI STATE. by reforming Kogi education sector
– Bamidele C.Y
Accountant, Lokoja Local Government Education Authority.
