…Harp on valuing teachers, synchronising vocational training in curriculum

…Essence of our intervention is for all children to come out better — Hamzat

By Moses Adeniyi

Stakeholders who gathered for the Lagos State organised  2022 Education Summit have said that the path to Nigeria’s development is tied to the vitality of its education sector, submitting that the country’s growth path would continue to suffer set back if a national outlook is not turned to address education in the country.

This is just as the stakeholders have called State Governments across the federation to take a clue after the standards Lagos is setting for a comprehensive education model.

The stakeholders have since Tuesday during the two-day summit themed ‘Creating a Sustainable Fit-For-Purpose Education Model’ reviewed the vision of Nigeria’s curriculum in the reality of the world and the importance of stakeholders’ collaboration.

Harping on the necessity to educating teachers with modern technologies to secure higher outcome and driving effective strategies for a fit-for-purpose education model, the stakeholders agreed robust energies must be channeled to develop strategies to implement the discourse over making education fit-for-purpose in the country.

In his remarks, the Deputy Governor, Lagos State, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat said the place of comprehensive schools which Lagos has commenced remains important, stating that the essence of the reforms and interventions was to ensure “every child that goes through the system comes out better and enhanced.”

According to him, the focus of the interventions of the Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu-led administration on education was to ensure all children that passes through the state’s system of education come out better and productive.

On getting out-of-school children back to the classrooms, he said, “I know SUBEB (Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board) does a lot of that, goes out there to bring back children that has left school.

“The question is what do we need to do? SUBEB was able to identify why those children are out of school and they solve those problems after bringing those children back to school.

“In Lagos, it is not just about statistics but the practicality of what we are doing; how do we bring children back to school? How do we give them the best?”

In her speech, the Ambassador of Education at the Finnish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mrs. Marjaana Sall, said it was essential to consider quality education system and learning for all students critical as the bedrock for national development.

She linked the rapid development of her country which according to her was “100 years ago among the poorest in the world, but now the happiest” to deliberate investment in education.

Mentioning that teachers must be motivated, valued and trained for competence, she submitted that the orientation of education system should be anchored “on teaching for life not for exams,” while ensuring continuous reforms.

Marjaana said combining vocational training in the curriculum was good step for development, maintaining that “flexible education system is resilient and responsive,” for development.

Wife of the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse III, Olori Atuwatse III, projected how pleasant Nigeria would look if a fit-for-purpose education is implemented.

According to her, Nigeria is at a critical time when the need to inject hope through a more viable system of education is significant.

She applauded the Lagos State Government for hosting the policy formation gathering, but argued that the ongoing conversation must be taken beyond mere discussion to ‘tenacious implementation.’

According to her, effective implementation require a long term outlook, preparing children for the future by firm policies in a ‘very holistic manner.’

Lamenting brain-drain phenomenon in the country, she said it was essential to prepare a way of ensuring basic amenities to make the environment more conducive for quality education.

She said it was important to employ the best minds, ensure continuous training from private to public schools to ensure the socio-economic development “we long for in the country is actualised.”

According to her, what has been done in Lagos is a bold step to lead Nigeria on the path to development through introducing a new landscape for education in the country.

The Chairperson, Conference of Private Schools Association in Lagos State, Dr. Femi Ogunsanya, said following after South Korea’s path of blending character development with intelligence in the curriculum system was important.

She said to have education form the bedrock of development, the goals must be clearly stated with a roadmap for all sides, both teachers and students to work around.

Senior Education Specialists to the World Bank, Dr. Tunde Adekola, said it was important to ensure investment in education is result oriented, mentioning that ‘spending is different from investment,’ and as such the government must begin to ‘invest smartly and wisely.’

He said it was important to ensure value added conversation to augment Lagos measures, calling for critical assessment for improvement.

In his submmission, he called for coalition of all stakeholders for a focused outcome, aligning result to global trends; accountability on the demand and supply sides for implementation; collaboration between investment and result.

Mentioning that the environment must be made friendly for private sector participation, Adekola said such partnership should be driven around resource based financing using the private sector as the benchmark.

In her remarks, the Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Sustainable Development Goals and

Investment (SDGs&I), Solape Hammond, said it was essential to measure the impacts of critical interventions, stating that “what you don’t measure, you don’t manage.”

She said the government alone cannot fund education and proffer all solutions, but development in the regard requires concerted efforts from all, stating that creation of a framework for collaboration was important.

In her remarks, the Vice Chancellor, Lagos State University, Professor Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, commended Governor Sanwo-Olu for what she described as “his effort and insistent passion in ensuring that quality and purposeful education continues to be provided for the teaming population of our state as provided in the THEMES agenda.”

“Whenever the story of this event is told, the huge investment in the education sector under the watch of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu will always be a reference,” she said.

She mentioned that Western countries like the United Kingdom and United States of America have been able to achieve their feats with significant commitment and plans in their education sector.

“It is important that our young minds receive quality education,” she said, mentioning that to achieve “the Lagos 30 year development plan targeted at making Lagos a mega city that is self secured,” no stone must be left unturned for education to drive the kind of future  desired.

“We as stakeholders must come together and achieve that success, especially when Mr Governor (Sanwo-Olu) have invested so much in technology to make this possible,” she said.

In her remarks, the State’s Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Folasade Adefisayo said education is an important tool for the future of children.

“Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu is working tirelessly to work on our education future now. Education is the most powerful weapon which we can use to change the world,” she said.