Nigeria @ 55: Are we producing the best in our Education sector?

According to one of the Nigerian dailies, Nigeria was one of the 164 countries that pledged to achieve Education for All by 2015 at a World Education Forum in Dakar, Senegal in 2000, hopes were high that, by 2015, all school-age children would have access to education while adult illiteracy would be a thing of the past.

Fifty-five years after independence and 16 years of democratic government, concerned educationists are of the opinion that the Nigerian education sector seems to be in extended infancy as mass failure in external examinations, corruption, failure to meet the Education for All (EFA) target, inadequate funding and unqualified teachers, among others, still bedevil the sector.

Base on the body language of this present administration, Is it appropriate to rate the education sector other than an absolute failure?

The UK has 34 universities in the Times Higher Education ranking of the world's top 200 institutions.

The UK has 34 universities in the Times Higher Education ranking of the world's top 200 institutions.
Oxford climbs to second place, while Cambridge and Imperial College London also make the top 10 in fourth and eighth places respectively.
Keeping the top spot for the fifth consecutive year is the California Institute of Technology in the US.
Europe has a record number of universities in the world top 200, with 105 compared to 87 last year.

Changing the Game Plan to build a great school.

Start the school year with clear- cut objectives.

Programmes lined up for the session must be objective-based. End of the year parties, Christmas concerts, Award/Prize giving days, Open days, PTAs, School anniversaries among others, are events that should be backed by clearly defined objectives.

Initiate Programmes as channels of communication.

Do you want your programmes to make a statement or do you want to hold one just for the fun of it? Have clear focus in order not to deviate from  the distinct personality  your school is noted for. One way of building a great school is to ensure all activity upholds its brand.

Take Part in Community Action

A school is part of a community. Schools should take time out to take part in any community activity around them. Fostering the values of good citizenship through community service and civic awareness is an objective a good school should develop. Students are taught to value and respect those around them through community Action programs.

How to do this

-School excursion can be turned into community action.

-Primary school children can engage in planting activities.

-Home economics classes can be turned into useful causes through making clothing items and donating to elderly Homes and hospitals.

-Strengthen your relationship with parents as these will make parent show support for learning at home, communicate positive feedback about a teachers influence or performance, and volunteer to help in classroom.