13th December, 2014
Jethro Ibileke/Benin
Concerned by the dwindling performance of Nigerian students in examinations conducted by the West African Examinations Council, WAEC, the federal government is taking steps to revive the trend.
Minister of Education, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau, who disclosed this on Saturday at the 22nd Convocation ceremony of the Auchi Polytechnic, said the the federal government is worried by the poor results recorded in the last Senior Secondary School certificate examination.
“To remedy this situation, government has taken steps to improve on the capability of the Inspectorate Division of the federal ministry of Education to enable it monitor the quality of teaching and facilities available in our secondary schools.”
The Minister further disclosed that in addition, government is working out modalities for regular training and retraining of teachers through various short term courses, workshops and seminars.
He commended the achievements of the present management of the polytechnic, saying, “I am aware and pleased that Auchi Polytechnic has a well developed entrepreneurial curriculum and has commissioned an entrepreneurial village for skills acquisition with the sole purpose of producing jub creators and not job seekers. Government is very particular about the development of vocational and technology education and believes that strengthening this will reduce tha high rate of unemployment of youths, and ensure wealth creation.”
He stressed the need for peace and tranquillity in the educational institutions was very important and cannot be over-emphasised.
“It is on this premise that I implore the staff and students to appreciate the fact that learning can only take place in a peaceful and conducive atmosphere, and we have to create this collectively,” he said.
He commended the Rector of the institution, Dr. (Mrs.) Phillipa Idogho for her developmental stride.
Elderstatesman, Chief Edwin Clark, who was commissioner for education in the old mid western state, said Auchi Polytechnic compares fairly with any universities in the world.
He therefore urged the federal government to convert the institution to a full fledged university, which he said is what now obtains in the United Kingdom, where he said most polytechnics have now been converted to universities.
In his speech, the special Guest of honour at the occasion and governor of Edo state, Comrade Adams Eric Oshiomhole, congratulated the honourable minister of education, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau, for the exemplary leadership he has brought into the nation’s educational sector, adding that his fresh idea is already helping to stabilise Nigeria’s education system.
Oshiomhole also congratulated the Rector of the Polytechnic, Dr. Idogho, noting that the institution under her watch has become better both in look, content and in products, and has become better than some other polytechnics and universities in the country.
The governor also enjoined the graduating students to join in the nation building, saying that “in a digital world, only those who have brains will survive.”
Earlier in her welcome address, Rector of the Polytechnic, Dr. (Mrs.) Philipa Idogho, who said that modern education was computer based, disclosed that the institution has built and equipped five e-learning centres with a combined sitting capacity of 815.
She also disclosed that the polytechnic now offers a total of 63 programmes leading to the award of national diploma, higher national diploma and professional diploma in urban and regional planning.
Also speaking, the. Chairman, governing council of the institution, Gabriel Yomere, noted that Auci polytechnic is one of the oldest tertiary institutions in Nigeria, but added that its facilities, equipment and instructional materials are as old as the institution itself.
He therefore said there was an urgent need to change and to replace these equipment and facilities with contemporary ones that meet the requirements of the digital age and the present work environment.