Parents Warned Against Hurrying Children In Schools
The Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission (NUC), Prof. Abubakar Adamu Rasheed, has reiterated that the development of Entrepreneurship Education programme in the Nigerian University System (NUS) would help prepare students to be fit- for- purpose in the Nigerian labour market.
He stated this last Wednesday, when the Commission in partnership with the British Council (BC) kick-started a twoday brainstorming session with Directors of Entrepreneurship Centers of Nigerian universities, aimed at achieving a more productive university education system. He envisaged that Entrepreneurship Education delivery has the capacity to deliver the required momentum.
Rasheed, stressed that entrepreneurship must be embedded in the curriculum of all programmes taught in the Nigerian universities, adding that entrepreneurship has the potential to unlock the hidden potentials in students, helping them identify skills that could prepare them for the labour market.
He stated that the meeting was a fall out of an earlier one with the Centre Directors organised by the Directorate of Skills Development and Entrepreneurship (DSDE) of the NUC in November, 2021.
The NUC boss recalled that after deliberations by participants at the event, a communiqué was issued on certain key resolutions. He said key to effective functioning of Entrepreneurship should be the domiciliation of the programme in the Office of the Vice- Chancellor. This is germane if the university system must attain an enviable height in Entrepreneurship. On the strength of this, the meeting had resolved that the Entrepreneurship Directorate should be domiciled in
An education expert and founder of 'A Mother's Love Initiative', Mrs Hanatu Enwemadu has warned parents against hurrying their children in school, especially during their formative years.
Enwemadu, who gave the warning during a Stakeholders' Town Hall Meeting For the Hurried Child Project, held in Abuja, noted that hurrying a child during the school years affects their wellbeing and future the Office of the Vice Chancellor to foster effective supervision.
The NUC Scribe said the decision of stakeholders through the communiqué to put in place an operational guideline for effective running of the Entrepreneurship Development Centers (EDCs) in the various universities was novel and imperative in the nation’s quest to produce employable graduates.
He stated that the Commission would continue to encourage ideas; innovations and suggestions that not only make the universities truly entrepreneurial, but also jump start the national economy towards global competitiveness.
The Executive Secretary stated that the Commission had continued to discharge its statutory responsibilities effectively of overseeing the university education system in Nigeria, in a bid to ensure the orderly development of a well-coordinated and productive university system. The Commission had also embarked on a series of reforms aimed at revitalizing University Education.
These, included: according to Curriculum review him, reengineering, of of the society.
She explained that the aim of the meeting is to inform the people and also sensitise the government on the dangers of this phenomenon on the development of the African child.
Hanatu also advised parents and school owners in the country to slow down in pushing their children, adding that every child has a milestone that he/she wants to achieve and if you hurry them, there is an implication on their wellbeing and the wellbeing and future of the society. instruments of Quality Assurance, strengthening of the EDCs, guidelines for Open and Distance Learning (ODL), Transnational Education (TNE) and re-invention of Internationalization portfolios in order to realign the NUS with global best practices.
Rasheed also highlighted that the Commission had continued to ensure the entrenchment of quality teaching and learning in the university system through its developed roadmap for quality assurance activities which included: Verification of new Programmes to ensure adequate human and material resources availability; Programme-Based Accreditation for both undergraduate and post graduate programmes, to ensure they meet the Benchmark Minimum Academic Standards (BMAS) as well as Inspection and Monitoring of activities in the Universities for sustainability of standards.
Others include the Evaluation of Students Support Facilities and Services in Nigerian universities; approval of the establishment of Open and Distance Learning Centers to further widen access to university education; ensuring Nigerian University System
She explained further that the essence of the project is to create an awareness of the project and to create a collaboration with International bodies in order to handle the situation.
Earlier in a speech, the minister of education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, had noted that in Nigeria today, many parents transit their children from Primary 4 or Primary 5 classes to junior secondary schools, which he said is not acceptable, because it has left most primary schools without Primary 6. continue to concentrate on their mandate and the re-constitution of a Committee on Degree mills.
He tasked the participants to actively engage in robust discussions during the workshop technical sessions and to ensure that the knowledge gained is put to good use for the benefit of their respective institutions, and the NUS at large.
In his presentation, the Acting Director, DSDE, Mal. Ashafa Ladan, stated that the meeting would have been held earlier but for exigency of duty coupled with the prolonged ASUU strike, which stalled many activities of the Commission in particular and the University System in general.
He noted that there had been a growing need for Entrepreneurship Education delivery in the university system and mindful of the prevailing enterprise challenges confronting Higher Education Space, NUC felt the need to engage experts in order to bridge the skill gap and ensure linkages between industries and the universities.
Ashafa, informed the meeting that the Executive Secretary, upon his assumption of office in August, 2016, and in pursuant to the revitalization ideas of the Federal Government in promoting national development through the educational sector, did set machinery in motion to strengthen the regulatory roles of the Commission.
The essence, he said, was to tackle educational related challenges of economic underdevelopment such as the high rate of unemployed graduates, the poor rate of skilled graduates and the mentality of waiting for white collar jobs.
He further informed the participants that there was the need to re-orientate students, teachers as well as higher institutions to become innovative, skillful and entrepreneurial for self-reliance and sustainability.
Represented by the deputy director, senior secondary education department in the ministry, Mr Adekola Ben, the minister noted that pushing children through schools is counterproductive, because it also affects the child's memory.
He therefore urged parents and stakeholders to allow their children to grow up naturally and not to rush them to skip classes, no matter how brilliant they are, but to allow them to go through the process so as not to damage their future.
Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, has described science and technology education as the bedrock of the technical and economic development of any nation.
Adamu said this underscored the federal government's huge investment in the sector.
He spoke in Ado Ekiti during the 45th founding anniversary and 18th combined convocation ceremony of the Federal Polytechnic, Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State.
A total of 13,677 students of Higher National Diploma and National Diploma of three graduating sets of the institution, from 2018/2019, 2019/2020 and 2020/2021 academic sessions were formally turned out at the event.
Also, the Minister of Works, Babatunde Raji Fashola, Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Mrs Modupe Babalola, the wife of a Legal Icon, Chief Afe Babalola(SAN), two alumni of the institution, Surv Babatunde Fakologbon and Dr. Rotimi Ibidapo were garlanded with the Fellowship Awards of the institution during the ceremonies.
Represented by the Director of Technology and Science department of the Ministry, Mrs Grace Jakko, the minister also said that federal government will continue to do all within its ambit to sustain the ongoing efforts at revamping and revitalizing the educational sector
"The Federal Government under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari is conscious of its constitutional responsibility and aimed at promoting and sustaining Science and Technology in Nigeria.
“To this cause, the Government has invested and still investing heavily in both physical and infrastructural development in the Technical Education sector in the quest to make quality Technical Education available to our teeming youths.
"This is borne out of the recognition that quality Technology Education is the bedrock of the Technical and Economic Development of any country".
Adamu who stated that the Polytechnic is fulfilling the objective for which it was established, called on well-meaning individuals to assist the institution in sponsoring projects that will enhance effective teaching and learning.
He added that Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND), Federal Ministry of Education and National Board For Technical Education (NBTE) had embarked on a series of intervention projects to revamp and revitalize Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in the country.
The Rector of the Polytechnic, Dr Dayo Hephzibah Oladebeye attributed the continuous existence, progress and success of the institution not only to the support of students and members of staff but also to the support received from the Federal Government.
He said despite daunting challenges in revitalizing the educational sector, the desire and determination of President Muhammadu Buhari to continually ensure excellence and quality assurance is being vigorously pursued
"This further strengthened the initial resolve of this administration to continue to strive for the best and achieve the best in all spheres of our engagement and to keep the flag of sound academic delivery flying in the institution".
Advising the graduates, Oladebeye who said they have what it takes to succeed urged them to imbibe hard work to better their future.
"Try as much as possible to continue to develop your individual competencies in this ever-changing world especially by leveraging on the advancement in technology to upgrade yourself in your chosen careers".