UNILORIN’s Prof Urges FG, States to Revamp Education System
Professor Onimisi Ekuh Abdullahi of the Faculty of Education, Department of Social Sciences Education, University of Ilorin, has called on the Federal and State Governments to revamp the nation’s education system, with a view to addressing systemic inconsistencies that hinder its effectiveness.
Prof. Abdullahi made the call while delivering the UNILORIN’s 266th inaugural lecture, titled “A Psychological Perspective on the Systemic Inconsistencies in the Nigerian Educational System.”
According to him, the current assessment method, which relies heavily on written examinations, encourages cheating and should be replaced with more objective methods, including practical sessions.
He also called for the promotion of local authors to publish textbooks tailored to Nigerian needs, aspirations, and peculiarities, rather than relying on foreign texts that distort the country’s history.
Prof. Abdullahi emphasised the need for secondary schools to contribute to community development and for counselling centers to be established to support students coping with stress.
The inaugural lecturer further recommended a review of the Western education framework to develop a functional curriculum aligned with Nigerian culture, values, and aspirations.
According to him, education should focus on attitudinal change, eradication of poverty and diseases, and integration of Nigerian indigenous games into educational instruments,” Abdullahi said.
“To achieve these reforms, Abdullahi stressed the importance of training and re-training teachers across all education levels, government support, and private investment in education.
“Government should also support schools adequately to equip teachers to find it easy in making use of student-centre approach to teaching .
“In the same vein, private individuals should be motivated to invest in education to facilitate the provision of infrastructural facilities that can make learning easier.
“There is an urgent need to reform teacher education so as to bring about functional teaching conditions in the school system,” he said.
Abdullahi noted that these recommendations were aimed at addressing the systemic inconsistencies plaguing Nigeria’s educational system and promote a more effective, culturally relevant, and student-centered learning environment.
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