Education
Kindergarten Education, Key To National Dev –Experts
It has been made clear that early childhood education is the bedrock of our national development.
We have also heard that once we get education right in Nigeria, all other sectors would be put right.
Experts have said that for us to move education forward in Nigeria, we must start from the beginning to give the children the initial knowledge so that they can fit into the society as better citizens.
UN representative asked: “What kind of quality manpower do you want to raise without quality kindergarten education?”
She wondered that even when oil was discovered from the Niger Delta, we still employed foreigners to man the oil companies. “Why are there not enough indigenous engineers to work in the oil industries?” she queried and advised that we need to invest in our children and wards by giving them quality education.
These and many more were the views of various speakers as they brainstormed on the topic: “Kingdergarten Education: The Foundation for Human Development”, at the 2nd National Conference on Kindergarten Education in Port Harcourt, Thursday.
Presenting a paper on the kindergarten perspective, a lecturer, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Prof Julie Ibiam, who stated that kindergarten is a kind of stepping stone or transition class for primary school, noted that in recent times, it has been said and understood that it is a terminal stage for pre-primary education; and preparatory ground for the primary.
Prof Ibiam said in early childhood education, the child is smart and active and is ready to get what is imparted to him.
She emphasised that there is no uniform curriculum for this level of education and stressed that since Federal Government had directed that all state governments should establish early childhood education side-by-side the model schools, relevant authorities should prepare one and make the copies available, so that teachers would be trained in that area.
According to her, “Teachers should make learning meaningful in relation to what the children already know and involve them on hands- on activities.
Concerning the language to be used at this level, Prof Ibiam said although Nigeria has diverse languages but that the National Policy on Education stated that the language of the immediate environment should be used.
In her views, Dr Valerie Samuel, opined that if we are teaching the children to compete at the international community level, the official language should be English hence the local languages are secondary.
Dr Samuel, who stated that kindergarten education is unique, argued that you cannot compare a child who attended it with the child who did not because the kindergarten child is more equipped with so much skills than the latter.
She emphasised that Kindergarten is compulsory for nations preparing world-class leaders and therefore recommended one teacher to 10 pupils in a class.
She encouraged childhood care givers to organise parents’ forums for interaction, reminding that parental attention is very crucial since they are the first teachers.
In kindergarten all animals must be equal, unlike in ‘Animal Farm’ where all animals are equal, but some are more equal than others. In her paper presentation, a guest lecturer, Delta State University, Abraka, Dr Gladys Idogho, recalled that before independence, education in Nigeria used to be a community affair, hence we lean less on government and do it privately. Dr Idogho said parents have to be economically fit to ensure good nutrition and health and stressed that early identification to ascertain whether the child is normal or not is important. “Early childhood education lies in the hands of the parents. A child under three years must be attached to the mother.
“Kindergarten is the responsibility of the parents and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) should assist at the local levels. NGOs should expand in every ward and every woman should be a member,” she remarked. Meanwhile, a stakeholder and participant, who teachers at St Thomas Church Nursery and Primary School, in Port Harcourt, Mrs Gold Prince-Adah, told The Tide that it is a welcome development for educationists and policy planners and it serves as an eye-opener. According to her, “I have learnt a lot about early childhood care and as a way forward, I have to sustain it. We can go back to our various homes and impart this knowledge to other teachers who would in turn impart it proper to the children.”
Also speaking to our correspondent, a Fine and Applied Arts teacher at the Government Secondary School Elekahia, Mrs Aku Uche Olekanma, said that she has learnt about improvised materials for teaching the children in school and acknowledged that what she learnt will assist in her assignments.
Mr Samuel Omo, lamented that the fees charged by private schools operators are high and appealed to the government to establish nursery centres in the urban areas since they can afford it.
Eunice Choko Kayode
The Executive Chairman of the Rivers State Universal Basic Education Board, Alabo David Briggs and his Post Primary Schools Board, counterpart, Dr. Sam Emejuru recently embarked on a joint visit to Model Girls Secondary School, Mbodo Aluu in Ikwerre Local Government Arera of Rivers State.
Speaking to newsmen shortly after interacting with the students, Alabo Briggs said both of them were in the school to know how the students are faring, how happy they are, and to also know their areas of need and then take pragmatic decisions that would enhance the wellbeing of the students.
Describing the school as the only boarding school in Rivers State made up of Senior and Junior Secondary, the UBE boss said the visit has actually afforded them the opportunity to know what is lacking in the school, and promised that every machinery would be adequately put in place to ensure that the school is made more attractive and students well taken care of.
He further maintained that the Parents Teachers Association (PTA) and staff of the school must rise to the occasion so as to bring back the lost glory of the school and ensure that the students are treated and well handled like their own children.
Corroborating the UBE boss, Dr. Sam Emejuru of the Post Primary School promised that everything possible would be done to reposition the school, and appealed to all concerned to be patient.
During the visit, the two Board chairmen and their members met with the school authorities wherein issues bordering on the school were discreetly ironed out and some good changes made.
Alabo Briggs also gave cash to some of the students that performed well in the essay competition that took place in Port Harcourt.
The students were also given cartons of sanitary pads to mark the International Day of the Girl Child which was celebrated all over the world recently.
By: Akujobi Amadi
The Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) support programme on report writing for Chief Supervisors and Evaluators of the Local Government Areas took place recently at the UBE Board Headquarters in Port Harcourt.
Addressing the participants, the Board member in charge of Supervision/Monitoring, Chief Nwuke Anucha, described the programme as very interesting and educative as it is aimed at broadening the knowledge of the Chief Supervisors and Evaluators on report writing.
While thanking UBEC for the initiative, Chief Anucha also commended the resource persons who came from UBEC Abuja for doing a good job and appealed to the participants to see the support programme on report writing as an opportunity to do better.
Also speaking, the Board member, Project/Technical, Dr. Walson Ominini described the programme as a good one that all the participants must take seriously for the good of Rivers State.
Ominini used the medium to announce the personnel audit for staff of the Local Government Education Authorities in the three Senatorial zones coming up next week at the Board Headquarters adding that any staff of the LGEA who does not take part in the Audit should regard himself or herself as not being a staff of UBE.
In her vote of thanks, the Director, Quality Assurance, Mrs. Nnenna Osumenya thanked UBEC for the programme, and described it as a welcomed development.
She particularly thanked the Executive Chairman of the Board, Alabo David Briggs and the Board members for giving the programme the needed attention.
By: Akujobi Amadi
In cognizance of the value of reading in educational, career and knowledge pursuits, TotalEnergies Joint Venture(JV) Asset has committed itself to instilling the habit in students of secondary schools to enable them succeed in their academic pursuits and become good leaders of tommorow.
This, it is achieving through its Annual Book Reading and Open Day programme.
This year’s event, organised for Senior Secondary Schools in Rivers State,with the theme, ‘The World Is A Maze; Navigate It — Read’ and held at the Event Centre, TotalEnergies Office, PortHarcourt, explored the book, ‘Unexpected Joy At Dawn’ by Ghanaian author, Alex Agyei Agyiri.
Participating schools chosen across Port Harcourt included Government Technical College, PortHarcourt; Bishop Crowther Memorial Secondary School, Rumuobiakani; Oginigba Comprehensive Secondary School; Community Secondary School, Rumuomasi, and Hilltop Prime International College.
Others were Community Secondary School, Amadi-Ama; Government Senior Secondary School, Elekahia; Community Secondary School, Nkpogu; Dietams International Schools; and Community Secondary School, Abuloma.
In his address, the Deputy Managing Director, Joint Venture Asset, TotalEnergies EP, Nigeria Limited, Olivier Cassassoles, said reading habit remains a major essential needed for life’s development in information, direction and character building, and stressed the need for the students, many of whom he said would grow to become leaders to cultivate and sustain the culture.
Cassassoles, who was represented by the Executive Director, JV Asset, PortHarcourt, Obi Imemba, quoted former American President, Barack Obama’s words, “reading is the gateway skill that makes all other learning possible” and stated that “this clearly aligns with the theme of the day and implies that in order to successfully navigate the complexities of life, one needs to read”.
Cassassoles said “as students, many of you will grow to be leaders and leaders need a lot of information to stay relevant. The books you read will shape your future and through them you will find wisdom to make a difference”.
According to him, the book reading event is one that the company holds dear to heart as it promotes the culture of reading among students in Nigeria.
While encouraging the students to make conscientious effort to research good books with themes and characters that align with what they intend to do in future, Cassassoles expressed the hope that the students would commit themselves to a life of reading, adding that “I expect that you will be leaving here with a clearer idea of the career path you want to pursue “.
Also speaking, the State Commissioner for Education, Dr Ovy Chinedum Chukwuma, described this year’s theme as ‘most appropriate’ at a time when students have abandoned the text book for not only the phone – Whatsapp, Twitter etcetera but other vices.
Represented by the Technical Adviser to the Commissioner, Dr Joy Nwamaka Joseph, Chukwuma noted that reading is an effective tool for engaging students in critical thinking, saying “a student that reads focuses attention on the task at hand, immersing them in information and improving his/her concentration and memory”, insisting that students must read in order to navigate this maze-like world successfully.
The Commissioner commended TotalEnergies for “always seeking to improve the educational standards of our pupils, students, under/post graduates in our institutions and for inspiring them to develop the habit of reading as a life style”.
Earlier, the Country Communications Manager, TotalEnergies, Charles Ebereonwu, revealed that the annual reading event is part of the company’s Corporate Social Responsibility(CSR) targeted at making the best of future leaders.
In his closing remarks, the Special Adviser, People and Talent Management, TotalEnergies EP Nigeria Limited, Samuel Nkwo, lauded the students for going beyond reading the book to taking lessons there from.
“What has happened here today has given us encouragement that this is a good thing to do and that we should continue to do it” Nkwo said.
Highlights of the event included reading and discussion of the book, ‘Unexpected Joy At Dawn’, questions and answers session and presentation of gift items including school bags, solar lamps, books among others to the students.
By: Lady Godknows Ogbulu