Education
‘Quota System, Bane Of Equal Educational Opportunities’
The introduction of the Quota System of admission into Nigerian Universities has been said to be a bane to equal educational opportunities to Nigerian students.
The system alongside the commercialisation of education, socio-econmic inequalities, teachers and their activities, politicisation of Education, differences between urban and rural areas, insecurity challenges among others have constituted a major setback in the quest for equal Opportunities in educational pursuits among pupils and students across the country.
A Professor of Curriculum and Instruction, Prof. Lawrence Ikechi Ajoku, Ignatius Ajuru University of Education (IAUE), revealed this in his Inaugural Lecture titled ‘Egalitarianism and Equalisation of Educational Opportunities In Nigeria’ at the University’s Main Campus, Rumuolumeni, Port Harcourt, Thursday.
Ajoku, who described the Quota System of admission as discriminatory in nature said the system ran contrary to the principle of equal educational opportunities and has enthroned mediocrity, irrationality and injustice in the nation’s university system.
Ajoku stated that whereas the system was aimed at correcting some observed imbalances in the Nigerian society, narrow the widening gap in education development between the North and the South, assisting the educationally backward states and enhance national unity, it has however, remained a hindrance to achieving equal education opportunities.
He said, “ the Quota System, which is discriminatory in nature, allows candidates with lower scores to be offered admission at the detriment of candidates with higher scores simply because they come from ‘certain’ states of the federation”.
“With the system, well deserving candidates are robbed of their opportunity, all in the name of quota system. Let me ask this fundamental question: does quota system of admission lead to quota graduation? If the answer is negative, then, I strongly maintain that all admissions into Nigerian Universities should be by merit, since graduation is also based on merit”, Ajoku stated.
The IAUE’s 36th Inaugural Lecturer noted that education remained a major instrument through which most societies in the world strive for social equality stating that an egalitarian education system was such in which all categories of children were treated equally in the same circumstances.
Ajoku regretted however, that the notion of equalisation of educational opportunities in Nigeria remained a dream as most of her children do not have equal opportunities in their education.
Ajoku further noted that the Nigerian Educational System was suffering from policy somersaults resulting from difficulties in implementing educational policies and programmes and called on the government to recognise the high premium placed on education in national development and ensuring that every Nigerian child has access to functional and equal education.
In his closing remarks, the Vice Chancellor, IAUE, Prof. Okechuku Onuchuku, stressed the need for government and stakeholders in the education sector to abide by the recommendations of the lecturer for not just equal educational opportunities but proper development and a better Nigeria.
By: Lady Godknows Ogbulu
The Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board has released the names of 5,600 newly recruited primary school teachers and 80 caregivers in the State.
The SUBEB Chairman, Nureni Adeniran, who announced this in Ibadan, the state capital, on Friday, explained that the list had been duly approved by the state Governor, Seyi Makinde.
“The newly appointed teachers and caregivers are the first batch of successful applicants from the recent recruitment exercise carried out by the board,” he said.
“The list will be uploaded on the portal and will be available for candidates to check their names from the portal.
A Professor of Accountancy in the Department of Accounting , Faculty of Administration and Management, Rivers State University, Prof Lawyer Chukwumah Obara has advocated the adoption of African traditional values as a managerial tool to eradicate systemic corruption and mismanagement of public funds in governance.
According to him , the use of such African traditional methods like shrine oath-taking by public servants will deter such public officials from misappropriation of public funds while in office. He said accounting system is evolutionary science that recognises the practice of some pragmatic ideological practices such as African norms and values to fight corruption and mismanagement of funds that is predominantly noticed in both public and private governance.
Prof Obara stated this while delivering his inaugural lecture at the 106th inaugural lecture series of the state university with the topic, “Pragmatic Ideologies and Visionary Accounting: Reinforcing the Helmet, “ held at the Senate auditorium,last Wednesday.
He noted that all the 36 States including the Federal Capital Territory in the country can convinently survive without any federal allocation if they embrace pragmatic ideological accounting systems that are visionary accounting methods.
“Every State must adopt pragmatic approaches in their accounting system,there should be accountability and transparency, ,we must be flexible in our Constitution as constitutional rigidity is bane of the growth of the nation and we must go back to our root , traditional values and that will promote wonderful accounting system and the world will celebrate us,”he stated.
The erudite scholar noted that Accounting science helmet provides a safety umbrella to shade RAIR from shady accounting practices and can serve as both protective measure and forward looking.
Mr Vice Chancellor,in the foregoing senses, reinforcement can increase the probability that the accounting’ behaviour will occur again in similar situations.This implies that reinforcing the helmet is a powerful tool in shaping accountants behaviour, learning and development and this can lead to more effective strategies in accounting therapy and everyday interactions”,he stated.
The lecture examined the evolution of philosophical thought in accounting, notion of pragmatic ideologies in accounting, visionary accounting paradigm , transparency , differences and similarities,the helmet metaphor : balancing protection progress.
He posisted that accounting plays vital role in the socio-economic development of nations , stressing that Accounting is the instrument for financial management , transparency, and resource allocation.
“Over the years ,the accounting system has undergone significant transformations influenced by historical developments , regulatory reforms, and the adoption of global standards which serve as the helmet reinforcing and protecting socio_economic development.”
Reinforcement is a fundamental concept in behavioral psychology and learning theory, particularly in the context of operant conditioning. it refers to any stimulus or event that increases the likelihood of a behaviour being repeated in the future.It can be understood as a mechanism that encourages certain behaviors through rewards or consequences,”he stated.
In concluding, Prof Obara stated that Nigeria’s economic landscape demands an accounting profession that is both pragmatic and visionary .
Earlier in his speech,the Vice Chancellor of the university Prof Nlerum Sunday Okogbule represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Administration, Prof Victor Akujuru the lecture said is valuable and is capable to advancing the growth and development of any society if adopted, even as he commended the lecturer for a thoughtful and impacted inaugural lecture.
By: Akujobi Amadi
A team of board members and directors of the Rivers State Universal Basic Education Board led by Member in charge of Supervision / Monitoring, Chief Nwuke Anucha visited Ogboloma,a riverine community in Abua/Odual Local Government Area of the State to inspect a six classroom block built single handedly by the community recently.
Speaking at the King’s palace shortly after inspecting the building and facilities in the school, Chief Anucha, who represented the board chairman, Alabo David Briggs, commended the people of Ogboloma for remaining united and working in synergy for the good of the community and the younger generation.
While assuring them that the board chairman would surely be briefed on the effort so far made by the community in encouraging education in the area, Anucha expressed optimism that he (Briggs) will not hesitate to give his approval for the school to kick off and called on the people to see education as the responsibility of all.
He used the medium to thank the King of Ogboloma His Highness Micah Brother, the councilor, Hon. Thomas Carlson; CDC Chairman, Lucky Brave Egba, Chiefs and elders and youths for working in synergy for the progress of community.
Also speaking, the board member in charge of projects Dr. Walson Ominini lauded the people for promoting education in the area, assuring them that their effort will not be in vain.
Earlier in his speech, the King of Ogboloma, His King Micah Brother thanked the bfor finding time to visit the community, pointing out that the six classroom block was the singular effort of the community and appealed to the board chairman to give approval for the school to kick off.
The King who spoke through the councillor representing the area, Hon. Thomas Carlson narrated how children in the community are trekking long distances to neighbouring communities in search of quality education and sometimes would be bitten by snakes called on the board to come to their aid as government presence is not in any way felt in the community.
The chiefs also spoke, thanking the board officers for coming to see things for themselves.
By: Akujobi Amadi