Prof. Florence Obi, Vice Chancellor, University of Calabar, on Wednesday charged members of the National Academy of Education (NAE), to proffer solutions towards addressing challenges facing the education sector NEGROIDHAVEN can report.
Obi gave the charge in Calabar at the 36 annual congress of the NAE holding in the institution, also called on the Academy to formulate sustained policies that would reform the educational system in the country.
According to the VC, the growth of the educational system in Nigeria needs the support of critical stakeholders like the National Universities Commission, National Council of Education among others.
She called on the NAE to create more visibility for their activities, adding that the Academy should be heard loudly.
“In the University of Calabar, we are promoting quality teaching and research. Most importantly, we are working towards having UNICAL College of Education.
“The University of Calabar is foremost in educational policy formulation, we are known for producing quality graduates for the educational sector in the country.
“I want to charge the National Academy of Education to use this congress and proffer solutions to the challenges facing Nigeria’s educational sector,” she said.
Also speaking, Prof. Ivara Esu, Deputy Governor of Cross River, who declared the congress open, said that NAE was a noble platform for educationist to converge and deliberate on crucial issues affecting Nigeria’s education system.
Esu, who was the 7th Vice Chancellor of the institution, also said that the university system was in dire need of critical reforms that would transform the educational sector in the country.
He urged the Academy to use the theme of the congress to re-boot the curriculum to reflect the current socio-economic environment.
Similarly, Prof. Kabiru Isyaku, President of NAE, said that the body was inaugurated in 1985 as one of the five Academies recognised by the Federal Government.
Isyaku said that NAE was the apex organisation for seasoned, experienced, top-notch educationists from the academia and administration.
According to him, there is need to have a comprehensive National Summit on Education to address issues of status of education in the constitution, structure and funding.
He noted that states and federal governments have continued to establish tertiary institutions without marching personnel and facilities and therefore depending on Tertiary Education Trust Fund.
“The Covid-19 pandemic has taught the world valuable lessons in all fields. In a nutshell, it is time to integrate technologies in education.
“This will give room for the expansion of knowledge for both teachers and learners,” he said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that the theme of the congress was “Curriculum Restructuring for Sustainable Development: Towards Digitalised Education for Relevance in Nigeria”
