BRACED Commission assures of qualitative education

THE Director General of BRACED Commission, Ambassador Joe Keshi has assured that the commission would do everything within its powers to promote qualitative education in the region. 

    States that make up the BRACED Commission are Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Edo and Delta. 

  Keshi said that the common educational policy, which the commission had adopted was aimed at harmonising, standardising, improving and instituting qualitative education across the six states in the geo-political zone. 

   According to him, the common education policy was in line with the objectives of the region’s quest to foster regional cooperation and integration. The education framework was adopted by commissioners for education at their meeting in Uyo, Akwa lbom State recently and is now expected to be transmitted to the BRACED Governors’ Forum for approval and implementation. 

  Keshi stated that the formulation of the policy began in 2012 when the BRACED Education Summit recommended the establishment of a common education policy for the collective improvement and advancement of quality education in the region, adding that under the arrangement, a South Korean electronics giant is going to establish a Samsung Engineering Academy in each of the six states of the region before the end of the year, while about two schools each from the states are to be used as pilot projects for the smart schools proposed by Samsung. 

   He said the summit had concluded that the BRACED states can lead the battle to transform education in the country through innovations and by accelerating the creation of excellence and skills, putting valve back to education and closing the gaps between the region and the rest of the country. 

    The DG therefore urged the leaders to make human capital development not just a priority but the most important element in the development of the region. “The objective of the policy is the promotion and entrenchment of quality education throughout the six BRACED states. The guideline emphasises education standardisation across the region with strong emphasis on early child education, intensified focus on technical and vocational education, teacher education, development and professionalism with greater attention paid to training, retraining of teachers and teachers recertification and information communication technology. It also dealt with issues of students’ performance and conducts in particular, the issues of discipline, curriculum and examination malpractices, the roles of parents, funding and management of the education sector”, he explained. 

   The policy also calls for the payment of a uniform school fees across the six states, abolition of automatic promotion, greater attention paid to subjects like English and Civic Education, introduction of Guidance and Counseling units in schools, continued infrastructural development/rehabilitation (classroom blocks, lecture halls, libraries, laboratories, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) centers and workshops. 

   Others include regular provision of educational facilities and instructional aids according to needs, timely and regular employment of adequate and qualified manpower (teaching and non-teaching staff) at all levels of the education sector and provision of equal opportunities and access to quality education irrespective of geographical location and terrain, sex, ethnic background, religious affiliation and social statuses.