Learn Africa to reward academic excellence

Learn Africa Plc, has concluded plans to organise this year’s Learn Africa-NECO Excellence Awards, which recognises and honours distinguished National Examination Council (NECO) candidates, schools and teachers in the country in all states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Chairman of the organisation, Chief Emeke Iwerebon, said the effort was in accordance with its corporate tradition of promoting academic excellence, while urging schools and candidates to look out for the announcement of this year’s award winners.

He said the company established the Learn Africa Education Development Foundation in 2012, to support the development of the education sector, through the provision of infrastructure and engagement in philanthropic activities that promote learning.

“Consequently, it instituted the annual Learn Africa-NECO Excellence Awards for students, teachers and schools at the senior secondary level. The objective was and remains to underscore the importance of excellence in education to our national development, as well as encourage hard work, diligent scholarship, and healthy competition amongst students, teachers and schools,” he stated.

Iwerebon added that the awards recognise the top three candidates at the June/July Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) conducted by NECO at the national level, and in every state, including Abuja.

He expressed delight about the overall best candidates in mathematics, English language, biology and history, adding that while the teacher from the school that produced the winning candidate is rewarded, all the schools that produced winners receive free books from the foundation.

“We make bold to say that the successes recorded at the SSCE are not without the contributions of our New Concept Mathematics, and New Concept English, our ever relevant textbooks on mathematics and English language at the secondary level respectively.”

He called for an increase in funds allocated to the education sector, in order to deal with glaring deficiencies in school facilities, access to high quality instructional materials, and teacher training.

Iwerebon also stressed the need for parents to show greater interest in the upbringing of their children, by monitoring their activities, emphasising good moral values, and cooperating with the school authorities, adding that the provision of conducive learning environment, attractive remuneration for teachers among other initiatives would help in preparing students for great success in examinations and their future careers.