Experts urge restoration of traditional learning values in schools

Eggheads in the nation’s educational sector have advocated the restoration of traditional values in the school curriculum to ensure that the sector remains relevant in the 21st Century.

The experts, who spoke at the 2019 young writers award organised in Lagos by Alfa Reading Society, themed, “Repositioning education in Nigeria for relevance in the 21st century”, lamented the low turns in traditional values in schools.

They also stressed the need for policy repositioning to inculcate the right values of integrity, innovation, hard work, ethos and norms that will help the younger one refocus and paint the picture of a better Nigeria and Africa.

Speakers at the event, include Lagos State Commissioner of Education, Mrs Folasade Adefisayo; Dean of Lagos Business School, (LBS) and President of the society, Prof Enase Okonedo, Executive Director, Multiplan Pathway College, Mrs. Mary Agbu, Principal, British International School, Lagos, Mr. Stewart King, Managing Director of the Education Partnership Centre (TEP Centre), Dr. Modupe Adefeso- Olateju and Chief Executive Officer, Corona Schools Trust Council, Mrs. Adeyoyin Adesina.

Adefisayo who led a discussion on the theme expressed regrets that about 264 million children and youth are estimated to be out- of -school globally according to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO).

She said the society has taken a giant leap by identifying with the underprivileged and providing them various opportunities to acquire education, mentoring and tutoring, proving books, reading materials and other educational aids within a child-friendly environment.

According to her, education remains a focal point for development as it empowers people to literally change the world while the advancement in technology, plays crucial role in securing economic and social progress.

The commissioner who was represented by the Director-General, office of education quality assurance at Lagos State ministry of education, Mrs. Abiola Seriki Ayeni urged school owners to embrace solutions in information communication technology and support children to achieve their goals.

She noted that youth are the ones that will help shape and bridge the gap between yesterday and the 21st century values.

Teachers and students, she said, must be energised with technological skills to become problem solve in various capacities.

“We must continually empower teachers to become value-creating employees of the 21st century fortified in fields like coding, robotics, and other necessary skills to create sustainable solutions to social challenges in enabling an environment conducive for learning”, she added.

President of AlFA Reading Society, Prof Okonedo said the yearly competition for students and teachers of government-approved secondary schools was to encourage them on the art of writing.

She said the quality of their works has given us hope especially when writing skill is getting extinct.

Prof Okonedo, who lamented the dearth of funding in the sector, sought private sector intervention to revive the sector especially with dwindling budgetary allocation of less than six per cent against the 20-22 per cent recommended to meet the sustainable development goals.

The award, she said, was instituted to hone the skills of the younger ones especially when incisive, clear and coherent writing skill is getting extinct.

Also, Dr. Adefeso- Olateju said the educational values of respect, tolerance, compassion, hardworking integrity, character; attitude is fast waning with the advent of technology.

For Mrs. Adesina, the loss of home print memory of education is regrettable in the sector hence the need to revisit family roles in the system.