In a recent interview titled “Addressing Learning Crisis in Nigeria,” Dr. Akin-Olusoji Akinyele, Group Managing Director, NewGlobe Education, shed light on the urgent need to address the learning crisis plaguing Nigeria’s education system. With a focus on building globally competitive public schools, Dr. Akinyele highlighted the staggering statistics: “20 million children are currently out of school, with over 10.2 million still in primary school level.” He emphasized that at age 10, “about 90% of children are unable to read, while 70% in school can’t comprehend.”
NewGlobe Education has taken concrete steps to tackle these challenges, by partnering with State Governments in Edo, Lagos Kwara and Bayelsa on large scale education transformation projects. Dr. Akinyele underscored the importance of political will and partnership, acknowledging the support received from governors such as Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos state and Governor Obaseki of Edo state. “It takes a willing partner to implement change,” he emphasized.
A key aspect of NewGlobe Education’s approach is revamping the national curriculum to ensure it aligns with children’s level of understanding. Dr. Akinyele stressed the importance of supplementing core subjects with practical skills, emphasizing that children need to comprehend and apply knowledge effectively.
He also commended the government’s efforts in leveraging ICT to enhance learning opportunities. However, he emphasized the importance of retaining indigenous languages alongside global languages in instructional learning to ensure cultural preservation and inclusivity.
Dr. Soji Akinyele highlighted NewGlobe’s mission which is to ensure all education systems are inclusive, equitable and transformative, actualization of this vision in the Nigerian context will empower children in Nigeria, especially those in public schools, to compete globally without limitations thereby ensuring economic civil and social development for the country.
Through collaborative efforts and innovative approaches, NewGlobe Education aims to revolutionize the education landscape, offering hope for a brighter future for generations to come.
