Education
Educationist call for integration of STEAM into primary, secondary school
Mariam Sanni
A team of academics overseeing implementation of the Science, Technology Engineering, Arts and Mathematics, STEAM, initiative has called for the integration of the scheme into pre-primary, primary and secondary schools to enhance growth in technological advancement.
Speaking at the presentation of the STEAM project report in Abuja, the Chairman of the Implementation Team, Prof Emeritas Nwaorgu, said addressing hindrances to the STEAM project was critical for Nigeria’s competitiveness in science and technology-driven world.
Nwaorgu expressed confidence that STEAM would promote interdisciplinary learning, critical thinking, problem-solving and hands on activities, adding that integration of STEAM in schools across the country would also improve the performance of candidates in the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, UTME.
She however lamented that despite the benefits of STEAM education, in Nigeria the project lacks the necessary priorities and support for its full implementation.
She stressed Nigeria’s need for the STEAM initiative to imbue students with the ability for critical thinking, at a very young age.
“When you introduce design into learning, programme it makes it better and you can start teaching children at a younger age, moulding them to have critical minds at a younger age,” she said.
Nwaorgu disclosed that the project, which was piloted in the 6 states of Adamawa, Ebonyi, Nasarawa, Ondo, Rivers and Sokoto; had 222 teachers selected by the Ministry of Education for interaction with the implementation team.
She added that already the scheme, which started in 2023, is being implemented by some private schools while public schools were yet to adopt the initiative.
She disclosed that the Nigerian Academy of Science, The Nigerian Academy of Letters and the Nigerian Young Academy are working with the implementation team for the objective of implementing locally appropriate STEAM education policies into the curriculum of schools, strengthening the capacity of teachers and creating awareness in the schools.
Nwaorgu said one of the achievements recorded so far by the project was its inclusion in the 2024 education roadmap of the federal government, and a draft policy document for STEAM in Nigeria.
She recommended the replication of the STEAM educational activities in the 30 remaining states of the federation, noting that the team expects improvement in UTME performance in the 6 pilot states of the STEAM project.
Earlier, the Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, who was represented by JAMB’s Director of Finance and Accounts, Mufutau Bello, stated that the project should be the beginning of collaboration with various academies in Nigeria.
Oloyede expressed hope that soon, the team would leverage the many opportunities available in research to impact the education sector positively.
Also speaking, the representative of the Nigerian Academy of Science, Prof Salihu Mustapha, said there was increased awareness amongst schools on the STEAM education because of the activities of the team.
Mustapha assured that the academy will see to the full implementation of the project, while expressing hope that given its importance, the project should be implemented in all states of the federation.
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Education
Tax reform has inimical effect on TETFund, tertiary education – COEASU
Mariam Sanni
The Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU), has noted with serious concern the inimical effect of the proposed tax reforms of the Federal Government on Tertiary Education in Nigeria.
This is contained in a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja by COEASU President, Dr Smart Olugbeko.
According to Olugbeko, the tax reform is a dangerous ambush aimed at destroying public tertiary institutions in Nigeria.
We strongly reject the aspects of the proposed tax administration which aims to withdraw or impede on the source of fund to Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund).
” Such injury, if allowed to stand, is bound to undermine the development of public tertiary education in Nigeria.
“TETFund is a brainchild of the struggles of academic staff unions in tertiary institutions led by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).
“Prior to the establishment of TETFund, infrastructure in tertiary institutions were in a shambles and government of Nigeria became clueless on the way forward until ASUU came up with a brilliant idea of a trust fund for the education sector,” he said.
Olugbeko expressed concern that no Nigeria government in the last two decades or more had committed up to 9 per cent of the annual budget to education despite the UNESCO recommendation that 26 per cent of the annual budget be dedicated to education.
He added that the aspect of the tax reform that allowed TETFUND to be stifled of its source of Fund would gradually ‘drag tertiary institutions into the stock market making them become capitalistic ventures for the highest bidders’.
“Except for TETFund which has become the spine and lifeblood of public tertiary education funding, Nigerian Universities, Polytechnics and Colleges of Education would have gone comatose.
“TETFund has been playing indispensable and exclusively vital role in the development of tertiary institutions in Nigeria, providing funding for infrastructure, research, teaching and learning facilities as well as staff development,” he added.
The president condermned the attack on TETFund without prejudice to the potential strengths of the proposed tax administration law in expanding the tax base and reinforcing compliance towards economic stimulation.
“Rather than killing TETFund through the purported tax reform, the federal government should strengthen and expand its revenue accrual sources with a view to sustaining the Fund’s commendable efforts in our institutions.”
He called on stakeholders in education including students, parents, educators, the civil society to join hands with the union in rejecting proposal in order to save public tertiary education.
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