Education

Science Competition: FG Should Create Jobs, Working Environment For Science Graduates -Principal

Published

4 years ago

February 25, 2021

The Principal, Louisville Girls Secondary School Abuja, Revd. Sr. Veronica Orunmoluyi, has appealed to the Federal Government to create jobs and a good working environment for science-oriented graduates in the country.

Orunmoluyi made the appeal in Abuja on Thursday at the 2021 Inter-house Science Competition of the school.

She said that doing this would allow graduates remain and use the knowledge acquired in the course of studies to develop the country rather than looking for greener pastures in foreign countries.

The competition which featured debate on trending topics, quiz and 60 seconds of fame, attracted awards of excellence in science from the school and sponsors.

According to her, the competition has afforded the opportunity to develop the girls academically but if government can provide jobs for them with good package, they will stay here to develop the country.

“ The competition is to develop the children academically. We actually started in 2015 and it was just among the girls either in inter-house or interclass.

“But as time went on, we started it with schools but with this COVID-19, we went back to the way we use to do it just to have it among the girls and it is really bringing a lot of talents out.

“We realise that we need to develop them more to be able to go out and make positive change.

“ With more girls coming up in the field of science that means there is a better hope for Nigeria because women are major and so gifted because we are able to multitask, we are gentle and calm.

“When women come into science that means there is a better hope for the country to move from the theoretical approach to the real application in terms of research and developing instead of depending on other countries to bringing things that we can make.

“My advice to the government is that they should please pump more money into education, into research and also make job available for the young ones.’’

Also, Sr. Francisca Akinwumi, language teacher of the school called on the government to identify talented students in the fields of sciences and offer them scholarships opportunity so as to encourage others key into science fields.

“ There should be more encouragement in the offering of scholarships for girl-child that has done very well in sciences.

“This is so that that it will serve as encouragement to other girls.

“ I also think that the government can promote science in girls’ schools by going to girls’ schools and identifying those doing well, this is because encouragement can push them to want to do more,” She said.

Similarly, Mrs Ifeoma Ukeachu, also a teacher said that science was an important part of national development, hence the need for special attention on science scholarship.

“Science cannot move on without research, we need government to come in by creating more research centres.

“Research has to be carried out for actual practical so government should come in by creating research centers at different strategic areas where we can easily assess and carry out research anyway in the country,” She said.

Also, Mr Joseph John, a biology teacher in the school said there was need to give special attention to science subjects in all schools as a way of developing potentiality in the students.

John said that the study of science he helped country of the world find lasting solutions to problems confronting their economy.

He therefore called on government atoll levels to take education especially science education serious saying that this can translate to better economy of sciences were given prominent.

He called on the students not to relent in their oars saying that the learning of sciences acquired would translate into other skills that would be of benefit to them.

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Education

Educationist call for integration of STEAM into primary, secondary school

Published

5 days ago

December 19, 2024

The Gleamer

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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