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Stakeholders call for collaboration to bridge learning gaps in schools

Published

5 years ago

June 7, 2019

Funmi Lawrence

Stakeholders in the education sector have called for collaboration among schools to bridge the learning gaps, thereby increasing quality of education in Nigeria.

They made the submission on Friday at the 2019 Exposure Conference organised by Portsbridge Educational Services Ltd. in Abuja.

The conference which has its theme as: “Rethinking Teaching and Learning” was aimed at exploring various approaches to teaching and learning in the 21st century classroom.

Contributing, Dr Stella Ozigi-Adagiri, the Founder, Portsbridge Educational Services, said that there was need to bridge the gap between different levels of educational provision.

Ozigi-Adagiri said this was aimed at attainment of effective learning and teaching outcomes in schools.

“In the private sector, there are lots of gaps there; there are schools that are very privileged and our main aim is to see how we can encourage collaboration among schools so that we can bridge the learning gaps and the gaps in terms of quality.

“Most schools are almost like a failed system, they don’t have qualified teachers, and so there is a way private sectors can actually strengthen that gap by helping to collaborate.

“What we do is to provide training for teachers as educators, and we also provide opportunities for youths to actually develop themselves.

“We need to stop producing students that will be looking for jobs; rather, we are to be producing students that are entrepreneurs and can be useful for the growth and development of the country,” she said.

Also, Dr Tunde Adekola, a Senior Education Specialist with the World Bank, called for inclusive education for the Nigerian child.

According to him, coming to school is not as important as ensuring that children complete schooling, and completing schooling is not as important as learning itself.

“I want to see connection between teaching and learning; there should be a value addition to students who are in schools.

“The issue of rethinking is very apt in this season where we are having learning crisis. We should continue to dialogue.

“For some years now, efforts have been to get many children in schools.

“There is still room to bring more children who are marginalised to make education more inclusive and ensure students in the rural areas are in schools,” he said.

Adekola, however, called for partnership between state actors and non-state actors to come on board and take urgent action to maximise the benefits derived in terms of teaching.

He said teachers should be equipped adequately to give their best and get the right teaching outcomes in our schools.

In her remarks, Mrs Georgina Ikechi-Madu, a teacher from Elisangels Model School, FCT, Abuja, urged stakeholders in the education sector to meet up with the level of technological development through teaching.

Ikechi-Madu said that teaching should be made interesting for real life experiences as the world had shifted away from the old way of learning to learning through technology.

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FG to Harness the Digital Economy to Empower Youth

Published

2 days ago

April 17, 2024

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

The Honourable Minister of State for Youth Development, Mr Ayodele Olawande has disclosed that the Federal Government is making efforts to harness the potentials of the digital economy in empowering the youth and creating sustainable jobs.

He made this disclosure in Abuja when he received the participants of the Senior Executive Course 46, 2024 of the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies, (NIPSS), Kuru, Jos, Plateau State who were on study tour to the Ministry.

Mr Olawande said over 50% of the population below the age of 30 have a significant demographic advantage in the digital age.

“Our youths are tech-savvy, innovative and eager to contribute to the country’s economic growth. However, they face numerous challenges including limited access to quality education, skills training and job opportunities.

The digital economy offers a unique opportunity for Nigeria to leapfrog traditional development challenges. With the rise of e-commerce, digital payments and remote work”. “Our youths can assess global markets, skills training and job opportunities like never before,” he added.

According to the Minister, challenges hindering the growth of the digital economy in Nigeria must be addressed.
He explained that to overcome the challenges, the Ministry has implemented initiatives such as digital skills training programs for youths, focusing on areas like software development, data analytics and digital marketing especially in the NYSC.

This, he disclosed is alongside partnering with Galaxy Back Bone to improve infrastructure, Internet connectivity and alternative electricity supply as well as funding opportunities such as grants, loans and venture capital for startups of small businesses with launching of the National Youth Investment Fund.

The Honourable Minister who hinted that the Ministry’ s goal is to create an ecosystem that supports entrepreneurship and employment opportunities for youth stated: ” We recognise that sustainable job creation is critical to Nigeria ‘s economic growth and stability”

”I urge you all to join us in this journey to harness the potential of the digital economy for youth empowerment and sustainable job creation in Nigeria.”, he added.

Mr Olawande further said that the opportunities and challenges underscore the need for a collaborative effort from all stakeholders to harness the potential of the digital economy for sustainable development.

The Minister who observed that there is a gap between the Government and the young people expressed his heartfelt desire for the Youths of the nation to feel the Government. He opined that the country has the most intelligent youths in the world.

Earlier, the leader of the delegation from NIPSS, Barrister Nima Salman Mann, mni said they are in the Ministry to research, proffer solutions, recommendations and strategies to help Government chart its course for the the year, with the theme : ‘Digital Economy, Youth Empowerment and Sustainable Job Creation in Nigeria: Issues, Challenges and Opportunities’.

.She also added that Ministry of Youth Development is very germane to this year’s theme .” We are with the Ministry of Youth to listen to what you are doing to help the youth, how you are doing it, strategic plans and way forward as well as how we can use the digital economy to chart the goal for sustainable job creation,” she concluded.

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