Other states asked to copy Anambra model as ANCOPSS holds congress
From Obinna Odogwu, Ekwulobia
Other states have been implored to copy Anambra State example in setting school structures that will make for easy transition from the world of studies to the world of work. This clarion call was sent out recently by Prof. Kate Omenugha, the state’s Commissioner for Education when heads of secondary schools across the country gathered recently in Awka, the state capital, under the aegis of All Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS), for their 59th annual national congress.
The event which saw the gathering of 10,000 principals, was to deliberate on the various challenges confronting the growth of education in the country; to x-ray the state of secondary education; to examine the major causes of mass failure usually recorded in the external examinations like WAEC, NECO, etc; to proffer practical solutions to these problems and to suggest policy directives to governments at all levels on how to harness the gains of qualitative education.
In her address, the National President of ANCOPSS, Hajiya (Dr) Fatima Abdulrahman, stressed the need for secondary education in Nigeria to record the desired growth, for governments and stakeholders to work hand in hand both in the promulgation and implementation of education policies.
In his welcome address, the Anambra State governor, Chief Willie Obiano, noted that Anambra has come a long way in education and advancement of human course, and promised to preserve the great heritage in the state’s march to academic excellence based on three strategic approaches: infrastructural development, teachers’ welfare and student-pupil welfare.
Welcoming the principals to Anambra, Prof. Omenugha, advised them to copy the Anambra example for onward recommendation to their various state governors as a panacea to the educational problems they identify.
“One of the things we’ve done in Anambra which is quite amazing is what we call “Education for Employment.” We are trying to rechannel and remodel education in such a way that we will have employers rather than employees of labour. And I tell you that Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) is actually now coming to our government technical colleges to employ people right on graduation. And excitedly too, two days ago we got a letter from National Board of Technical Education (NBTE) that they have accredited our programmes in Nigeria Science and Technical College, Nnewi. These are for vehicle body building workshop and for the catering craft. So we feel very excited because our children are using their hands and brains; they are partnering with industries and artisans to bring out the best in them in terms of creativity.
“What we have done is the mapping of all the artisans in Anambra State. We have what we call “Open Day” where some of these artisans come into the primary and secondary schools to display what they can do. What we keep hammering on is, you need to use your hands. You cannot look for job if you’re creative, skilled, and innovative. That’s what we are trying to in-build in Anambra students.”
Other highlights of the six-day event were: a match past by various states, election of new national officers of the group and the issue of a communiqué lamenting the decrepit and bastardized state of education in the country.
The communiqué signed by the National President of ANCOPSS, Hajiya (Dr) Fatima Abdulrahman and the National Public Relations Officer, Livinus Odiong condemned among other things exam malpractice and the proliferation of mushroom secondary schools in the country. In a chat with The Sun Education the Abuja President of ANCOPSS, Alhaji Mohammed S. Ladan exonerated principals on the allegations of aiding exam malpractice in their schools.
“We have been holding seminars and workshops on how to curtail exam malpractice. Why should we go and start aiding the students to commit exam malpractice?,” he queried.” The National Secretary of the group, Chief Amos Adekunle Aladeseye, insisted that the government, rather than teachers, should be blamed for mass failure of students in external examinations in the country.
“There is no enabling environment in most schools in Nigeria; teachers are not being motivated. There are infrastructural challenges; lack of qualified teachers in schools; lack of textbooks in the library and so many others have contributed to high level of poor outputs from various schools nationwide” he argued.
On the alleged neglect and discrimination against the physically challenged students in various schools nationwide, the state President of ANCOPSS in Anambra, Barr (Engr.) Victor O.N. Ilouno showered praises on Governor Obiano “who came in and saw these physically challenged people and increased their feeding allowance and their overhead cost to make sure that quality education is given to them just like the other students. Anambra State is trying and I urge other states to emulate our example.”