If educational institutions in the country must achieve effective teaching and learning, Dean, Faculty of Engineering, University of Lagos, Funso Falade posited that a conducive environment with modern facilities is very crucial.
Falade, who was the guest speaker at the 20th anniversary and 2017 Valedictory Service/Graduation ceremony of Dowen College, Lekki, Lagos, added that teachers must also be regularly exposed to new trends in the sector so as to impart new knowledge to learners.
He however identified funding as necessary ingredient to achieving this, hence called on government and various school owners to provide the needed funds so as to improve learning outcomes.
He lamented that contrary to the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organisation’s (UNESCO) directive that every country should allocate at least 26 per cent of its resources to education, Nigeria is not meeting the target as “the country only allocates about 11 per cent to the sector, which is not very good.”
He said, “For effective teaching and learning to take place in the schools, government should adequately fund the sector, provide quality infrastructure and a conducive learning environment. Besides, government must create an enabling environment for its citizens to work after graduating from the universities, else the exodus of Nigerians to overseas for greener pastures will continue.”
Cautioning the graduating students not to leave without a clear vision and understanding of what they really want in life, Falade urged them to discover their potentials, purpose, passion, dreams, desires, as these will make them better individuals.
Speaking on the theme, “Education: a collective responsibility, self motivation as ingredients to achieving excellence,” Principal of the college, Mrs. Olawumi Togonu-Bickersteth blamed the declining quality of education in the country on lopsidedness of policies and called on stakeholders to join hands in lifting the sector.
According to her, the school from inception encourages students to be responsible and urged parents to help minimise from the home-front distractions, especially the multi-media and internet craze.
She added that the college has through its rich curriculum “provided a quality menu for the children,” assuring that they can excel and compete favourably with their counterparts internationally.
Miss Chimaobi Fedora emerged the best graduating student for the Class of 2017.
