The Abia state Commissioner for Education, Dr Kanelechi Nwangwa,has used the 2020 World Teachers’ Day celebration,to appeal to teachers to be more committed to their profession,so as to end the era of students going after certificate, rather than be impacted with knowledge.
Nwangwa who made this disclosure during the 2020 World Teachers Day celebration,held in Umuahia,Abia state,lamented the decay in the educational sector where students nolonger read to acquire knowledge but to get certificates.
He said the desire of people to get certificate more than the information they need in their field of study, has become worrisome, as the situation has given way to all manner of ills recorded in the educational sector.
According to the Education boss,the quest for certificates by students, has majorly contributed to the decadence we suffer today in education, as mushroom schools that later become ‘Special Centres’ during external examinations, are springing up at every nook and cranny of the state, with the aim of churning out certificates to students,thereby, leading to gross examination malpractices.
He noted that students no longer read their books,simply because there are short cuts to pass examinations, adding that these students prefer to register in ‘Miracle centres’ where answers are copied for them on the board.
The commissioner stated that this has weakened the educational system, hence, the need for teachers to wake up to their responsibility by impacting knowledge to students, so that they can later transfer that knowledge to future generations.
Nwangwa said the needed sanity in the educational system,can only be effected by teachers,adding that whatever development or progress we are talking about in the society, all have connection with the teachers.
He added that the teachers are the bedrock of the foundation of a child, therefore, they should diversify their teaching to include not only the Cognitive domain but also the Affective and Psychomotor, so that the children will not only know how to read and write but also know how to behave and apply the knowledge to make the society better.
The Commissioner, however,thanked the Governor of the state,Dr Okezie Ikpeazu,for his tireless efforts in revamping the educational sector, as well as establishing Vocational Education, the Education 4 Employment Program (E4E).
In his address,the State chairman of Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT),Comr Kizito Kalu, congratulated teachers across the globe, saying that the celebration is very important to teachers as it affords them the opportunity to be celebrated by the society.
Speaking on the theme for the 2020 World Teachers Day celebration, tagged ” Teachers: Leading in crisis, Reimagining the Future”, the NUT chairman,said the theme was apt with the unprecedented Covid 19 pandamic, that has posed numerous challenges constraining education systems, resulting in a revision of how Teachers teach and work generally.
Comr Kalu stated that the crisis created a unique situation for teacher leadership, creativity and innovation,as teachers had to develop new learning environments for their students to ensure that learning continues, adding that teachers had to modify or condense the curriculum and adapt lesson plans to carry on with instructions, whether via the Internet,mobile phone, television or radio broadcast.
He revealed that teachers across the globe have stepped up to learn new technology of digital education,where knowledge is shared via the Internet, stating that despite this challenging role,the passion of teachers for sharing knowledge and wisdom with the generation of tomorrow remained same.
Comr Kalu while commending the Federal Government for increasing the Salary scheme of teachers, as well as the retirement age to 65 years, appealed to the Governor of Abia state, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu,to look into the challenges confronting Abia teachers, requesting well meaning Abians to assist teachers put these challenges behind.
The new chairman of the Secondary Education Management Board (SEMB), Mr Osuagwu Christopher,while calling on teachers to show more work and dedication to duty,said the World Teachers Day celebration is historic,as it gives the opportunity for teachers to be celebrated.
Earlier in his speech, the Governor of the State,Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, felicitated with the teachers, saying that government would look into their challenges, stating that teachers are meant to be remembered and adored.
The governor who was represented by his Chief of Staff,Associate Professor ACB Agbazuere,said from this week,teachers would begin to see alerts, revealing that Government has issued out stiff sanctions for any employer who tries to retain Check-Off dues meant for Unions.
The Governor as a way of appreciating the efforts of teachers in the state, gifted three teachers from Aba Zone,Umuahia Zone and Ohafia Zone with a car.This gesture he said he would be doing every year till the end of his tenure.
Highpoint of the event was a raffle draw done to pick winners of the car gifts, which saw Mr Nwogu Bright (Aba zone), Madu Friday (Umuahia zone) and Agatha Ogbonnaya (Ohafia zone) emerging winners.
