By Johnson Eyiangho
Abuja – The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai has called for concerted efforts in the provision of quality education to youth in the country.
Buratai made the call on Tuesday when he declared open a five-day workshop orgnised by the Nigerian Army Resource Centre (NARC) for teachers in Command Children Schools and Command Secondary Schools across the country.
Buraitai, represented by Rasheed Yusuf, the Commander of Training and Doctrine Command, said that the need to give the youth quality education made him to approve the establishment of more army schools.
He said that the approval was part of the army’s contribution to the educational development of the nation besides making efforts to enhance civil-military relations.
He said although, the future belonged to the youth, it only belonged to those who prepare for it “today.’’
“We shall continue to partner with various states on the provision of quality education,’’ he assured.
Buratai, therefore, called on commandants and staff of command schools to maintain and properly utilise schools handed over to the army by various states governments
Earlier in his remarks, Maj.-Gen. Jonny Hammakin, the Director-General of NARC noted that the standards for which command schools were known was eroding.
“It is worthy of note that command schools were known over the years for their high standards of discipline and as citadels of learning and knowledge acquisition.
“However, these standards were observed to be gradually eroding as the quality of education given the students in these schools began to decline.
“It is premised on this that NARC is organising this five-day expanded workshop for teachers and key stakeholders involved in the administration and management of command schools,’’ Hammakin said.
He said that seasoned scholars from the military, academia, school administrators and other relevant stakeholders would make presentations at the workshop.
There are 32 Command Children Schools and 30 Command Secondary Schools across the country.
The theme of the workshop was “Towards Improving the Standard of Education in Nigerian Army Schools.’’ (NAN)