Abuja – The Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO), an International organisation, has advocated for the inclusion of technological skills fit for the 21st century in public schools across the country.
Mr Anawd Das, Head of Programmesof the organisation, made the call at the roundtable discussion organised by `Noble Mission for Change Initiative’, an NGO, in collaboration with UNESCO to commemorate the 2015 International Literacy Day on Tuesday in Abuja.
Das, while noting the gap between learning in the country compared to schools in developed countries, said core subjects needed to be backed up by trendy technological skills.
“We need to teach in our schools life and career skills that are in tandem with trendy skills in this century.
“Our crooked and primitive ways of teaching with just chalk and board does not promote learning fit for the today’s age.
He said that what was needed in schools today, especially public schools across the country, was flexibility in teaching, with fun teaching methodologies and accountability on the part of the teachers.
He urged teachers and stakeholders in the education system to strive to include what he termed the four C’s which are communication, collaboration, critical thinking and creativity in learning.
Echoing similar views, Mr Mohammed Alkali called for more focus on upgrading pupils and students learning abilities instead of structures.
“We can create education anywhere, not necessarily in the school environment.
“Lots of money are being channeled to building of structures and no attention is given to the enrolment of students into the schools built.
“Our grassroots need to be elevated educationally and we equally need 21st century skills in our colleges of education.’’
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He called on the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE) to make some quick changes to teachers training and include vocational learning in their curriculum.
He added that the change in teachers training should be focused at the grassroots.
Also, Mr Charles Omofomwan, the Executive Director of the NGO, said that for the country to attain high level of literacy, everyone needed to be concerned about education.
He added that the roundtable was organised to enable stakeholders to evaluate where we are educationally, particularly with the introduction of the Post 2015 sustainable Development Goals.
“Everyone is busy, no one is thinking where we are at our literacy level; everybody should be concerned about education to enable us to achieve our set goal of Education for All.
“We have good policies and curriculum in place; lots of money is being pumped into the sector but goals are not being achieved because our government lacks the political will,’’ Omofomwan said.
Omofomwan further said that more investment should be channeled towards teachers’ development, to encourage them. (NAN)
