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Okonjo-Iweala Faults Structure of Nigeria’s Educational System

2012-07-13T09:05:00.000-07:00

Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala

By Obinna Chima

The Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Thursday bemoaned the current educational framework in the country.

Okonjo-Iweala, made this remark while delivering the 2012 Isaac Moghalu Foundation Leadership Lecture tagged: “Education and Development: Paradigm Shift,” in Lagos.

According to her, the existing framework for the sector is unclear, saying that the roles of the various tiers of government in the system are not clearly laid out.

She also argued that the fact that education is on the Concurrent List of the 1999 Constitution makes its administration complex.

“The regulatory system in the sector is largely ineffective, and this reflects on the curriculum, especially in many private schools of foreign origin. Pupils in many of these schools are taught little or nothing in Nigeria.

“Take also the duplication we see in the administration of Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE). Why should there be two parallel examination bodies - the West Africa Examination Council (WAEC) and the National Examination Council (NECO) - conducting the same type of examinations for the same level of students within same academic session, making it difficult to maintain standards at the same level? Surely, there is need for a rethink here,” the finance minister declared.

Okonjo-Iweala also pointed out that although government had made basic education through junior secondary school free and compulsory; the country was yet to record increase in enrolment rates found in many countries.

According to her, the national primary net enrolment rate which stood at 64 per cent in 1999 fell to 58 per cent in 2010.

“The quality of education and associated learning outcomes are poor. We see mass failures in SSCE conducted by WAEC and NECO year in year out. For instance, only 5.75 per cent of the 803,360 private candidates that sat the WASSCE exams in May/June 2010 received five credits and above (including English Language), while 10 per cent received five credits and above (including mathematics)

“Several universities are producing graduates that lack the right skills needed to perform tasks required in their chosen fields, making it difficult for them to get employment. If you look hard enough, you may even find graduates who have never used a computer before. Academic infrastructure in many of our premier institutions is dilapidated. Nigerian universities are no longer the citadels of learning we once knew them to be.

“They have lost their place in global rankings. Now in facts, Nigerian parents are sending their children to other African countries like Ghana and South Africa to study, spending hundreds of millions of dollars in tuition fees alone, not talk of those that send their wards to the United States or the United Kingdom, at significant costs. Imagine the benefits of investing these in our own university system,” she said.

The minister called for a paradigm shift, saying there was need for quality education to drive the country’s growth.

“That is what Korea did to transform their economy. Korea Developed a programme of ‘education for economic growth’ in 1948, focused on the supply of technical manpower as needed for economic development,” she added.

In his remarks, Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, said: “We have societies where there is corruption, but they have leaders who are very competent. There is corruption in Asia. Now as we talk about merit, let’s look at our constitution.”
Our constitution says you must appoint a minister from every state of the federation, which is fine. But does it set the minimum qualification that is expected?

“As a country, do we ask the right question? In Malaysia, before you are presented to parliament to be considered for consideration, there is a screening process. So, we should never sacrifice merit on the altar of diversity,” Sanusi added.

Earlier, the chairman of the event, Chief Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi, stated that only an improved educational system will address the current challenges faced by the country.

Tags: News, Nigeria, Featured, Okonjo-Iweala, Educational System

Villa to miss Spain's Euro defense

2012-05-25T01:05:00.002-07:00

May 23, 2012 -- Updated 1637 GMT (0037 HKT)

Spain striker David Villa has admitted defeat in his bid to be fit for Euro 2012.

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

David Villa is ruled out of Spain's Euro 2012 campaign with a fractured leg
Barcelona striker has been sidelined since December's Club World Cup
The 30-year-old is Spain's all-time leading scorer, with 51 international goals
Fernando Llorente or Fernando Torres could lead Spain's attack in his place

(CNN) -- David Villa was top goalscorer at Euro 2008 as Spain secured a first major championship in 44 years, but the world champions' all-time leading marksman will not be part of next month's title defense in Poland and Ukraine.

Villa, who has scored 51 international goals, has been out of action since December, when he fractured a bone in his left leg while playing for Barcelona at the FIFA Club World Cup.

The Spanish Football Federation's website has confirmed that the 30-year-old will not be fit enough to be part of coach Vicente del Bosque's 23-man squad, which will be named on Sunday.

Who are European football's 'Most Valuable Players?'

Euro 2012 groups

Group A
Poland
Czech Republic
Greece
Russia

Group B
Netherlands
Denmark
Portugal
Germany

Group C
Spain
Republic of Ireland
Croatia
Italy

Group D
Ukraine
Sweden
France
England

"Villa spoke with the national team coach after the team arrived (for a training camp) in Schruns, Austria," it reported.

"After not getting in the final practice and development desired, David Villa spoke with Del Bosque, who relayed that although it was Villa's wish to be with the team in Poland and Ukraine, that his physical state was 'not as good' as would be desirable."

It is the second setback for Del Bosque, who will also be without injured key defender Carles Puyol for the June 8-July 1 tournament.

Villa , who scored five goals as Spain won the 2010 World Cup, expressed his gratitude to fans for their continued backing.

"Thanks to all of you for your support," the former Valencia striker wrote on micro-blogging site Twitter. "I will continue working to return to play as soon as possible with Barca and the Spanish national team."

Villa's absence was felt by Barca, who missed out on the Spanish league title for the first time in four years and finished second -- nine points behind archrivals Real Madrid.

With Villa unavailable, the door is now open for Fernando Torres to stake a claim for a return to the starting lineup.

The Chelsea striker, who scored the only goal as Spain beat Germany 1-0 in the Euro 2008 final, has been called into the squad for Saturday's friendly against Serbia.

Fernando Llorente, the Athletic Bilbao forward who starred during the Basque club's run to the Europa League final, is also hoping to lead Spain's frontline.

Four Four Two magazine's Tim Stannard explained how the absence of Villa, captain Carles Puyol and the loss of form of several key players could mean Joachim Low's Germany are now favorites for the tournament.

"Germany moved into the favorites position, although they do have a very tough group to get through," said Stannard.

"It's not just that Puyol is out. Gerard Pique is very much out of form, there are doubts about who is going to play at full back. Iniesta and Pedro aren't in very good form and neither is Fernando Torres."

Stannard tipped Llorente to fill Villa's boots, although he will first have to emerge unscathed from Bilbao's Copa del Rey final against Barcelona on Friday.

"The Copa del Rey final is another huge blitz to Del Bosque at the end of a badly organized campaign so far for Spain," he said.

Drawn in Group C, Spain will first face 2006 World Cup winners Italy in Gdansk on June 10 before playing Croatia and the Republic of Ireland.

Villa to miss Spain's Euro defense

May 23, 2012 -- Updated 1637 GMT (0037 HKT)

Spain striker David Villa has admitted defeat in his bid to be fit for Euro 2012.

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

David Villa is ruled out of Spain's Euro 2012 campaign with a fractured leg
Barcelona striker has been sidelined since December's Club World Cup
The 30-year-old is Spain's all-time leading scorer, with 51 international goals
Fernando Llorente or Fernando Torres could lead Spain's attack in his place