Education for Self Empowerment
- By Super Admin
- Published 04/30/2008
- Speeches
- Unrated
Being Text of a Speech by His Excellency, Alhaji Aliyu Akwe Doma, OON (Garkuwan Doma), Executive Governor, Nasarawa State at the Inauguration of the Nasarawa State Education Reform Committee, Lafia, Tuesday, 29th April, 2008.
PROTOCOLS:
It is with a sense of fulfilment and gratitude to Almighty God that I address you today on the occasion of the inauguration of the State Education Reform Committee. You will all recall that on 3rd April, 2008, I constituted this 16-member committee for the purpose of repositioning and refocusing our educational system. The inauguration today of this high-powered committee is therefore, a first step in our steady drive at providing qualitative and functional education for our people.
2. Ladies and Gentlemen, the importance of education in socio-economic development cannot be overemphasised. This is why global organisations, such as the UNESCO and UNICEF continue to encourage all nations to give education a pride of place in the scheme of things. In the same vein, the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) aims at achieving universal basic education for school-age children by 2015.
3. To achieve these targets and goals would require strategic planning, creation of awareness and proper funding. This Administration is therefore convinced and determined that, challenging and expensive as it may be, educational development in this State, is a task that must be done in spite of our limited resources.
4. This Education Reform Committee is therefore expected to take a holistic and critical look at the present state of affairs in our educational sector with a view to preparing a road-map for repositioning and refocusing the system to meet the challenges and realities of the time.
5. At this juncture, distinguished ladies and gentlemen, I need to point out that the Chairman and Members of this committee were carefully selected based on their professionalism, experience and track records of achievement. They also reflect the diversity of interests in our education sector. We are therefore in good hands.
6. In carrying out its assignment, the Committee will be guided by the following Terms of Reference:
1 Examine the content, structure, methods of instruction and relevance of curricula towards attaining the desired objectives of educational development in the State;
2 Assess the level of infrastructure in our school system and suggest improvements;
3 Examine the adequacy of funding of education at all levels in the state and suggest ways and means of further improvements;
4 Examine ways and means of overcoming the shortage of teachers and how to attract and retain sufficient teachers in the State Service;
5 Explore the possibility of linkages for special training programmes for teachers and school administrators with relevant institutions;
6 Study the operations of the Local Government Education Authorities with a view to highlighting institutional bottlenecks and make recommendations;
7 Review the role of Traditional Rulers in education in the past and provide guidelines for the restoration of the partnership between Government and Traditional Rulers on one hand, as well as Government and Religious leaders on the other;
8 Examine the contributions of Parents Teachers' Associations (PTAs), Voluntary Agencies, NGOs and other stakeholders in the development of education in the State, and suggest areas of effective partnership;
9 Examine the organisational structure of our tertiary institutions with a view to repositioning them for cost-effective and efficient performance;
10 Review the existing guidelines for the establishment of new schools at all levels in the State, including schools for Physically Challenged Children,
11 Examine current enrolment figures in our primary schools and recommend ways of increasing enrolment and retention in line with the objectives of the UBE and Millennium Development Goals (MDGs);
12 Examine the level of girl-child education in the State and make recommendations;
13 Assess the level of science, vocational and technical education as well as Information and Communications Technology (ICT) education in the State and make recommendations;
14 Examine the current status of Non-formal education in the State and advise on ways of improvement.
15 Examine the Income Generation Mechanism of higher institutions in the State and make recommendations;
16 Make any other recommendations that are incidental to the terms of reference of the Committee for the general improvement of education in the State.
7. The Committee is to submit its report and recommendations to Government within two months.
8. Ladies and gentlemen, the task before the Committee is by no means a simple one. Indeed it is an enormous and daunting task, considering the multi-faceted challenges facing the education sector in the State. However, with the calibre of the membership of this Committee and their proven commitment and concern for the development of education, I have no doubt in my mind that the Committee will come up with a clear road-map that will guide government in its desire to reposition, revamp and refocus education in the State.
9. I cannot end this address without thanking the Chairman and Members of the Committee for accepting to avail us of their knowledge and wealth of experience. I believe that the efforts of the Committee will lead to new approach in providing qualitative and functional education for our people.
10. Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, on this note, it is now my pleasure to inaugurate the Nasarawa State Education Reform Committee.
11. Thank you and God bless.
PROTOCOLS:
It is with a sense of fulfilment and gratitude to Almighty God that I address you today on the occasion of the inauguration of the State Education Reform Committee. You will all recall that on 3rd April, 2008, I constituted this 16-member committee for the purpose of repositioning and refocusing our educational system. The inauguration today of this high-powered committee is therefore, a first step in our steady drive at providing qualitative and functional education for our people.
2. Ladies and Gentlemen, the importance of education in socio-economic development cannot be overemphasised. This is why global organisations, such as the UNESCO and UNICEF continue to encourage all nations to give education a pride of place in the scheme of things. In the same vein, the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) aims at achieving universal basic education for school-age children by 2015.
3. To achieve these targets and goals would require strategic planning, creation of awareness and proper funding. This Administration is therefore convinced and determined that, challenging and expensive as it may be, educational development in this State, is a task that must be done in spite of our limited resources.
4. This Education Reform Committee is therefore expected to take a holistic and critical look at the present state of affairs in our educational sector with a view to preparing a road-map for repositioning and refocusing the system to meet the challenges and realities of the time.
5. At this juncture, distinguished ladies and gentlemen, I need to point out that the Chairman and Members of this committee were carefully selected based on their professionalism, experience and track records of achievement. They also reflect the diversity of interests in our education sector. We are therefore in good hands.
6. In carrying out its assignment, the Committee will be guided by the following Terms of Reference:
1 Examine the content, structure, methods of instruction and relevance of curricula towards attaining the desired objectives of educational development in the State;
2 Assess the level of infrastructure in our school system and suggest improvements;
3 Examine the adequacy of funding of education at all levels in the state and suggest ways and means of further improvements;
4 Examine ways and means of overcoming the shortage of teachers and how to attract and retain sufficient teachers in the State Service;
5 Explore the possibility of linkages for special training programmes for teachers and school administrators with relevant institutions;
6 Study the operations of the Local Government Education Authorities with a view to highlighting institutional bottlenecks and make recommendations;
7 Review the role of Traditional Rulers in education in the past and provide guidelines for the restoration of the partnership between Government and Traditional Rulers on one hand, as well as Government and Religious leaders on the other;
8 Examine the contributions of Parents Teachers' Associations (PTAs), Voluntary Agencies, NGOs and other stakeholders in the development of education in the State, and suggest areas of effective partnership;
9 Examine the organisational structure of our tertiary institutions with a view to repositioning them for cost-effective and efficient performance;
10 Review the existing guidelines for the establishment of new schools at all levels in the State, including schools for Physically Challenged Children,
11 Examine current enrolment figures in our primary schools and recommend ways of increasing enrolment and retention in line with the objectives of the UBE and Millennium Development Goals (MDGs);
12 Examine the level of girl-child education in the State and make recommendations;
13 Assess the level of science, vocational and technical education as well as Information and Communications Technology (ICT) education in the State and make recommendations;
14 Examine the current status of Non-formal education in the State and advise on ways of improvement.
15 Examine the Income Generation Mechanism of higher institutions in the State and make recommendations;
16 Make any other recommendations that are incidental to the terms of reference of the Committee for the general improvement of education in the State.
7. The Committee is to submit its report and recommendations to Government within two months.
8. Ladies and gentlemen, the task before the Committee is by no means a simple one. Indeed it is an enormous and daunting task, considering the multi-faceted challenges facing the education sector in the State. However, with the calibre of the membership of this Committee and their proven commitment and concern for the development of education, I have no doubt in my mind that the Committee will come up with a clear road-map that will guide government in its desire to reposition, revamp and refocus education in the State.
9. I cannot end this address without thanking the Chairman and Members of the Committee for accepting to avail us of their knowledge and wealth of experience. I believe that the efforts of the Committee will lead to new approach in providing qualitative and functional education for our people.
10. Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, on this note, it is now my pleasure to inaugurate the Nasarawa State Education Reform Committee.
11. Thank you and God bless.
