Education
DR Ferdinand Anikwe, the Director, Culture and Cultural Dialogue, Godfrey Okoye University, Enugu State, says the best way to permanently resolve the crises in Nigeria’s education sector is constant dialogue between government and teachers.
Anikwe gave the recommendation while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Enugu.
He expressed concern over the current state of affairs in the education sector, especially the low morale of teachers and its implications on the quality of teaching and learning.
“Education as fundamental as it is for national development, is a matter that concerns everybody.
Nigeria has a very interesting educational institutions, councils, curriculum development centres and others.
“The country is well respected around the world for these institutions, but for the teacher that teaches the students/pupils are the area we are asking questions,” he said.
Anikwe, who also teaches conflict resolution and dialogue at Enugu State University of Science and Technology, blamed the current crises in the sector on lack of proper funding.
“Our educational system has had many set backs, particularly funding from the Government; as a result, the teachers are no longer committed to their jobs as they should be.
“During our days, the teachers were 100 per cent committed and happy that their products were doing well in their various endeavors but today the reverse is the case.
“If you don’t pay the teacher, he may not summon the courage to teach in the classroom. However, I strongly believe that strike or industrial action should not be the last option,” he said.
According to Anikwe, teachers are also feeling the current socioeconomic challenges in the country, there is the need to engage in dialogue to resolve areas of conflict.
“Between the teachers and the government, there should be negotiations. I am sure that with dialogue and negotiations, these things can be resolved without recourse to going on strike.
“When an organisation in which you are working for dies, your job dies as well; so, there must be constant dialogue and negotiations.
“The employer and employee must continue to talk with each other for peaceful industrial harmony, good of the organisation and for betterment of the society, ” Anikwe said. (NAN)
KN
Tags: Dr Ferdinand Anikwe Godfrey Okoye University
