Academy seeks military collaboration on education

THE Nigerian Academy of Education (NAE) has sought the cooperation of the military on the forthcoming West Africa Education Conference scheduled for October in Abuja.

The president of the academy, Professor Elizabeth Eke, asked for the collaboration during his visit to the Chief of Defence Staff, General Abayomi Olonosakin, in Abuja, recently.

He said the conference would bring together stakeholders in education from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) member countries and would be of immense benefits to many people.

According to him, the military is not concerned about security, war and defence alone, but also about imparting knowledge through many of its schools from primary to tertiary levels, thus contributing substantially to the training of children and youths.

“So, the academy wants the military to join hands in this regard so as to stem the falling quality of education in Nigeria and other countries in the sub-region,” he said.

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Professor Eke, in a statement made available to newsmen, said participants at the conference, which will be the maiden edition, will share knowledge and experiences on common issues that would help them to strengthen the standards of teaching and learning across the sub-region back home.

He noted that issues like curriculum, certification, access and inclusive education, funding, dearth of teachers, cross-border and open and distance learning, infrastructural problems, education of displaced children, and so forth would be addressed at the forum.

He added that the United Nations under secretary for West Africa, Muhammad Ibn Chambas, would be expected to deliver the keynote address at the event.

Responding, General Olonisakin, who was represented according to the statement by Air Vice Marshal E. O. Anebi, said the armed forces are delighted about the offer and promised to look into it for possible participation.