Don calls for creation of federal ministry of adult education

A professor of Literacy and Lifetime Education in the Department of Adult Education of the University of Ibadan, Kester Ojokheta, has advocated the establishment of a federal ministry of adult education, similar to what is obtainable in Ondo State that has such a ministry.

He made the call while delivering his inaugural lecture entitled ‘Promote it and the Dividends Shall Manifest’, which was the eighth inaugural lecture from his department and the 483rd in the university’s inaugural lecture series.

According to him, as long as adult education is concerned, people can be classified into three categories: one, those who have limited or no access to basic and functional education opportunities; two, those who have limited or no access to higher educational opportunities; and three, those who have limited or no access to lifelong learning opportunities.

“Adult education involves people of all ages learning in a variety of contexts: in educational institutions, at work, at home, and through leisure activities.

“Adult education, through its various interventional programmes, is structured on the philosophy of liberating people who hitherto have limited or no access to learning opportunities,” he noted.

The don said the proposed federal ministry of adult education would be able to engage in intensive dialogue with relevant sectors in governmental, non-governmental and civil society organisations.

“The proposed ministry will be able to advocate a comprehensive review of Section 4 of the National Policy on Education which deals with adult education,” he said.

He recommended that the six per cent budgetary allocation to adult education recommended by the 2009 International Conference on Financing Adult Education for Development should strictly be implemented in Nigeria.

In conclusion, Ojokheta stressed that to promote lifelong learning for all in Nigeria, every state in the country must establish ‘learning cities’, possibly in the state capitals.

“Learning cities help to turn the ideals of inclusive education into reality,” he said.