…..Highlights Nigeria’s Education Future, Importance Of Technology To Learning
Trinity International College, Ofada, Ogun state marked three decades of academic excellence and moral leadership with an anniversary lecture held in the College at the weekend.
The lecture entitled: ‘Reimagining Education for a New Generation: Strategies Engendering Lifelong Learners brought together educators, alumni, parents to celebrate with the College.
The guest lecturer and Vice-Chancellor, Emmanuel Alayande University of Education, Oyo State, Prof. Lanre Olaniyan spoke on the need for Nigeria to work on access to education, quality education, funding, regulation and government policy which will help improve the education system in the country.
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Among all he listed, Prof. Olaniyan explained the importance of funding adding that this is the major problem Nigeria is having in terms of education sector.
He urged government on the need to always provide finance to fund education especially infrastructure needed to have a conducive learning environment for students at all levels.
Speaking on education for the new generation, Prof. Olaniyan urged on the need to re-imagine the role of teachers, saying that they should stop being lecturers, teachers but rather people who can facilitate, who can lead discussions and who can assist the children to be able to learn.
“In addition to that, as we are reimagining education for the children, life has gone beyond the all-knowing adults and teachers, we also need to reimagine the perception of children, because nowadays we have a generation that asks questions, so you have to be careful about the type of things you are saying and how you are going to say it.”
He added: “Furthermore, by reimagining the perception of children in education, we can create a more supportive, inclusive and empowering learning environment and the perspective of educators must change to one in which children are viewed as learners who are capable, curious and motivated.
“Educators as well must also recognise and celebrate children’s unique strengths and they must know that this children can also be change agents,” he explained.
He stated that as the reimagining of all the aspects is going on, it is important to have it in mind that new generation that are digital natives are emerging as such there is the need to consider the role of technology in the teaching and learning process and this involves leveraging digital tools.
He advised that the role of technology should shape activities and proposal in ensuring education to the new generation. “This will involve among others; the use of personalized learning, where technology is used to tailor learning experiences, hence blended learning which combines traditional teaching with online platforms, resources and tools.”
Professor Olaniyan added that parents’ role in re-imagining education is very critical. “Parents must shift from the traditional approach to a more collaborative and supportive approach in which they partner their children, but they should also retain the ability to direct their children, discipline their children and the ability to tell them what the whole world is.
Speaking on the role of government and the adoption of technology, Prof. Olaniyan said that there is the need to reimagine the way education is funded and the items to spend money on has to change. “We have to start spending less on physical things and more on virtual realities.
“To a much higher level, technology integration and leveraging on digital form is something that every institution must now start focusing on.
“The role of government also has to change and it must shift from traditionally centralized approach to a more decentralized and collaborative approach,” he added.
The Chairman of the anniversary lecture, Vice-Chancellor, Trinity University, Lagos, Prof. Clement Kolawole in his remarks stated that the school has reasons to celebrate, particularly on the occasion being the 30th year anniversary of the school.
“We are here this morning to celebrate 30 years of excellence, 30 years of God’s grace, 30 years of favour.”
He assured parents of continue excellence as the school proceed on its journey, urging students to see the discipline and academic inputs from the school as major thing that will shape their future especially in terms of their chosen career even after leaving the College for tertiary institutions.
In his remarks, Mr. Samuel Olatunji, Chairman, Board of Trustees, Trinity Group said the increase in the number of out-of-school children is tragic.
He warned that leaving even one child behind could destroy potential and distort destinies.
Olatunji said that such neglect would weaken national competitiveness, limit human capacity, and undermine overall quality of life across communities.
“It is a tragic setback to have even one child out of school because it diminishes his value, limits his choices and disrupts his destiny.
“When the number of out-of-school children rises into hundreds and thousands, the damage is severe, weakening competitiveness, shrinking national potential, reducing quality of life, and threatening development across every sector.
He urged stronger commitment from governments, parents and the larger society to safeguard Nigeria’s collective development.
The College, at the event, recognised long serving teachers and they were presented with awards to appreciate their contributions.
BV.
