As a way of improving the quality of education in Nigeria, Emeritus Prof. Joseph A. Ajienka has called for comprehensive education in the nation’s secondary schools system.
Ajienka made the call while delivering the 2nd Annual Legacy Lecture of the Government Comprehensive Secondary School, Borokiri Old Boys’ Association (COBA) at the school’s auditorium recently.
Ajienka, whose lecture was captioned, “The Future of Government Comprehensive Secondary School (GCSS) and Comprehensive Education for the Future”, emphasized the need for his fellow old boys to focus attention on improving their alma mater, which gave them a transformative education and firm foundation to stand tall and compete favourably with their peers as they strive to build a better society.
“In this new digital age, we need to redefine the trajectory of comprehensive education and training that will unlock potentials, graduate confident future-ready scholars, responsible citizens and leaders; a new comprehensive Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) that promotes a culture of resilience and excellence,” Ajienka, who is the 7th Vice Chancellor of the University of Port Harcourt, said.
He noted that while most secondary schools focused on either arts or science, GCSS took a more holistic approach to knowledge, a comprehensive education that embraced science, art, commercial and technical subjects.
“GCSS was an experiment by the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) under USAID in partnership with the Eastern Region Government of Nigeria in 1962. It was to be a balanced education of the various skills in science, arts and technical subjects.
GCSS was groomed and mentored at the Government College Afikpo before moving to the permanent site here in Borikiri Port Harcourt,” he recounted.
“If we are to develop comprehensive education, we must develop the two parts of the brain proportionally to be balanced and letting the intuition guide the intellect; through nature study, arts and culture, while using the intellect to deepen scientific study.
This would have led to creativity and innovation. Creative expression is the highest endeavour for it leads to recognition of the Truth in our studies; recognition of the living Laws of Nature, the primordial Laws of Creation which bear the perfect Will of God,” the Emeritus Professor of Petroleum Engineering explained, pointing out that the bridge between science, art, technology and culture is nature study.
“Very early students make up their minds about science or arts because of the way the subjects are taught. But if we teach them as in Nature Study, we would have awakened the love of science and arts. Choices should be made at the senior secondary level,” he noted.
“Learning should not be drudgery; it should be natural and fun. Teachers should teach courses with the power of simplification. We need true teachers, who see teaching as a high calling; who inspire students to be their best.
“Examination should not be like a temptation for people to fail. The teachers must recognize that each student is unique even in his way of learning and should endeavour to encourage all to be successful,” Ajienka added.
“As society and industry change, education must change to be relevant. We are in the era of Society 5.0 which is a creative society and the fifth Industrial Revolution (Industry 5.0). Industry 5.0 is about digital revolution.
“The confluence of Artificial Intelligence (AI), Big Data and Connectivity is transforming every industry leading to personalized solutions, human-centric use of technology; innovation guided by values. It is about man and intelligent machines.
“Education 5.0., which evolves parallel to Industry 5.0 is about ethical and responsible use of technology. This is why we need Values Education,” he explained.
The President General of COBA, Idaimofaka Richard-Koko, who lauded members of the Executive Council and Planning Committee for sustaining the Annual Legacy Lecture, expressed hope that the Association will continue to grow and make more impact on society.
In their separate speeches, Chairman and co-Chairman of the occasion, Prof. Aaron Ojule and Okey Wali, described, the Annual Legacy Lecture as a community service is geared towards making the society better.
They advised the students to take their studies seriously and grow into responsible adults that will not only be useful to themselves, but also contribute to development of the nation, following the footsteps of the distinguished Old Boys.
By Humphrey Ogu
