West African Examinations Council |
Waec advises Federal Government on schools.
The Head, West African Examinations Council International, Mr.
Adelowo Maliki, has advised the Federal Government to open more schools to
accommodate millions of school-aged children roaming the streets.
Maliki said on Wednesday
in Lagos that building more schools and equipping them with latest facilities
and professional teachers would help in improving the state of education in the
country.
He explained that WAEC, as
an examination body, did not feel that it was enough just to set tests for
students and end it there.
He said, “Our main task,
aside conducting examination, is also to research into education-related issues
and seek ways of coming up with solutions.
“We have realised that
some of the key challenges are inadequate schools, ill-equipped schools, and
lack of professional teachers.
“The development is a
major challenge in our effort to move forward as a nation.
“One of the ways we try to
give back to the society, as our corporate social responsibility, is by noting
these challenges and organising seminars that will benefit the teachers and
students.
“This is mainly handled by
the research unit of the council.
“We organise monthly seminars for these people as we want them
to have feedback on what we are doing for them.”.
Maliki said that the
seminars were mostly targeted at the teachers at the secondary school level.
He said that the seminar
was supposed to be taken round the country, but due to paucity of funds, was
concentrated more in Lagos.
In addition to the need
for the more public schools across the country, Maliki said government should
recruit more teachers and improve their welfare.
He said, “Building more
schools entails recruiting more qualified teachers and putting in place improved
welfare package for them.
“I say this because
another challenge facing the sector currently is the huge distraction facing
the teachers.
“Just like the students,
there are so many things competing for their attention, especially in the face
of the current economic recession.
“These teachers are human
and attend the same markets like every other person.
“So, if what they get is
not enough to cater for their basic needs, then what is available becomes the
next option for them.”
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