Some stakeholders have advocated for the strategic repositioning and revamping of science education in the country, so as to accelerate national development.
The stakeholders made the call at the golden jubilee anniversary celebration of the Government Science College Izom, in Niger State, at the weekend.
The former Coordinator of the Abuja Metropolitan Management Council (AMMC), Umar Shuaib, said it was high time for governments at all levels to expand and revamp schools dedicated to science education.
Shuaib, who is an old student of the College, while recalling that the College had made a name not only in Niger state, but Nigeria at large, said the rationale for the establishment of the College was to make sure that science education was encouraged, because of the importance of science in national development.
“No country in the world develops, without science education. And the success of this college cannot be complete without mentioning the past glory that we had in this College, unfortunately it is been eroded now. We wnt to make sure that the glory is brought back.
“Because of the training we had here, most of us are professionals who are occupying high positions in the society. We have so many professors, Generals, Doctors and Engineers as products of this school.
“We have made a name, occupied so many important positions in this country. We are praying that all these younger generations pick up from whatever we have achieved in the past.
“We cannot uplift the standard of science without proper science education.
“Whatever (deliberate policy) model that was introduced in Niger state, let it be emulated and replicated across the country. So, let the Federal Government pick this model and apply it by making it a policy at the national level”, he stated.
Another product of the school, Professor Dantani Ibrahim Wushishi, the Registrar and Chief Executive of National Examinations Council (NECO), stressed the need to avoid examination malpractice, as it destroys everyone to the fabric of the society.
Wushishi, in his paper presentation, opines: “Without quality Education, no nation will develop. And we cannot develop with fraudulent results of education.
“We need to remind ourselves about what examination is, its importance and what it does to us, so that we will continue to maintain the ethical standard of conducting, writing and marking examination, these are important to the validity of results of the examination.
“We are appealing to the Governor of Niger state to return the Izom to the status quo that’s being a science school that is a boarding college.
“But, now is a day school, where students cannot be monitored effectively. You cannot enforce anything on students.”
Earlier, in his speech, National President of Izom Old Boys Association (IZOBA), Professor Abdulkadir Abubakar, who requested for return of the College to a boarding institution, noted that as old boys, they recognize the importance of giving back to their alma mater, and are committed to supporting the development of the school.
Abubakar added that the Association is still committed to executing more projects that will create a conducive atmosphere for learning, so that more population of IZOBA, that can contribute positively to national development will increase.
He said; “Today, we gather to celebrate the culmination of our efforts to give back to our alma mater. These projects, which include the construction of toilets, refurbishing and construction of classroom desks, boreholes, donation of textbooks to the library, and supplying chemicals and reagents for the chemistry, physics, and biology laboratories, demonstrate our commitment to improving the learning environment and enhancing the educational experience for the students of Izom Secondary School.
“We are proud of what we have achieved, and we believe that these projects will have a positive impact on the school community.”
He however, noted that the school also is faced with problem of power supply, thereby appealing that the school should be supply with dedicated transformers to restore constant power supply.
Meanwhile, commissioning the projects, Commissioner of Education, Niger State, Hadiza Asabe Mohammed, who represented the state Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago, commended the Association for the laudable interventions aimed at boosting learning in the College.
She assured the people that of immediate approval of their request that the school school should be returned back to it’s former status quo as a science boarding school.
The Commissioner disclosed that the path back to boarding status will be a gradual process stating next term, due to the rate of dilapidation of the accomodations and other boarding facilities.
Highpoint of the Golden jubilee celebration was the commissioning of toilets, borehole, classroom desks and other projects executed by association. Also, there was donation of textbooks and laboratory equipment to enhance teaching and learning process in the school.
Other activities include quiz competition, launch of magazine drama, dinner andand567890 award night.
Comments are closed.