By Erasmus Ikhide
GOVERNOR Monday Okpebholo of Edo State may have — as a matter of deliberate state policy — sank the destructive trade of the dangerous sharks and snapping turtles in the waters of education industry, where shylocks of private schools proprietors have been reaping off helpless, hapless parents with irritable and abhorrent education precepts for decades.
The devaluation and destruction of educational standard and curriculum in Edo State in the period under review outstrip pedagogical ethos that defines arts and science, which encompasses the teaching methods, strategies and philosophies used in education to facilitate learning and development in modern society.
When a critical sector of human evolution and development is left in the hands of greedy business concerns, whose innate motive is bizarre exploitation and banal profiteering, such society is doomed for implosion. For too long, the warped and hickjacked educational system operated by never-do-well business men and women can be attributed to the collapse of our value system and moral decadence demonstrated by the yahoo trading generation, sullen daily on narcotics and cultism.
Therefore, the unveiling of a groundbreaking education policy by the Edo State Ministry of Education, designed to transform the state’s learning landscape from the earlier debilitating state would be a master stroke in the quest to return the state to its enviable position, before and after independence. This innovative policy which aims to equip students with both academic qualifications and practical skills, will certainly set a new standard for education in Nigeria.
Key highlights of the policy is that younger siblings can use approved textbooks previously purchased by their older siblings, significantly reducing the financial burden on parents. These textbooks will remain in use for at least four years before review as was the standard practice in Western Region, Midwestern Region, Bendel and Edo State.
With the new policy, only textbooks recommended and approved by the Ministry of Education will be permitted in schools, ensuring consistency and quality in education. Publishers have been warned against including workspaces in textbooks, which will be derecognized by the state government.
To reduce unnecessary expenses, the policy has restricted graduation ceremonies to students completing Basic 1-9 and Senior Secondary 3. The new policy which also bans Prom Parties where students display an unrealistic lifestyle and engage in acts for which they cannot be disciplined by their teachers. The Edo State Ministry of Education as part of the new policy also introduced entrepreneurship training for all JSS 3 students who will now undergo a compulsory four-week intensive entrepreneurship skills training program, receiving a certificate alongside their BECE results.
In addition, fifteen new trade subjects have been introduced to enhance employability through practical learning, with every JSS 3 student required to select at least one. Also, the minimum age for pupils to sit for Primary Six exams remains 10 years, and schools must adhere to the new policy, with severe sanctions, including school closure and prosecution, for non-compliance.
Governor Okpebholo’s administration must now work tirelessly to overhaul the state’s education system, prioritizing people-oriented policies, policies that engender the dignity of the teaching profession and declaration of a state of emergency in the sector. His goal should be to make public schools in Edo State to compete favourably with private educational institutions in terms of quality, safety, and affordability.
The state’s commitment to education should be evident in its investments in infrastructure, recruitment of qualified teachers, and provision of conducive learning environment. By focusing on practical skills and entrepreneurship, the government should be aiming to equip students with the tools necessary to succeed in an ever-changing world.
Governor Monday Okpebholo has no option than to open a new chapter for Edo’s educational sector in line with the vision of the founding fathers of the state. A comprehensive reform initiative has the potential to revolutionize education in Edo State, providing students with the skills and knowledge required to excel in their chosen careers.
As the state government continues to implement these policies, the future of Edo’s education sector would certainly be brighter than ever to the eternal shame of education profiteers who take undue advantage of the education system for personal financial gains
