Maduako Igbokwe l Saturday, August 01, 2020
ONITSHA, Anambra, Nigeria – Minister of State for Education, Mr Emeka Nwajiuba has commanded Anambra state government for its innovative thinking towards effective teaching and learning in the post COVID-19 education era.
He promised that the federal government would be willing to partner the state for virtual learning.
Nwajiuba made the statement in a message at the e-conference organised by Anambra Ministry of Basic Education in partnership with Integrated Developments Konsult (IDK) Learning Centre on Saturday to leapfrog the state education sector in the post covid 19 era.
The E-Conference with the theme “Facing the New Normal: Post COVID-19 Education in Anambra“ organised to sensitise stakeholders in the education sector including, parents, teachers, traditional institutions on the need to adjust to the methods of education in the present dispensation.
The minister said the conference was timeous and continuously necessary as the pandemic had upset the norm in the nation’s education history, stating federal government would like to be part of what Anambra was doing to leapfrog education at post covid 19.
He thanked the state government and the ministry education in particular for leading the pack towards addressing the new challenges in the education sector which is as a result of COVID-19.
“We want to thank you for this unique step of trying to fashion out how we can forge ahead with education in post covid-19 era, Anambra is unique, we are happy with the quality and success of Anambra in the sector.
“This conference is not only unique it is timeous and continuously necessary. I urge you to make us part of your work-team so that your deliberations and conclusion can get to us so we can fine tune it and make it impact on the system.
“We want to produce people with skill that can impact the society and not just certificate wielding graduates,” he said.
Speaking,the Governor of Anambra state Willie Obiano of Anambra said his administration was interested in seeing that education was not set back in the state as a result of COVID-19.
Obiano said he was giving full support to all the efforts towards ensuring that no child was left behind in the state, stressing that teaching-on-air, a radio programme that had run over three months had kept the students educationally fresh.
In her key note address, Commissioner for Basic Education, Prof Kate Omenugha said education could not wait hence the need to brace up for the new challenges posed by COVID-19.
Omenugha said to sustain quality of education in the era of limited physical contact between teachers and students, technology remained the best option and that everyone must appreciate it.
According to her, this is time for innovativeness in the education system, We need all stakeholders to be involved in the new normal education post COVID-19.
“There will limited physical contact between teachers and students, we are going into the era or remote teaching and learning, this conference is aimed at sensitising every stakeholder about the New Normal in the education sector,” she said.
Prof Charles Esimone, the Vice Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, and Prof. Greg Nwakoby Vice Chancellor of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University were among those thst attended the event.
