FOMWAN Education Summit Takes Off In Jos
The Oasis Reporters
July 12, 2018
By Moses Gbande
Participants at the 18th Educational Summit, Organized by the Federation Of Muslim Women’s Association in Nigeria, FOMWAN, have been urged to intensively cross-examine critical areas affecting educational standards in Nigeria and come out with recommendations that could help in solving the challenge.
The summit, with the theme, “Overhauling the Educational System in Nigeria: The Philosophy, The Curriculum, Teacher Education And Quality Assurance” draws participants from all over the federation, FOMWAN National PRO, Dr. Sumaye Hamza, confirms.
Speaking at the four day event which opened Thursday at the Hill station Hotel , Jos, Plateau State, Prof. Garba Sharubutu and Dr. Sheikh Khalid Aliyu said educational curriculum is well structured to give the nation the best system of education, saying what is lacking is absence of by the government in the implementation of the policy.
They emphasize the need to prioritize the education sector so as to move the nation forward, most especially the strengthening of Girl Child Education.
Earlier in a welcome address, the chairperson, FOMWAN National Education Committee, Dr. Lateefa Durosimi said FOMWAN is an Education-focused organization that promotes educational development of women, youths and children through the establishment of formal and non formal schools including running of vocational centres all over the federation.
She said the annual summit of the Federation Of Muslim Women’s Association in Nigeria, FOMWAN, is part of the Association’s strategies to mobilize the populace, and awaken the consciousness of relevant stakeholders on the importance of education.
“FOMWAN continues to be concerned about the state of education in Nigeria, and therefore examines burning issues from time to time. The relevance of education in the socio-economic, political, scientific and technological advancement of any country cannot be overemphasized.
” The Nigerian government must lay emphasis on the training and retraining of teachers at all levels, particularly at the foundation level and ensure that only qualified teachers are allowed to teach.
“Government must also channel sufficient resources into support for educational activities and institutions”.
Also speaking, the National Amirul, Halima Jibril commended Federal government’s Home Grown School Feeding Programme which she said is currently being implemented in 20 states, advocating that it should be extended to all other states of the federation.
She decried the rising level of drug abuse among the youths, as well as unemployment, and called on the Federal government to declare a state of emergency on drug menace by enforcing the existing laws to punish those who seek to enrich themselves by destroying youths.
“We also strongly call on the Federal Ministry of Education to review and realign the curriculum to ensure that products of our educational institutions have the skills that will make them marketable and employable.
“We call on the Federal and State governments to increase the annual Education budget from 7% to at least 15% even if it cannot meet the 26% recommended by UNESCO”.
