Dr Mike Adebamowo, a former Head of
Architecture Department, University of Lagos (UNILAG), says that achieving
academic excellence is the joint responsibility of students, parents and the
government.
Architecture Department, University of Lagos (UNILAG), says that achieving
academic excellence is the joint responsibility of students, parents and the
government.
Adebamowo said that there was need for students, parents and
government to ensure that excellent performances were not the exclusive
preserves of a handful students.
government to ensure that excellent performances were not the exclusive
preserves of a handful students.
According to him, excellent
performances by a handful of Nigerian students at international competitions
are exceptional cases and cannot serve as a yardstick to assess education standards
in the country.
performances by a handful of Nigerian students at international competitions
are exceptional cases and cannot serve as a yardstick to assess education standards
in the country.
Adebamowo, who is also a senior pastor
at the Grace and Glory Chapel, said a student’s attitude to academic work was
fundamental to the degree of excellence he would achieve.
at the Grace and Glory Chapel, said a student’s attitude to academic work was
fundamental to the degree of excellence he would achieve.
He, however, attributed the falling
standard of education in Nigeria to undue emphasis on paper qualification over
skills.
standard of education in Nigeria to undue emphasis on paper qualification over
skills.
The cleric said this fad had made some
people to obtain certificate at the expense of knowledge and skills acquisition
necessary for promotion of excellence in their own disciplines.
people to obtain certificate at the expense of knowledge and skills acquisition
necessary for promotion of excellence in their own disciplines.
“It is, however, discouraging that
much emphasis is laid on paper qualification over the need to be truly
knowledgeable and skillful enough to undertake assignments.
much emphasis is laid on paper qualification over the need to be truly
knowledgeable and skillful enough to undertake assignments.
“A student’s attitude to work reflects
greatly on his or her academic work.
greatly on his or her academic work.
“A diligent and honest student will do
all assignments as required and in the process develop the skills needed.
all assignments as required and in the process develop the skills needed.
“A diligent student will not attempt
to cheat and will not give excuses for assignments not done, ” he said.
to cheat and will not give excuses for assignments not done, ” he said.
Adebamowo called on parents to
inculcate in their children’s learning attitude by providing school materials
for them.
inculcate in their children’s learning attitude by providing school materials
for them.
He also advised that parents should not
rush their children into secondary school at very tender age but allow them to
be mature enough to handle both academic and social issues.
rush their children into secondary school at very tender age but allow them to
be mature enough to handle both academic and social issues.
“Parents must guide their children to
build the right attitude towards learning.
build the right attitude towards learning.
“There will always be a remarkable
difference in the efforts to learning in a child whose parents show concern to
see that he or she studies because it is not enough to just provide materials,”
Adebamwo said.
difference in the efforts to learning in a child whose parents show concern to
see that he or she studies because it is not enough to just provide materials,”
Adebamwo said.
The don also urged the government to
increase funding of education and support research at the tertiary level which,
he described as the bedrock of knowledge and excellence.
increase funding of education and support research at the tertiary level which,
he described as the bedrock of knowledge and excellence.
He counseled stakeholders in the education
sector to institute a new approach toward achieving academic excellence in
Nigeria.
sector to institute a new approach toward achieving academic excellence in
Nigeria.
