BY ROTIMI FAMAKIN
The Federal and state governments have been told to redesign the nation’s education curriculum to address the current social and economic realities in the 21st century.
A Professor of speech and hearing/rehabilitation, University of Ibadan, Oyo state, Abiola Ademokoya, stated this while delivering the 40th anniversary lecture of 1982 set of Wesley College Old Students Association, WESCOSA.
Speaking on the lecture entitled “Redesigning Education Curriculum for the Emancipation of youth and National Development” Professor Ademokoya lamented the backwardness of Nigeria amidst changing revolution in the technological and electronic age.
The Don noted that the old curriculum designed for employment purpose needed to be reviewed to accommodate artificial intelligence, modern electronic and technological age, creativity and business techniques.
Professor Ademokoya also suggested the need for government in the southwest states to rehabilitate the schools in view of the category of high profile personalities produced by the schools.
The National president, WESCOSA, The Reverend Dr Fredrick Odutola, who said his Alma mater was instrumental to his current status commended 1982 set of WESCOSA for remembering the school.
Dr Odutola however, challenged Oyo state government to return the school to the Old Students Association who he said was capable of restoring the lost glory of the school.
In his remark, the Oyo state Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Abiodun Abdul- Rahman represented by Mrs Dasola Oladeji said the state government was leaving no stone unturned in repositioning education in the state.
Mr Abdul-Rahman who said government alone could not fund education commended WESCOSA 1982 set for their contribution towards the transformation of education in the state.
In his welcome address, President WESCOSA, 1982 set Deacon Femi Oladipo who is also a former Assistant Director, News and Current Affairs, Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, explained that his set was worried by the army of Nigerian youths without sound education.
Deacon Oladipo while calling for the establishment of a separate directorate saddled with the responsibility of monitoring teaching standards stressed the need for periodic training of teachers, redesign of curriculum to reduce school drop outs and return of teachers training schools.
High point of the event include the donation of books authored by a member of the WESCOSA, football, and presentation of awards to the late principal of 1982 set, the WESCOSA mathematics teacher and distinguished members of the set.
The reunion also provided platform for members of the set in the diaspora to participate through virtually.