Stories by Ben Uche, Umuahia
The Chairman Abia State Scholarship Board, Prof. Samuel Okoronkwo Igwe has insisted that there is nothing like falling standard of education in Nigeria as widely held, rather the problem with the system is the negative approach to it.
Speaking at the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike (MOUAU) during a courtesy call to the institution’s Vice Chancellor by the Kappa Delta Pi (KDP), Prof. Igwe said because of the negative attitude to education, students now come out with certificates which they can never be proud of.
Prof. Igwe, former Vice Chancellor of Abia State University, Uturu (ABSU) said due to bad attitude of Nigerians towards education, “ university certificates can now be bought for our children, people sat for JAMB, WASSCE etc for our children and our children come out with certificates they cannot defend”.
Prof Igwe who is also a member of KDP, recalled that the facilities used in the olden days for learning is not better off than the modern facilities today as the present day learning facilities are very sound and solid with wider curriculum which readily meet the needs of students/pupils today and also teachers are better equipped to meet and handle any challenge.
The former ABSU VC who called for attitudinal change towards education, appealed to students to allow the system pass through them. He said, “let us take it easy. We should not bastardise our education. It is not ideal to parade with certificates which you cannot defend because you will be a shame to the system”.
Speaking earlier, the KDP Nigeria President, Prof. Uche Grace Emetarom informed the MOUAU Vice Chancellor that KDP was founded to recognise and promote excellence in education, promote fellowship among those dedicated to teaching, provide a reasoned voice for significant issues and link learning communities of educators.
She said KDP as a society inducts only those individuals who have exhibited the ideals of scholarship, integrity in service and commitment to excellence in teaching and its allied profession.
Responding, the MOUAU Vice Chancellor, Prof. Francis Ogbonnaya Otunta harped on the urgent need to make people who have made outstanding contributions to the development of professional education to lead the society.
He described KDP as a society of very intelligent strong leaders who if selected to be in the helm of affairs, will think around problems and every problem will become easy.
The MOUAU Vice chancellor expressed the readiness of the institution to associate with KDP and further expressed gratitude for having them at the