Niger Delta
Don Blames Exams’ Failure On Poor Funding
A university lecturer, Prof. Jack Aigbodioh, has attributed the
mass failure of candidates in West Africa Examination Council (WAEC) and other
external examinations to poor funding of schools.
The professor of Philosophy at the Ambrose Alli University
(AAU), Ekpoma in Edo State made his views known in an interview with our
correspondent in Ekpoma.
He also blamed the lack of facilities, in-conducive learning
environment and unqualified teachers in public schools in the country as
largely responsible for the poor results by the candidates in public
examinations.
According to Aigbodioh, who is also the Director of General
Studies of the university, government funding of secondary education is not
commensurate with the population of children in school.
“I am personally not surprised that the students continue to
suffer the way they are going. We are not taking education seriously in this
country.
“Explosion of child population in this country is not
matched with adequate financial and facility support.
“If we are to get things right, government must first of all
carry out proper population census of children in school and allocate
appropriate resources accordingly.
“The next in line is to ensure teachers recruited to teach
in primary and in the secondary schools, especially public schools are
qualified to do so.
“As government must work to improve learning and teaching
facilities in these schools, they must also ensure proper remuneration of the
teachers.
“I stress on remuneration because when poorly paid, these
teachers, to survive, engage themselves in something else to augment what they
are been paid.
“By so doing, when this happens, possibility of giving their
best is out of the question,” he said.
Aigbodioh also said that “if corruption persists with the
way it is going and we continue to spend money on irrelevant things, I do not
see hope for the Nigeria child.”
Niger Delta
Make God Your Anchor To Fulfill Destiny, Cleric Charges Christians … As Jaja Marks 70th Birthday
The Lead Pastor at Jesus Appointed People’s Bible Church, Ozogbe, Ikwerrengwo-Etche, in Etche Local Government Area of Rivers State, Pastor Promise Nwaelele, has urged Christians to make God the anchor of their lives in whatever position they find themselves, in order to attain the destinies set for them by God.
Pastor Nwaelele, who gave the charge recently in a sermon he preached at the 70th birthday anniversary thanksgiving service of Sir Donald Michael Jaja, a veteran journalist in Rivers State, said this is because any genuine child of God is a permanent target for destabilization and destruction by the devil.
Taking his text from the Bible book of Mark 4:16-17, the preacher stated that fulfilment in life for a child of God required faith, obedience to God’s word, humility and grace to withstand trials and temptations.
According to him, temptations and afflictions are bound to happen in the lives of those who have accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.
“No wonder the Bible said that those that endure till the end shall be saved”, he said.
The Clergyman said God prospers believers who are humble, not proud and conceited, and leads them to destiny fulfilment.
“David said in Psalm 51:17, that the sacrifices acceptable to God are a broken spirit, not an impatient or proud spirit”, the preacher said.
He called on Christians not to allow persecutions and afflictions to sway them from the love and blessings of Jesus Christ.
On his part, Jaja, a seasoned Journalist who retired as an Acting Editor of the Rivers State Government-owned The Tide Newspaper, gave thanks to God for honouring him by giving him the grace of attaining 70 years.
“I cannot capture what the good Lord has done for me in my entire life in this fleeting moment of thanksgiving. But, I know that without Him, I wouldn’t have been who I am today, in all spheres. Therefore, my joy knows no bounds as I give thanks to my creator today, alongside my family. Praise be His holy name”, Jaja said.
