Stakeholders in the education sector have been challenged to brace up and live up to their responsibilities for desirable development of Kindergarten education in Nigeria.

Prof. Ngozi Osarenren, lecturer in University of Lagos gave the charge at the third National Conference on Kindergarten Education held in Port Harcourt, Thursday .

The Don expressed worry that even when national curriculum by the Ministry of Education spells out the roles of the government, parents and teachers, these critical stakeholders either neglect or compromise their roles.

Prof. Osarenren, who was former Commissioner for Education in Edo State accused some school inspectors and supervisors of collecting bribe to write favourable reports on schools that were not meeting curriculum demand by Ministry of Education.

According to her, a situation where inspectors give notice of date of visit to school heads only for such schools to stage make-belief classroom environment, prepare lavish entertainment and give out envelope containing huge sum for fuelling of inspectors’ cars contradicts the set objectives.

The conference which was organised by Empowerment Support Initiative (ESI), brain-child of Rivers State governor’s wife, Dame Judith Amaechi also blamed parents for not living up to their roles.

“The governor’s wife is helping to train your child in kindergarten school but as parents you are expected to ensure your child gets up early, eats well, dresses well and know what happens in school”, she remarked.

Also in another paper by a United States of America based educationists Betty Hall emphasised that effective curriculum is the road map for educating the child and a tool for the teacher.

In her paper titled; How To Identify Effective Curriculum for Kindergarten, she noted that research showed that by the age of  4, a child’s brain is more than twice as active as that of an adult adding that if pupils perceive learning to be enjoyable at that early age, it would drive the individual child on the journey of life long learning.

She said that children learn by observing, exploring, imagining, discovering, investigating, structured learning, collecting information, play, sharing and non-threatening environment.

The lecturer reiterated the need for involvement of all stakeholders in effective curriculum planning.

She also remarked that some child have difficulty in writing noting that when a children finds it difficult to write at age 7, such a child desires extra assistance.

Eunice Choko-Kayode/Chris Oluoh