Tosam Will Continue To Reduce Out Of School Children - Adewale
The Lagos State Secretary Association for Formidable Educational Development who doubles as the proprietors TOSAM private school in Lagos, revealed that the efforts of the association is aimed at reducing the numbers of out of school children.
Speaking during an interview Hon. Quadri Samuel Adewale spoke on several Sundry issues as it relates to the quality of education in the country- Excerpts.
Q: In summary your profile Sir?
A: I had my secondary school certificate at the Methodist Boys High School and later proceeded to Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife for my B.sc certificate.
After graduating in flying colours, I sat for some professional exams locally and internationally, currently I am the proprietor TOSAM private school by extension the Lagos State Secretary of the Association for formidable educational development.
Q: What does your association stand for and what has been your achievement over the years?
A: The Objective of our association is that we want all children in Nigeria to go to school and in view of this we need to create a platform where the children of the less privileged would be able to go to school.
Having said that, our achievements are numerous, the global index of out of school children is very high and what we are doing as an association is to leverage with other partners who are foreign and local and this will spread to all the states of the federation. The plan is to complement what government is doing.
You will agree with me that the government cannot do it alone. More importantly, we need to complement what Lagos State government is doing, and we always ensure that we obey the rules and regulations policy guidelines of the Federal and State Ministries just to be on the same page towards reducing the numbers of out of school children.
Q: From your own point of view do you think private schools are providing quality education across board?
A: Yes, private Schools are providing quality education because there are rules of engagement, there are policy guidelines for every school that intend to operate and such schools need to go through the Ministry of Education quality, assurance safety commission.
When we talk about standard or quality of education in private schools, we are not only talking about reading and writing, we are also talking about the content of what they are giving to the children, how are they teaching them.
Recently the Minister of Education disclosed that the Teachers Registration Council (TRCN) must also be made compulsory and in regiment for engaging teachers in private schools so as to ensure the quality hands in our schools.
Secondly to ensure that the policy guide being put in place by the ministry of education in conjunction with the various commissioners of Education in the State are also what we are working to ensure that the scheme of work, which is a guide is being followed to the letter.
If you also look at what we are doing in the private schools we have been able to leverage on technology which is AI. A lot of schools have been working on how best to upscale their teachers and this is not something that is optional but compulsory in schools.
If we consider the population of pupils, the private schools have been able to absorb, we have filled up the vacuum by providing the same quality standard in government schools and we are working with the Ministry of Education to ensure that children across board have access to qualitative education.
Q: Critical stakeholders in Nigeria are of the view that the curriculum in our educational sector is out dated, what is your position on this?
A: Yes I agree with that School of thought that the curriculum we are using is out dated in countries like United Kingdom and Canada they review their curriculums year in year out to fit in.
A lot of things are happening in the School system that needs urgent attention. In those days we don't have students who drink alcohol and smoke and engage in all sorts of social vices but today pupils in primary school now practicing cultism, so there is the need for us to review our curriculum in such a way that it will meet up with current realities.
The Federal and State Ministries are working on this to ensure that our educational system is improved upon.
Q: Moral values are gradually diminishing in our educational system, what is the way out?
A: That our children are losing moral values and their behaviour in public space in the family arena is becoming questionable, My Submission is that firstly it has to be worked out hand in hand with the parents so that pupils will be fully responsible and improve their moral behaviour in the society.
Stakeholders in the public and private schools must also ensure that our pupils are God fearing by teaching them godliness by citing good examples, because students learn from what they see.
Parent need to do the needful while we need God fearing teachers so that we could culture our pupils to be good ambassadors of our fatherland.
Q: What is your message?
A: We must not compromise standard at all times but we need to uphold the standard of education maintain quality and be participating in the school development. We cannot do it all alone, so all stakeholders in the educational sector must come together on a sound footing to ensure that our educational system is improved upon.
