Senate President David Mark yesterday lamented the sorry state of the nation’s education sector, blaming it on the inability of successive governments to give it the attention it deserved.
?Senator Mark stated this while speaking at the 19th -23rd combined convocation ceremony of the Rivers State University of Science and Technology (RSUST), Port Harcourt, where he was conferred with a Doctorate Degree in Law.
?He said the sector had been characterised by inconsistency of policies, poor execution of such policies and poor funding, and stressing the need for the federal government to take a second look the role the Federal Ministry of Education and the role of regulatory institutions to make the sector function more effectively.
?Mark said the nation must strive to educate its younger generation if she must make any meaningful development as a nation.
“I strongly believe that education provides the impetus to sustainable national development and growth. It is the most profitable investment that we can make today and? tomorrow, and it is the greatest legacy that we can bequeath to our children.
“Unfortunately, I don’t think we have paid as much attention to the education sector as we ought to. As a matter of fact, all the available data indicate otherwise.,? he said.
The Senate President stressed the need for the central government to pay special attention to science and technology education in view of the role Information and Technology (IT) now plays in driving the nation’s economy.
?“You will be surprised at the monumental changes that will take place if we invest properly in science and technology. And I believe this is what the founding fathers of this institution had in mind when they set up this university,” Mark noted.
?“For any nation to achieve greatness, she must develop a deliberate, focused and dynamic educational policy. It is doubly so, for a nation that wants to be among the 20 developed nations in 2020, the Senate President explained, while urging the graduands to be among problems solvers, rather joining the bandwagon of those who only identify problems.
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In his remarks, Rivers State Governor, Chibuike Amaechi expressed delight that the university has broken the seven years jinx of not awarding diplomas and degrees to its graduands, due to problems of cultism, examination malpractice, and in-fighting that it was plagued with.
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Amaechi said he did not regret the dissolution of the university governing council, the appointment of a new Chairman of the council and a new Vice Chancellor, under whose leadership the university has transformed in terms of academics and infrastructure.
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Earlier, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barineme Fakae said a total of 25, 917 students spanning five years (2004 to 2010 academic sessions) graduated at the convocation, while thanking governor for his support in transforming the university.
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Of this number, Fakae said 3,552 were for higher degrees, while 22, 365 is for first degrees, just as he called on all trade unions in the university to always explore all avenues of dialogue before embarking industrial action, in order not to derail the academic calendar, in the interest of the students.#
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