A shout-out to Sullivan (2)
An open memo to the next Governor of Enugu State (2)
M. O. EnE
New Jersey, USA
egbedaa@aol.com
Sunday, January 21, 2007
INTRODUCTION
In Part 1, I dwelt on the concept of community, the importance of using age-old social structures to achieve discernible democratic dividends by providing basic amenities and security of lives and properties, and on ensuring the rule of law and order while providing those basic social amenities. I delayed the other parts because of emerging political realities; that is, the announcement of somewhat credible candidates. I have waited to weigh the credibility of their challenges; alas, it appears that the challenges are fizzling out faster than the noon rainbow. In essence, your candidacy remains the most credible and the most likely to succeed. However, the issues at stake transcend persons and offices; they are about the future of our beloved state; and that the shout-out is addressed to you personally is for obvious reasons… you have to give someone a shout-out!
EDUCATION
The effect of education on society is well-documented; we will not be where we are today without it. Times are changing, and the effect of information technology must not be lost on Enugu State which -- as Ogene Nze will have us believe -- “leads the way and others follow.” The following are recommended:
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Propose a fair and value-based community, property tax to fund a free and compulsory primary education; Enugu State should record 100% literacy in all under-20 citizens by the year 2020.
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Establish statewide lottery to fund free, statewide secondary education.
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Scrap polytechnics and non-degree, NCE colleges of education; every teacher should have a bachelor’s degree in education and teaching certification. Intensive sandwich programs should convert all NCE holders to degree holders in four years.
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Demystify the so-called “campus cults”; in America, there are fraternities and sororities, and they don’t main and murder fellow students and their professors. Dismantling campus cults will be such a breeze you will wonder why no one ever thought of it.
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Establish community colleges in all local government areas to specialize in providing two-year remedial courses for those wishing to pursue degree courses, certification courses in professional trades, and special skills in the following areas as needed: nursing assistants, hairdressing, auto mechanics, construction, civil maintenance, pharmacy assistants, dental assistants, IT specialists and web designers, movie making, etc.
Create a multi-campus system for Enugu State University, with new campuses in Adaada, Awgu, Udi , etc. The following campuses will be specialist satellite campuses:
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College of Medicine & Dentistry, Enugu
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College of Technical Education, Enugu (“IMT Campus II”)
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College of Agriculture, Adaada
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College of Education, Eha-Amufu
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College of Nursing, Oji River
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Institute of Media Studies (Films), Udi
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School of Diplomacy & Administration, Awgu
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School of Ecumenical Studies, Thinker's Corner, Enugu
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Institute of Engineering & Technology (formerly IMT Campus III)
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College of Arts, Management & Sciences, Ebeano City
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School of Law (Nsukka & Enugu Campuses) -- with a view to taking the lead whenever the Federal Government approves law schools for universities as Enugu State did with hosting the first Nigerian university, the first state university, and the first law school outside the capital city.
As a veteran of debates for and against multi-campus system during the reigns of Governors Madueke and Omeruah -- together with such role models as Dr. Anthony Nebo and Professors Linus Aneke, C. C. Chime, and T. C. Nwodoh -- I know that the problems are great, but they are not insurmountable. On the contrary, they produce a lot more than just campuses: They become the intellectual nerve centers of communities, shinning the light of knowledge and changing mindsets for the good of society. Note that the satellite campuses in Awka and Abakaliki later became the core of federal Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka and Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki.
Enugu State cannot afford to lose sight of current trends in tertiary institutions. With three private universities and counting, the government must make sure these institutions live up to their calling. Universities are not money-making ventures, and the emerging private institutions cannot cope if left to paddle their own canoe. The state should create a “Department of Higher Education” under the Ministry of Education to provide administrative supervision and oversight functions for a refocused university education in the state, including the functionality of the multi-campus state university system, the offering of workforce-required courses, the administering of loans, targeted tuition remissions, and state funding of disadvantaged but promising students in such federal and private university setups in the state as:
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Air Force Flying School, Enugu
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Caritas University, Nike, Enugu
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College of Nursing, Enugu
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Justice Augustine Nnamani Law School, Agbani
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Our Savior's Institute of Science & Technology (OSISATech), Enugu
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Police College, Oji River
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Renaissance University, Agbani
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University of Nigeria, Nsukka
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University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus
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University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Ituku-Ozala
The importance of making major changes in our educational institutions cannot be overemphasized. It is a sin that the aspirations of many prospective graduates are dashed on the altar of corrupt cash’n’carry admission processes that tend to favor the haves from beyond our shores. It is a sin that we still latch on to the old British system that produces more civil servants than technocrats. Here is where the government should come in with a long-term study and implementation of a curriculum-career strategy that will produce the needed manpower for our state development.
A shout-out to Sullivan:
(1):
An open
memo the next Governor of Enugu State, Sullivan Chime
M.
O. ENE:
Ebeanaeje: 2007 and beyond