The Vice Chancellor of the University of America, California, Prof. Gamalier
O. Prince, has said that the change mantra of the Federal Government
must fix the educational system if there must be positive improvement in
the country.
Prince, who stated that the nation’s academic
system expired long ago, said that the leadership of Nigeria had
continued to fail because the educational system failed to impact the
right qualities and had not shown signs of recovery.
Prince said:
“People in Nigeria are getting expired education. That is why you see
people who studied engineering and are not able to do engineering feat.
You see people who studied computer science and are not able to
understand anything or diagnose computer language and what have you.
This is because Nigeria’s educational system is a dilapidated one.
“The
problem of Nigeria began from the citadel of learning and if you want
to fix Nigeria, you must fix the educational system. This is because
every Nigerian in leadership went through our academic institutions –
politicians, scientists and leaders. They were not able to acquire
trainings that could be used to advance the course of the country. If
our leaders have failed, it is because our educational system has also
failed. So, if you want to change Nigeria, change the educational
system. So, the mantra of change must begin with the academic
institutions and students.”
Prince spoke in Enugu during the
first joint matriculation of the University of America, an affiliate of
Peaceland College of Education, Enugu, where the Provost, Dr. Leonard
Ilechukwu, was conferred with the professor of Education Administration.
The college is a campus of the University of America in Enugu.
Meanwhile,
the vice chancellor stated that the university had decided to introduce
the “updated American education” into the country for the students in
affiliation with the Peaceland College, Enugu.
“It is not about
bringing Americans to Nigeria but the curriculum. The curriculum we are
going to use, currency and relevance of the textbooks to modern day
challenges, technology and what have you. It does not matter who is
going to operate them. Nigerians can be taught how to operate them.
Americans can come but we don’t hope to bring Americans to stay here.
Our job is to train Nigerians in what they can do. We will bring in the
Americans who will avail same textbooks, technology that we use over
there.
“I believe that somebody studying engineering should be
able to manufacture, and if you are doing computer, you should be able
to produce your own computer. The students of Peaceland should be able
to come to see what their American counterparts are doing, think what
they are thinking and be able to compare it with what they know and that
is what we call comparative education and when you put that together,
you have what is called a wholistic education. Schooling is different
from education. The environment is the difference between the black man
and white man and this is what our education will try to address,” he
stressed.
He told the matriculating students that the university
was poised to moulding them realise their dreams in life and become
productive citizens, saying there was no room for laxity and
malpractices that were the hallmarks of education in Nigeria.
Earlier,
Ilechukwu said that the programme of the school was very exciting,
adding that the institution remains one of the dynamic institutions in
America.
“Make it a goal to grow in multiple dimensions. Make it a
goal to take advantage of the University of America. Push yourself to
reach as high as possible in your studies. Make it a goal to do your
best – to excel to the highest level possible,” he told the students.