The Commissioner, Human Resources, Science and Technology, African Union, Her Excellency, Prof. (Mrs.) Sarah Anyang Agbor has called on the ministers of education in African nations to professionalize the teaching profession, as the quality of teachers determines the quality of education obtainable.
Prof Agbor made this call in an Exclusive Interview with CEOAFRICA at the 2nd convocation ceremony of Chrisland University which held on Thursday, 26th November 2020.
The AU commissioner bemoaned the level of education in Africa adding that it is a big concern for the Africa we want in accordance with the AU Agenda 2063 which is a vision of an intergrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa, driven by its own competence and skilled citizens who would be able to play in the global arena.
Prof Agbor disclosed that African Union in its bid to inculcate skills and competence in the youth which makes up 70% of Africa population through a solidified and qualitative education has through the head of states and assembly adopted a continental strategy for education.
She said, “but how are we going to consolidate these skills, these competences among our demographic dividend which represent the youths of Africa because over 70% of our population in Africa are youths it is only when we consolidate on quality education that leads to job creation and not the kind of education that makes our youths job seekers and that is why African Union, the head of states and assembly has adopted a continental strategy call “ the Continental Education Strategy for Africa 2016-2025.”
She added that the program which was adopted in 2013 is expected to run for 50years and is divided into five faces of ten years each with each face having a particular project to implement.
The AU Commissioner further stated that the African Union ministers of education in the 55 member states of AU should be able to implement the strategies as a way of revitalizing education in Africa.
She added that under the continental education strategy for Africa are twelve strategic objectives which are further broken down into twelve thematic clusters which include early childhood education, technical vocational education development teachers training development, curriculum development among others.
Prof Agbor lamented the treatment of the teaching profession stressing that it is a noble profession and should be treated as such and not meant for dropouts adding that teachers train others to be professionals in their fields.
She said,” The teaching profession should not be for the dropouts, no, they are the ones who train the doctors, the engineers, the pilot, they are the ones who train the computer scientist etcetera.”
She also stressed the need for teachers to be given the right remuneration and the right kind of training and skills to enable them perform better in class.
“ Give them the right remuneration; give them the right kind of training, and the right kind of skill and they will perform better in class rather than them seeking for private practices to earn money,” she said.
She urged the government to treat teachers well as they” after all are the ones who inculcate value and ethics and the right kind of quality education to our children” adding that “it is in those days that they say that teachers salaries is in heaven, we don’t want to go to heaven before we collect our salary, me too am a teacher, we should collect it here.”
Speaking on the prolonged ASUU strike, Prof Agbor also urged the Nigeria government to look into the grievances of teachers, dialogue with them and bridge the gap between.
She added that everything can be solved through dialogue as leaving students at home is very unhealthy for the nation.
On her advice to the graduands of Chrisland University, the AU Commissioner stressed on the need for handwork, self value, vision adding that the world is not bed of roses hence the need to struggle to achieve ones vision.
“This world is not a bed of roses, they have to struggle, there is nothing wrong with struggling once you have a target and a vision ahead of you. When the going gets tough, the tough gets going, believe in yourself, don’t be easily disillusioned, have faith and pray along with what you do.Ask God for guidance and then you work hard towards achieving your goal and God will bless you and uphold you,” she stated.
