The Federal Government on Saturday, commended Anambra Government for its innovative thinking toward effective teaching and learning in the post COVID-19 education era .
Emeka Nwajiuba, Minister of State for Education, gave the commendation in his goodwill message to the E-conference, organised by Anambra Ministry of Basic Education and Integrated Developments Konsult (IDK) Learning Centre.
The E-Conference with the theme: “Facing the New Normal: Post COVID-19 Education in Anambra“ was organised to sensitise stakeholders in the education sector including, parents, teachers, traditional institutions on the need to adjust to the methods of education.
Nwajiuba said the conference was timely and continuously necessary as the pandemic had upset the norm in the nation’s education history, adding that the federal government would like to be part of what Anambra was doing.
He thanked the government of Anambra and the ministry in particular, for leading the pack toward addressing the new challenges in the education sector which was as a result of COVID-19.
“We want to thank you for this unique step of trying to fashion out how we can forge ahead with education in post COVID-19 era, Anambra is unique, we are happy with the quality and success of Anambra in the sector.
“This conference is not only unique it is timely and continuously necessary.
“I urge you to make us part of your work-team so that your deliberations and conclusion can get to us so we can fine tune it and make it impact on the system.
“We want to produce people with skills that can impact the society and not just certificate wielding graduates,” he said.
On his part, Gov. Willie Obiano of Anambra, said his administration was interested in seeing that education was not set back in the state as a result of COVID-19.
Obiano said he was giving full support to all the efforts at ensuring that no child was left behind in the state noting that teaching-on-air, a radio programme that had run over three months had kept the students educationally fresh.
On her part, Prof. Kate Omenugha, Commissioner for Basic Education said education could not wait, hence the need to brace up for the new challenges posed by COVID-19.
Omenugha said to sustain quality of education in the era of limited physical contact between teachers and students, technology remained the best option and that everyone must appreciate it.
According to her, this is time for innovativeness in the education system, We need all stakeholders to be involved in the new normal education post COVID-19.
“There will be limited physical contact between teachers and students, we are going into the era or remote teaching and learning, this conference is aimed at sensitising every stakeholder about the New Normal in the education sector,” she said.
Prof. Charles Esimone, the Vice Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University (NAU) lauded the ministry for spearheading the revolution in the post pandemic challenges in the education sector.
Esimone said the emphasis at the moment was maintaining the best educational standard without physical meeting, adding that virtual learning was the way to go.
