Obasanjo Charges Private Sector on Science Education

By UCHE ANUNNE,
Tuesday, October 4, 2005.

PRESIDENT Olusegun Obasanjo has challenged the private sector to play greater role in Science education in the country.
President Obasanjo spoke through the Minister of Education Mrs. Chinwe Obaji at the launching of Nigeria UNESCO Special Project for Improvement of Science and Technology Education in primary and SecondarySchools in Nigeria.

President Obasanjo contended that experiences had shown that the private sector was usually a major beneficiary of Science and Technology. He attributed the dividing interest and low performance in teaching and learning of Science, Technology and mathematics to lack of teaching facilities and poor teaching methods.

He assured that government was determined to reverese the trend as exemplified in the partnership with UNESCO.
He said with the Nigeria UNESCO project, it was espected that there would be improvement in interest in Science and Technology among pupils, as well as increased efficiency in the teaching of Science and mathematics.

Further credence to the huge interest government was showing in the project, President Obasanjo declared: “a government that is anxious to advance the welfare of its pupils of its nation must be concerned with matters of Science and Technology.” He further asserted that “the training of the young to live and make progress in a world that is driven by Science and Technology is a project that is beyond politics.”

UNESCO country Director in Nigeria, Dr Hubert Charles explained that the project would first be implement in selected states before it is up to accomdate more states.

The project involves the use of Science, Technology and mathematics kits in the teaching and learning of the subjects at the selected primary and Junior Secondary Schools in selected states.