NIGERIA’s education system will be better improved if the country promotes reading culture and also revert to British system that included: primary, secondary, further, and higher education. This was the submission of Mrs Maureen Bakare, first Director-General of Lagos State Commission for Women.’
* Mrs Maureen Bakare(m) reading during her 81st birthday, flanked by Mr Adeyemi Adebiyi, ANA Lagos chairman(left) and a guest.
Mrs Bakare who holds a degree in English Language & History from the University of Ibadan and a Postgraduate Diploma in Education from the University of Leeds in the UK, recently marked her 81st birthday by hosting the Association of Nigerian Authors, ANA, Lagos chapter in her residence. She noted that education standard was poor because teacher education was also poor.
According to the former Director-General of Lagos State Service Commission: “Education is poor presently because the teachers themselves receive poor training. So I think Nigeria should go back to the British system of education as it has been proven to be less expensive to run. And at the end, the children have a sound education,“ she said.
Speaking on how she was able to keep fit, read without glasses, remember and describe historical events, Mrs Bakare said the impact of reading to a nation cannot be over-emphasised. “The secret to my retentive memory is reading.
“I believe that there is future for the education sector if the government does the right thing by funding the sector; improving on the teacher training quality, including the enthronement of reading culture. These will go a long way to promote communication.“
On his part, Mr Yemi Adebiyi, chairman, ANA Lagos chapter who led writers such as Brenda Nwafor, ANA Lagos-Secretary; Sola Alamutu, Linda Davis; Dr Noble; Yinka Kadiri and others to honour Mrs Bakare said the contribution of the Octogenarian to Arts and Education will remain indelible.
