A Visiting Professor and Scholar, University of Johannesburg, South Africa and Barry University Miami, USA, Onoriode Potokri has stressed the need for education managers and government to provide more resources for retraining of teachers, describing learning as a lifelong process, just as he called for policies that promote education digitalisation and their effective implementation in Africa
The Professor of Education Policy Studies and Alumni of Lagos State University, made the call while delivering his keynote at a recently concluded conference titled *"Leading and Managing Education Digitalisation in the 21st Century"* organized by the Nigerian Association for Educational Administration and Planning (NAEAP), LASU Branch, Lagos Chapter, in collaboration with Presbyterian University of East Africa (PUEA), Nairobi, Kenya.
The 4-day conference with the theme *“ICT, Educational Management and Planning in the Digital Age in Africa”* was held on Tuesday, 4th to Friday 7th June 2024 at the Main Hall, PUEA, Nairobi, Kenya.
Prof. Potokri stated that the 21st century is characterised by surge in digital innovation which are fundamentally redesigning the way information is sought, accessed, processed, and distributed, and digital technologies provide unprecedented learning experiences, personalized instruction, and enhanced collaboration.
Technology according to him, also poses challenges that have to do with digital equity, data privacy and continuous professional development.
Potokri suggested that education leaders and managers could lead the digitalisation of education sector, by providing a Value-based leadership through the inculcation of integrity, trust, listening and respect for the followers, Balanced processing, Pedagogical and technological training support
He listed other suggestions to include Agreement and reward, Share culture and networking, and Policy intervention from the government to institutionalized digital technologies.
He encouraged education leaders and managers to embrace 21st century to mindset by leveraging on technology as an enabler, and with the global imperative to attain quality education by 2030 (UN 2015)
The quality of teachers according to him, is as important as ensuring digital leadership in institutions of learning because both are complementary and are indeed the catalyst to the attainment of quality education.
His words,"I advocate for a rapidly digitalisation of education in our educational institutions for in it lies the key to the attainment of quality education – the passage to poverty alleviation/eradication and other sustainable goals as outlined for accomplishment by the United Nations in 2030"
Also speaking,Vice Chancellor, Lagos State University, Professor Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello expressed her gratitude to the Presbyterian University of East Africa (PUEA) for hosting this significant event in collaboration with the Nigerian Association for Educational Administration and Planning (NAEAP), LASU Branch.
She stated that the collaboration demonstrates our shared vision for advancing educational frontiers through innovative and strategic use of ICT.
The Professor of Physiology ably represented at the conference by the Coordinator, NAEAP LASU Branch, Prof. M. O. B. Mohammed, noted that the Lagos State University was particularly excited about the potential for a formal collaboration with the Presbyterian University of East Africa
" We believe that such a partnership would foster greater academic exchange, collaborative research, and the development of joint programs that leverage the strengths of both institutions, and this collaboration would not only benefit our universities but also contribute to the broader educational and socio-economic development of our regions"
Professor Olatunji-Bello averred that effective policies are the bedrock upon which sustainable digital transformation is built.
Technology she says, serves as a catalyst for inclusive growth, equitable access to education and the overall well-being of our societies, and the integration of ICT in educational management and administration holds the promise of more efficient, transparent, and responsive educational systems.
Earlier at the conference, the Vice Chancellor, PUEA, Prof. Wangari Mwai, in her opening remarks, recognised the presence of scholars and stakeholders from diverse institutions who have made the conference a success and described the conference as an enabler to everyone which would broaden and deepen the thoughts of participants
She stated that educationists, both instructors and researchers, need to leverage on the digital revolution, so as to reap the fruits of e-learning, and to leverage is to make maximum use of the available digital technology with its revolution so as to obtain a desired effect or results that meet the needs of the present educator and learner without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
The highpoint of the event was the presentation of gift to the Vice Chancellor, Lagos State University and other prominent academic scholars, and certificates to the Participants.
The 4-day conference features contributions from 17 prestigious universities across the globe, representing a rich tapestry of perspectives and expertise which include Lagos State University, Nigeria; Presbyterian University of East Africa, Kenya; Kenyatta University, Nairobi, Kenya; University of Nairobi, Kenya; Alayande University, Oyo State, Nigeria; University of Ilesha, Osun State, Nigeria; University of Free State, South Africa; Lead City University, Nigeria; Imo State University, Owerri, Nigeria; University of Sierra Leone, Freetown, Sierra Leone amongst others reputable universities.
No comments:
Post a Comment