NAL laments quality of entrants in universities

• Akinrinade emphasized the need for urgent and concerted efforts from all stakeholders to reverse the decline in the quality of entrants
  

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The Nigerian Academy of Letters (NAL), a prominent institution in arts and literature, has expressed concern over the diminishing quality of entrants into the Nigerian University System.

President of the Academy, Prof Sola Akinrinade, conveyed this sentiment on Tuesday during a policy review workshop titled ‘Strengthening the educational system in Nigeria through Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM).’ This workshop, sponsored by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), was organized by NAL in collaboration with the Nigerian Young Academy (NYA).

Akinrinade emphasized the need for urgent and concerted efforts from all stakeholders to reverse the decline in the quality of entrants.

“This alarming trend must be addressed promptly to ensure a prosperous future for Nigeria’s education system,” he said.

Akinrinade stated that a properly implemented STEAM education encourages innovation, reduces poverty, and provides beneficiaries with the appropriate tools to improve their lives and those of others.

“If through this intervention, we succeed in building alliances for the proper implementation of STEAM education at the Basic and Senior Secondary levels in the country, we will have made a great investment in the lives of future generations of Nigerian youths.

“We need to focus on how to make STEAM relevant to our problems at both national and sub-national levels and it is meetings like this that we can aggregate perspectives and propose ways forward for us as a country. I am sure, the participants present are more than capable of fashioning the way forward for us,” he said.

Also, speaking, the Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, (JAMB), Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, emphasised the merits of adopting a holistic educational approach that combines scientific knowledge with artistic expression, ensuring a well-rounded education for the nation’s future leaders.