UNESCO Boss Attributes Students' Poor Results to Inadequate Preparation

UNESCO Boss Attributes Students’ Poor Results to Inadequate Preparation:

The Secretary-General of National Commission for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation, Mrs. Magdalene Anene-Maidoh, has attributed students’ poor performance in public examinations to inadequate preparation and poor reading habit.

She spoke alongside other educationists during the presentation of ‘Readers 100 Project’ in Abuja.

The initiative, aimed at promoting reading culture in the country, is the brainchild of B & B Livres Publishers. It contains 100 different ways of promoting reading.

Referring to the last Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination conducted by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, they noted that the poor results were a reflection of the country’s education system.

Anene-Maidoh, represented by the UNESCO Sector Secretary, Mrs. Florence Oguah, particularly frowned on the reading approach by Nigerian students, noting that they only pay attention to their books during examinations.

She also stated that they spend more time on social network than reading.

Anene-Maidoh added, “The poor performance of our students has been blamed on poor reading habit. The crucial role of parents as the first level of contact with the children is on the verge of collapse, as many parents hardly spend time with their children to groom them academically, spiritually, morally and socially.

“The foundational orientation, as critical as it is, is usually lacking or left in the care of house helps, who may also require attention.

“I wish to stress the need for parents, religious bodies, the media, non-governmental organisations and civil society groups, to actively participate in the nascent crusade to restore the reading culture in the Nigerian society to build a democratic and cohesive society.”

The initiator of the project and author of If I Rule the World, Mr. Femi Oluwafemi, said the initiative was to promote reading as alternative to “highly promoted consumerist entertainment”.

Oluwafemi, who noted that it would further encourage book clubs in schools, added that the organisers looked forward to collaborating with libraries, educational institutions, as well as governments and private organisations.

The president of the Abuja Literary Society, Victor Anoliefo, also hailed the initiative, saying the power of book is the foundation of knowledge. (Punch)