Enugu State Government Starts School Radio Programme

The Enugu state Commissioner  for Education, Prof. Uche Eze has launched a school radio programme at the weekend.

Speaking at the event, He explained that the pilot scheme is aimed at improving learning in public schools and  would target junior secondary school students in four compulsory subjects, based on national curriculum.The subjects, which are prepared in model lessons are English Language, Mathematics, Civic Education and Basic Science.

A Non-Governmental Organisation, South Saharan Social Development Organisation (SSDO) is the sponsor of the programme, which would be aired on Radio Nigeria AM/Medium wave 828 kilohertz on school days.He added that 500 transistor radio sets have been distributed to facilitate the pilot programme.

The commissioner said it became necessary due to the poor performance of students in external examinations and the need to enhance the standard of education in the state. Eze said it was regrettable the rot in the education sector had led to unimaginable examination malpractice, culminating in negative societal values.

“A child must not move on borrowed garments. Most students cannot do anything with the good results they got through examination malpractice and the crimes in our society are reflections of the failure of our schools,” he said.

According to him, some people engage in examination malpractice because they feel it is a quick way to make money.He appealed to principals of secondary schools to ensure that the project achieves the desired objective, adding that the radio school would complement the work done by teachers.

He added: “Listening is a very important skill in human communication and individuals improve on their listening skills through radio. The programme has been included in our school timetable and it would add value to what we are doing because the lessons were prepared by experts.”

He explained that under the programme, students would be assembled to listen to the programme, while the teachers answer the questions that may arise from the teaching.

Executive Director of the NGO, Mrs. Grace Nwobodo said the programme would not only encourage learning, but also enhance the participation of students in the class.

She decried the poor performance of students in the West Africa Examination Council (WAEC) results, which have been deteriorating in the last four years.Nwobodo said the project was funded by the MacArthur Foundation, in two states of Adamawa and Enugu, as part of its education support programme in the country.