University Don Seeks Change In Approach To Learning In Higher Institutions

A professor of Philosophy of Education, Anthony Owan-Enoh has advocated for a pedagogic approach to learning in Nigeria’s higher institutions.

Professor Enoh, the immediate past Vice Chancellor of  the University of Cross River State, stated this during the 7th Post Graduate School lecture of the University of Calabar.

He spoke as a guest lecturer on the topic: ‘Curriculum, Teaching, Learning and Research: misconceptions, missing links and miscarriages’, adding that research activities should emerge from the womb of ongoing teaching. 

“There must be found the productive and creative union of town and gown in teaching by focusing on the active and current. The adoption of a pedagogic approach which involves active learner participation and the emergence of research activities from the womb of ongoing teaching. All these are achievable only through continuous teacher training and the excercise of true academic freedom to both teachers and learners in teaching, learning and Research,” he said.

He condemned the rigid and externally imposed curriculum made worse by an Ivory tower mentality and also opposed the formal method of instruction aggravated by the banking learning ideology which is reinforced by a preparationist and dependency frame of mind.

He equally faulted the demand for correspondence in research and research for its own sake, unconnected to what is taught or current in society.

According to Prof Owan-Enoh, “those who are schooled in the computer villages and the schools are learning better, getting real employment and making money  and our products cannot compete.”

He stressed that it is only through good teaching that university curricula can be brought down from the ivory tower status and reconnected with the soil from which it springs.He added that it is through good teaching that the present can be made the focus of learning and avoid the unproductive goal of preparation for an uncertain tomorrow.

He equally suggested that the university system provide effective means for continuous training in pedagogical skills for all university teachers in the same manner that conference attendance and research activities have been funded through the establishment of a National Academic Staff College of Nigeria (NASCON).

Speaking, the Vice Chancellor of the institution, Professor Florence Obi said she approved the lecture series because it is good for the system.