Ambassador appeals to leaders to create good environment

Winneba, Feb 8, GNA - The Finland Ambassador to Nigeria, Ms Anneli Vuorinen, has said there was a need for political leaders and authorities in education to create a good environment for the education sector.

She said this when she delivered a lecture at the University of

Education, Winneba (UEW) on the topic 93Investing in education

and Gender Equality for Sustainable Development, experience

from Finland". She said in other to sustain development, education and gender

equality should be an integral part of nation building which will

help to diversify the economy and raise living standards. The Ambassador advised all, especially educational

practitioners, to consider education as one of the most significant

sectors for nation building. She said Finland had always seen education as the key to

surviving and thriving in an increasingly competitive world. Ms Vuorinen emphasized the need for tertiary institutions in the

country to provide training aimed at high-level professional skills

to meet the requirements of manpower needs of the nation. "One of the important principles underlining the sustainability in

education is to offer equal opportunities for all school going

children, irrespective of sex, economic situation or linguistic and

cultural background," she said. Ms Vuorinen called on political leaders and all who matter in

ensuring effective delivery of education to guarantee equal rights

to education to young people, especially people with disabilities. If a student is falling behind his or her class or is facing learning

difficulties, the school should be counselling and offer special

personal support, while at the same time keeping all pupils

integrated in the school. She said education systems should be made to put lots of

emphasis on the well-being of students and pupil-centered

teaching, adding that this should reflect in the curriculum

guidelines and hopefully allow students to feel joy and success in

their studies. The Pro Vice-Chancellor, Professor Mawutor Avoke who

chaired the programme, expressed the University's preparedness

to welcome linkages and exchange of programmes between UEW

and some of the Universities in Finland.