Soludo’s Philosophy of Education Governance
Professor Charles Chukwuna Soludo’s philosophical statements and theories of a functional education system and healthy society are characteristics of a thinking outside the box gauged from mainstream classical philosophies. According to him: ‘The foundation of every society are the teachers. Education is the key to unlocking the future of a people and the greatest investment that we can make.
This is the way to secure the future through collective effort, and we must seize it now.” What an expose of a 21st century advocate of classical thoughts of great thinkers whose works on education had provoked reforms and generational modules in teaching method, research and transformative knowledge. This as a problem solving theory is “Soludo solution” that is, his positive use of power to create a sustainable future, youth culture and empowerment and economic growth.
Since the role of teachers in shaping society is indeed foundational, reflexes of the Governor’s thoughts are a deep appreciation of thinkers throughout history, such as Socrates, John Dewey, and Paulo Freire who have emphasised the transformative power of education. Their ideas have prompted significant reforms in teaching methods, encouraging critical thinking, collaboration, and the pursuit of knowledge across cultures and civilisations.
Education is, therefore, not just a means to acquire knowledge; it is a way to empower individuals and communities, fostering a collective responsibility to secure a better future. By investing in education, we invest in the potential of future generations to innovate, empathise, and solve complex challenges, says Soludo. Thus, the call to prioritise education is a call to action for Anambra state people. There is no qualitative education without qualitative teachers, governor Soludo would argue.
The professor and chief executive of the sub-national is theorising and executing a programme of using education to reform the society and promote human capital for sustainable growth. Without a qualitative education the society will be vacuous of any models whatsoever without policies and sectoral interventions the government might wish to embark upon.
Soludo’s conception of qualitative education is, therefore, hinged on recruitments and training of good and quality teachers without borders; teachers with the requisite knowledge in practices and theories according to the best international standards. Socratic, John Dewey and Paolo Freire question and answer methods are an important ingredients in the implementation of this quality education philosophy.
The education in need at this time of global economic readjustments would be education that promotes Science,Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), hence, Soludo’s education concept in the state is that that would be improving STEM education to meet the overwhelming needs of contemporary societies. Within the context of scarcity and gaps in technical manpower needs of the state, the people especially the youths have to be motivated and trained to brace up with the skills required for 21st century challenges.
Also, Soludo’s ‘specter of technology’ is therefore a target in the Governor’s vision of an advanced economic and technological growth in the state. Beginning with this innovative ideals in education of STEM, the government sees the imperative requirement that every teacher in formal and informal setting must have a laptop for advance learnings and teaching of technical education.
Like Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Premier of the then Western Region, Professor believes that education is the right of every Anambra citizen in the state under his watch, hence, free education is a sine qua non to the progress and economic well being of the state and the society. His concept of education corroborates Socrates view that education is an essential and inherent aspect of human nature. He believed that true education goes beyond mere knowledge acquisition; it is about cultivating practical wisdom, virtue, critical thinking and skills necessary for self-survival and self-realisation. This transformative process is seen as a “free gift,” as it allowed individuals to attain moral and intellectual growth.
Hence, the declaration of free education in Anambra state. This idea of free education in Anambra must be to the advantage of all pupils in public schools under the watch of the state government including the establishment of such schools in the recently discovered 77 communities without public schools. Incidentally, it is a case of domesticating not only universal basic education of the Federal Republic of Nigeria but also UN sustainable development hall in education.
For Soludo, education is the key to securing the future of the society, the children and the youths. It is a means of breaking what he calls the dynasties of poverty, bridging the future for the enablement that the youths would require to be able to survive today, compete in the digital world. The vision and mission of this education is to create a human capital that is productive at home and exportable abroad, to create a new prosperity by investing in the people; the people themselves becoming the embodiment and the assets that would propel and sustain the society in the 21st century.
Prof. Dukor is President/Editor-in-Chief of Essence Library, (Cultural and Scientific Development Centre), Department of Philosophy, UNIZIK.
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