Prof Anthony Owan Enoh
University scholar advocates pedagogic approach to learning in tertiary institutions
[From ANIEKAN ANIEKAN, Calabar]
Professor of Philosophy of Education, Anthony Owan Enoh has advocated a pedagogic approach to learning Nigeria’s higher institutions.
Professor Enoh who is the immediate past Vice Chancellor of the Cross River University of Technology disclosed this during the 7th Post Graduate School Distinguished Lecture of the University of Calabar.
Speaking as a guest lecturer on the topic: ‘Curriculum, Teaching, learning and Research: misconceptions, missing links and miscarriages,’ Prof Enoh said 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 should form the womb of ongoing teaching.
“All these are achievable only through continuous teacher training and the exercise of true academic freedom to both teachers and learners in teaching, learning and Research”, he said.
He faulted the rigid and externally imposed curriculum made worse by an Ivory tower mentality.
Professor Enoh 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 inveighed the demand for correspondence in research and research for its own sake , unconnected to what is taught or current in society.
On her part, the Vice Chancellor of the institution, Professor Florence Obi said she approved the lecture series because it is good for the system.
She said the university is an academic environment and must conduct excercise like this for the good of the teachers and students.
She emphasized that our curriculum must be dynamic and charged faculties yet to look into their curriculum to do so for the good of the students.
In his opening remarks, the Dean of Post-Graduate School of the institution, Professor Imo Umoinyang thanked the Vice Chancellor for helping to revive the lecture series.
He said the graduate school desires to make the lecture series periodic to keep members of the academic community kicking with contemporary issues in the society.
He also emphasized that the lecture series will examine how functional is the curriculum, teaching and research in our tertiary institution to our present society.
