Prof. Helen Bodunde, an eminent expert in Communication and Teaching English as a Second Language, has highlighted the detrimental effects of a flawed foundation in Nigeria’s education system.
She stated that these errors have created a significant gap between knowledge and development, leaving Nigeria in a perpetual state of being a developing country.
Prof. Bodunde explained that the perception of English as a difficult foreign language, coupled with unfriendly learning environments, lack of resources and resourcefulness, severe underfunding of language courses, and the nonchalant attitude of learners, collectively impede bridging this gap.
Delivering the 91st Inaugural Lecture at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), she discussed how these foundational weaknesses hamper language learning across Nigeria’s Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary education levels, resulting in graduates with weak educational backgrounds.
Her lecture was titled “Eliminating the Avoidable Gulf Between Knowledge and Development.”
To address these issues, Prof. Bodunde called for a comprehensive review of the language of education and transitional bilingual education. She emphasized the need for intensive teacher development programs to ensure language teachers are highly competent.
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Additionally, she proposed making Contrastive Analysis a mandatory course for all language teachers in training and incorporating listening skills into the curriculum at all education levels.
Prof. Bodunde also advocated for the establishment of language laboratories in all educational institutions.
These laboratories, equipped with electronic and face-to-face classroom facilities and powered by electricity, would enhance language learning, thereby fostering socio-economic development and promoting a healthy life and environment.
She stressed the importance of small class sizes in these laboratories to facilitate effective language learning.
“Language laboratories promote language learning. All institutions should establish the laboratory for the use of students and staff. This could provide prophylactic and curative treatments,” she suggested.
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