Netherlands seeks collaboration with Nigeria on education

A delegation from Nuffic in the Netherlands is seeking collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Education on various fields of education.

Mr. David Van Kampa, Team Leader, Partnership and Programme Development, Netherlands, in a meeting with officials of the ministry, said the country was ready to deliver on staff training, curriculum development and others.

Nuffic is a Dutch organisation for Netherlands education, which plays an important role in fostering international cooperation in education between the Netherlands and other countries.

Van Kampa said the collaboration was necessary for the two countries to share knowledge, and as well foster relationships in the areas of curriculum development, scholarship awards among others.

He noted that out of the number of foreigners that visited Netherlands, Nigeria was 75 per cent, which compelled the need for cooperation.

“Netherlands has been engaged with Nigeria since 2012 on short courses that spanned three years.

“There is a lot of curriculum in English in Netherlands; and we are working to share and shape the knowledge in this regards.

“We want to work with Nigeria on training of staff and educational institutions, learn about what is here and solidify our educational cooperation.

“We have a lot to offer in terms of expertise, to deliver staff training and also look at the priority need of the ministry and here, we have come to seal that cooperation,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Mr Sonny Echono, who received the delegation, said there was need to share best practices and ideas that could improve and develop the country.

Echono noted that Nigeria was in need of the collaboration for massive training of teachers and human development that would in turn be geared toward the advancement of the sector.

According to him, we need to take a look at specific areas we can collaborate, open up specific agreement and share practices on how to manage the issues of enrolment.

“Nigeria is a fertile ground for education, and we are anxious of development, given the multiple challenges we face.

“We need to go back to the drawing table and begin to see how the two countries can sign the revised Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that will facilitate more development in the sector,” he said.

Similarly, Mrs Ifeoma Gijina, Director, Education Support Services in the ministry, highlighted the priority areas of the ministry as: exchange of students in long and short-term programme, education management information, exchange visit, and study and lecture tour of universities’ professors.

Others are awards of full scholarship to students and graduates, to study in each other’s institutions; and encourage sponsored students to study in each other’s country, among others.

Gijina noted that the draft document of MoU between Nigeria and Netherlands had not been signed; saying that signing the document would cement the relationship.