M Ade Lawal
Membership Grade: Member
Length of IfL Membership: 1 Year 6 Months
Current Position: Lecturer
Reserved Seats: Black and ethnic minority/FE Colleges/Adult and Community Learning/Greater London
I think it is only through education (it always has been) that we will make a lasting leap forward to prepare our children, youth and adults to each accept we have a responsibility and a contribution which is important to value.
Over 25 years involved in education, in mainstream since 2001 the purpose I believe is to prepare us for work and life, not separate and apart but intrinsic in all its guises. My experience in teaching and learning has been right through the spectrum from nursery to university graduate and post graduate level, all can find valuable lessons (sorry!) from each other.
My particular interest has always been in the way people learn, understanding that aspect of us can raise esteem and confidence allowing the individual to concentrate on maximising these potentials, and succeed where previously they may have given up with their feeling of hopelessness to progress with the learning.
My varied background outside education includes the NHS, marketing and legal advocacy, all of which have enabled me to understand the valuable perspective of how large and small organisations need clear channels of communication to function effectively. This is cemented by a very detailed Masters degree in public administration which was extremely theoretical.
More recently I have discovered the ideology to embody this principle called communication ethics (CE) which dates from ancient Greece philosophers – Socrates, Plato and Aristotle who taught that the vital importance of the individual (particularly those more senior in the hierarchy) was to realise the need for self sacrifice and restraint over personal gain and satisfaction,when in contrast to actions which may be detrimental to the benefit of the State. Through education in embracing this principle practise we allow the person to decide on their cause of action, but with it a preparation to accept the consequences and responsibility.
As an advisory council representative I would continue to develop the involvement of CE in all aspects of learning in a practicable and purposeful manner. My experiences tell me this is relevant to rescue some of the problems which currently exist in society.
For this purpose I have designed an interpretative organisational grid which outlines and identifies personnel, responsibility,lines of assessment and communication review etc. This I have called 5D science technology and the basic framework to actually implement these ideas. The IfL structure leads to adaptation within this method as does any organisation large or small with inbuilt tracking, accountability (key!) and review processes.
Only through dialogue and discussion of key fundamentals within our education system can we begin to give the individual the freedom to exercise their rights in a democracy, with the understanding they also require a self discipline and restraint that others, who may differ from their own, so too have those same rights. It is simple but somewhere in time it has got lost and needs to be re-ignited – I hope you agree with me.
