The United State of America, at the turn of this millennium, has reiterated its steadfast and unalloyed comfitures to the facilitation of the game of the stronger ties of common wealth of notions, as evident in the drive towards globalization. Globalization entails that the polemic barriers that separate people s of the world in terms of trade, economic, social, cultural, educational and even political divides, must necessarily be dismantled and people must in turn. Unite to chart productive way of achieving common goals and objectives.
It is against this background that the government of the United States under the leadership of former president, Bill Clinton released an executive memorandum on U.S International Education Policy in 2000. This policy was endorsed also by the subsequent government of President George W. Bush.
In summing up the Universal relevance of the memorandum, the former secretary of state, Madeleine Albright, submitted that U.S international leadership, competitiveness and national security are increasingly supendent on international and cross cultural awareness on the part of U.S citizens. Our foreign policy goals are enhanced immeasurably by international education.
The U. S governments policy on international education states among others, the following objectives:
Study and research abroad for U.S citizens as well as study and research in the U.S by study abroad students from other countries.
Teaching and learning about other countries and cultures in U. S schools, colleges and Universities including U.S experts in the economies, cultures, languages, policies and histories of nations, as well as shoring U.S knowledge and culture with other countries.
Teaching and learning of foreign language by U.S citizens, as well as the learning of English by those who live in other countries.
Comparing U.S education progress to that of other Nations, learning about foreign educational policies and practices that could help improve education at home and sharing information on practice to help other countries improve education for their citizens and achieve Universal education.
In order to achieve these objectives, the implementation of the policy is vested in the U.S Department of State, working through its bureau of educational and cultural affairs.
The educational information and resource branch (ECA/A/S/A) of the bureau is responsible for the provision of information on U.S higher education and study opportunities to prospective students. In carrying out this task, if coordinates and support a network of about 450 educational advising centers (ECAS) that cater to the needs and requires of over five million people every year. These centers which are usually found in U.S Embassies, Fullbright commissions, U.S non-profit organizations with overseas operations, local institutions are to provide up-to-date, accurate and impartial information about:
Educational Opportunities in the U.S
Application procedures and Strategies
Standardized Tests required for admission S.A.T, T.O.E.F.L, G.M.A.T, G.R.T
Financial Aids and Scholarships
Academic Life in the U.S
However, it is important to state categorically, that these centers have not been able to meet demands on this policy of international education. In Nigeria case, the number of the EAC in Nigeria alone is grossly inadequate. Also, these centers are limited in operations to meet the increasing demands of feeming prospective international students in Africa and West Africa atis. This obvious in adequacy is predicated on the fact that 10-15% of the over 120 million people in Nigeria are students.
Therefore one in every three students in Nigeria is a potential for international education. To leave the job of counseling and advising over 3-5 million young Nigerians on educational opportunities in the U.S in the hands of two or three EAC is nothing but inadequate.
It is thus in the noble mission of providing the missing link between EACS in adequacies an deficiencies that M.E.T, the pincer trademark in international education in Nigeria, which has of course emerged.
Earlier than Clintons declaration, renewed and rededicated its proactive drive in providing panacea to the odyssey of hapless and frustrate Nigerian youth seeking the oasis of foreign education in America.
M.E.T is officially recognized by the College Board and education testing service (ETS), examining bodies in America and South America. As part of its human resources, it has an array of professional tutors, some of whom have been sponsored to South Africa and America. The company, driven by the desire to ensure adequate preparation of its students, has a good stock of relevant books and computer software. It has been able to secure admissions and scholarships for its students in many foreign Universities like Harvard, Brown, Georgia Tech, University of Maryland at college park etc. Many of these students who passed through M.E.T. are now successful graduate, at various occasions, some graduated as Cum laude of their commissaries, while many are now enviable employees of multinational giants such as I.B.M, Schlumberger etc.
M.E.T has cored a riche for itself in the field of international education by its excellent performance. We have also eared the credibility of our clients.
In summary, we can say that M.E.T today has become a highly focused company, with good knowledge of its market, a high sense of responsibility and a firm grip on its destiny.