Wednesday 31 August 2016

Benue Assembly raises alarm over corruption at education board


Attah Ede, Makurdi
The Chairman, Benue State House of Assembly Committee on Local Government, Security and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr. Benjamin Nungwa, on Monday, said it had been discovered that the State Universal Basic Education Board, was maintaining two Payment Vouchers to siphon government monies.
Nungwa said the practice was contrary to the present administration’s policy which is anchored on transparency and accountability.
The committee chairman, who was speaking about his committee’s visit to the Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs and Local Government Service Commission on the floor of the house, said SUBEB uses one of the Payment Vouchers to access monies from the State and Local Government Joint Account Committee, and used another voucher for the payment of salaries.
”The implication of this unlawful practice is to enable the Board access more money from the Joint Account Committee on  the PV that contains higher figures purported to be for staff salary and in turn use another one probably with lesser figures  for the actual payment of salary,” he said.
A member representing Oju 1 State Constituency, Dr. Adoga Onah, said the practice had been going on since at SUBEB, stressing that the practice was discovered right from the previous administration and wondered why the new management of the Board was still maintaining it.
Also, a member of the Committee, Stephen Tyochir, disclosed that apart from the issue of double payment vouchers being used by the board, both the Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs and Local Government Service Commission were in conflict as to the exact number of civil servants at the third tier of government.
“Both have different figures of what is the exact staff strength in the LG. But by law, it is the statutory responsibility of the LGS Commission to employ staff for the third tier, and so they should be in a better position to know the staff strength of local governments,” Tyochir said.
The Speaker, Mr. Terkimbi Ikyange, who expressed surprise at the revelations, directed the Committee to carry out a detail investigation into the issue and report back to the House for necessary action.

Education reform widens poverty gap – Study


The new government may have settled in, but the detail of future education policy remains unclear. The Prime Minister, Theresa May and Education Secretary, Justine Greening, have flagged up their commitment to social mobility. May wants to fight the “burning injustice” of inequality and make Britain a country that works “for everyone”.
But where will that leave the changes made by their predecessors? This week marks the sixth anniversary of the Academies Act, which provided a fast track conversion process. The first wave of the equally contentious free schools celebrates their fifth birthday in September. The former education secretary Michael Gove  claimed these changes would offer parents more choice and improve the chances of the poorest children. But how far has this promise been realised? There are now 5,302 academies  and 304 free schools – and the Cameron government’s pledge that all non-academy schools should eventually convert has not been retracted.
Yet evidence that academies and free schools don’t necessarily improve results, or narrow attainment gaps, comes thick and fast. Research published three weeks ago by the new Education Policy Institute, whose executive chair, David Laws was schools minister in the coalition government, reinforced this message.
A new analysis of the intakes of all schools suggests that, far from widening access for poorer children, the changes that May and Greening must contemplate accelerating have reinforced existing patterns of social segregation and in some cases exacerbated them.
In practice the English school system has always been diverse and includes many schools that are much more – or much less – inclusive of children from disadvantaged backgrounds. Timo Hannay, a former research scientist and founder of education data analysis company SchoolDash , says these have typically been grammar schools, some faith schools, Roman Catholic schools, single sex secondary schools and schools rated “outstanding” by Ofsted.
But SchoolDash has crunched the most up-to-date DfE figures to compare the percentage of children in each school eligible for free school meals with the government’s measurement of local deprivation, known as IDACI – income deprivation affecting children index.
The results suggest converter academies and primary free schools also tend to have a lower proportion of disadvantaged pupils than their communities.
Only sponsored academies tend to have a higher proportion, while secondary free schools are more in line with the local populations.
“Our analysis looks at the extent to which schools disproportionately exclude poorer pupils after taking into account the level of poverty in their areas,” says Hannay. “In certain types of schools there seems to be a tension between choice and social cohesion. Living close to a school doesn’t always translate into being able to send your child there. Some outlier schools have intakes that are wildly different from the local population mix. We need to ask why that is.”
SchoolDash scatter graphs , marking every school in the country using DfE data, provide hints to the possible reason. All academies and free schools have control of their own admissions policies. Among those are the Langdale free school in Blackpool, where 2.4 per cent of pupils are eligible for FSM compared with a local IDACI index of 41.5 per cent. Its admissions criteria include selecting some pupils according to their aptitude for music and drama and state that candidates (rising five years old) will be required to provide evidence of “qualifications already gained or to attend an aptitude test”.
Canary Wharf College, in Tower Hamlets, London, has only 5.4 per cent eligible for FSM compared with 30 per cent deprivation in its community. Its admissions criteria run to six pages and include proof of church association or baptism for 50 per cent of its admissions.
Nishkam primary school in Birmingham has only 8.6 per cent FSM compared with 45.5 per cent poor children locally. It also has 50 per cent faith-based criteria, including proof that children don’t cut their hair, are vegetarian and intend to be initiated into the Sikh religion. None of these schools was available to comment on the SchoolDash findings.

Tuesday 30 August 2016

Excessive social media usage affecting reading culture, experts caution



Spending lengthy hours on social media has a deliberating effect on the reading culture of students, and stakeholders contend that this development could lead to very poor learning outcomes.
In view of the impending unpleasant consequences, Dr. Chris Anyokwu, who teaches African Poetry, African Literature and Literary Theory, at the Department of English, University of Lagos, is calling on the National Orientation Agency (NOA), to mount sustained campaigns on the need for students to develop a strong bond with their books, and also make conscious efforts to imbibe reading culture, while scaling down on the number of productive hours spent on social media.
The university teacher who spoke during the second edition of Reading Café, which took place at the University of Lagos, maintained that social media has negatively affected the intellectual ability of youths.
“Internet poses a threat to our students, as they no longer read novels, playlets, and poems in the traditional media i.e. the book form. They do not enjoy the synchro of the page any more. They prefer to go online, not to read the e-copy of these books, but they are more interested in the snippets, summaries or spark notes than reading than whole book …”
Speaking in the same vein, Editor-in-Chief, Dunamis Publication Limited, Mrs. Lechi Eke, explained that the initiative behind Reading Café was to reawaken “reading culture among Nigerians because youths are increasingly being caught up in the Internet, phone and technology, and reading culture is gradually dying out… So, we want to revive it, stir it up in youths to go back to reading to the extent that even when they buy snacks wrapped in old newspapers, they would read the wrap in order to have an idea of what had gone past.
The writer who said that just that act of reading might stir up an interest to write something along that line, or any topic, added that, “Social media poses a threat not only to students, but to everyone, as it is time-consuming. Everyone should have interest in reading, as no one can be a good writer without reading.
In an interview with The Guardian on the sidelines of the programme, former provost, Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ), Dr. Elizabeth Ikem, urged participants to “read as wide as you can and practice writing frequently because writing is not what you acquire overnight.
Ikem, who said that a “good reader makes a good writer,” added, “Decide the type of writing you want to go into either as a poet, novelist or biographer. Writing is not a field you get immediate gratification, but I believe with time, the value of creative works will begin to gain ground. That means reading culture also has to improve. My concern is for the younger generation as these days, sights and sound has taken over the serenity that goes with reading. People don’t want to read but want to watch television. Reading involves engaging your mind and intellect.”

Friday 26 August 2016

Girl offered admission to 13 varsities: Educational videos gave me an edge





Serena Omo-Lamai
Serena Omo-Lamai, 17, is set to study Biomedical Engineering at Syracuse University in the United States of America. In this interview with FOLASHADE ADEBAYO, she spoke on her study routine and factors which contributed to her success

You were offered admission to 13 different universities in America and Canada. How do you feel about the feat and why did you apply to all of them?
I feel very happy to have accomplished this feat. I honestly did not see it coming because admission decisions cannot be predicted. I am going to study Biomedical Engineering at Syracuse University. I applied to all these universities because it allowed me to have diverse options based on the unique things that each university had to offer. Because of this, I could easily choose one that is a good fit for me. I chose Syracuse University because it has a very good research lab and the offer came with $51,000 scholarship.
What were your results in external examinations?
I give glory to God. I had eight A1s and seven A* at the International General Certificate of Secondary Education. Mine was also the best of our ‘A’ Level results.
Does your academic excellence have anything to do with your privileged background?
Granted, people who were born with a silver spoon generally tend to have more opportunities than those who weren’t in terms of the quality of education they receive. However, regardless of these differences, academic excellence is not reserved for a particular social class. It is simply for those who want it enough to work hard for it.
What are your future aspirations and how will they benefit Nigeria and Nigerians?
I would like to become a medical engineer. Most of the medical equipment in the country are imported and I would like a situation where medical equipment is manufactured here in Nigeria. I would also like to add value to the educational system so that pupils can become better rounded.
What was your study routine like while in primary and secondary schools?
I always endeavoured to study each topic before it was taught in class. Thus, when the topic was explained again by the teacher, I understood it even more and it became engraved in my memory. I also studied the material using different textbooks so I could understand it from various perspectives. Watching a lot of educational videos gave me visual pictures that were very easy to grasp.
What factor or factors would you say contribute to your success so far?
I would say that the major contributor is hard work. Natural intelligence can take one a little far. I was never afraid to put in the effort needed to get what I wanted.  At times, it involved sacrificing recreation and sleep, but never my spiritual life, which is the most important thing in my life. I also make a conscious effort to never become complacent. This makes me look ahead to other feats that can be achieved, as opposed to basking in the glory of previous ones. I also have a strong family support system.
Did your parents play any role in your academic life?
Yes, they did.  They always encourage me and they are my strong pillars of support. This has motivated me to keep going, even during the times when I didn’t believe in myself. They have instilled positive values in me that have moulded me into the person I am today. My role models are my parents because, for 17 years, I have observed their dedication to God Jehovah, diligence, determination, humility and zealous spirits. This has been a source of inspiration for me to always look up to.
What are your thoughts on the quality of education in the country?
One positive thing about the Nigerian educational system is that it encourages students to be very studious and proactive. This is why Nigerian students have the unique ability to study, no matter how voluminous the material may be. However, there is full focus on the theoretical aspect of learning while the practical aspect is neglected. For example, students may read or learn about a physical process in class without actually seeing it work in real life. A vital part of learning is application and this cannot be done with only head knowledge. Field trips and laboratory experiments should become an integral part of teaching so that it would be easier for students to understand even complex ideas.
Have you always excelled in your academics?
I have always led my class since my first year in secondary school. I was privileged to be named the valedictorian of my graduating set and I won a lot of external debates, science and mathematics competitions. I also received awards for contributing to the corporate life of the school and for being well behaved. My best subjects are Physics, Chemistry, and Biology, since I am very much interested in the sciences. I also enjoy Geography.

Learning Chinese language guarantees Nigerians scholarships, jobs, says Wang

UNILAG
Director, Confucius Institute, University of Lagos, Prof. Yongjing Wang, says Nigerians who develop interest and competency in learning Chinese language, are better positioned to get scholarships offered by Confucius Institute Headquarters (HANBAN), China, and an opportunity to find good jobs in Chinese enterprises.
According to her, such competency in the language, creates a platform to choose from hundreds of universities in China to receive higher education from.
Speaking in an interview with The Guardian, Wang said; “There are all kinds of officially organised visits to China every year. So, anybody who is learning, or has learnt Chinese language can apply to go,” adding that there has been a rising interest learning the language among Nigerians, in recent times by Nigerians.
“Everyday people in different fields, including parents of young children as young as 6-year-olds come to my office, or the reception of Confucius Institute for inquiry, or to register for the learning of Chinese in Confucius Institute, especially after May, when we had the Chinese Bridge Competition, and June, when we had Chinese Culture Month events. More people are interested in learning Chinese.”
She added: “There are more and more Chinese business men coming to Lagos after the visit of President Buhari to China. Nigerian governments and that of China are doing more in many fields, which can encourage more communication between people of the two countries.
“There are two Confucius Institutes in Nigeria, so the students sent to China could be up to 50 in the last two years based on their HSK competency results. HSK fee is N1,000 to N4000 per head for different levels; and we are organising technical training for Nigerians who are eager to learn techniques in agriculture, Chinese cooking, car and phone repairs amongst others,” she explained.

Thursday 25 August 2016

ASUU wants govt to address funding, autonomy in varsities


ASUU National President, Dr. Nasir Fagge
*Body claims TSA stifling research efforts, staff development
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) wants the Federal Government to address depressing issues, which could threaten the smooth running of universities in the country.
The union has also claimed that the implementation of the Treasure Single Account (TSA), has been largely inimical to the wellbeing of universities affecting its effective functioning on several fronts.
Addressing newsmen in Awka, Anambra State, the Owerri Zonal Coordinator of the union, Prof. Ike Odimegwu, lamented that the government had reneged on the agreement signed with the union in 2009, including the funding of universities, universities’ autonomy, conditions of service, among others, which led to the ASUU-FG Memorandum of Understanding of 2012, and 2013 for effective implementation of the agreement, which equally failed.
The union also accused the Federal Government of not making efforts to defray the arrears of 2009 to 2015 earned academic allowances in the university system, insisting that this was a violation of the right of ASUU members.
“Based on the ASUU-FG MOU of November 2013, Nigerian universities need about N1.3trillion to reposition the universities, in order for them to compare favourably with others around the world. Today, government is in arrears of N605b as at the third quarter of 2016.
“Similarly, the budgetary allocation to education has drastically dropped from 11 per cent in 2015, to eight per cent in 2016, this situation has sculled the smooth process of revitalisating universities… and led to several abandoned projects on many campuses,” Odimegwu who was flanked by other union chieftains in the zone said.
He further noted with concern, the issue of shortfall in personnel emoluments in federal universities, and irregular/non-payment of salaries and subventions in state universities, saying the development has become very worrisome.
The zonal coordinator argued that the implementation of the Treasure Single Account (TSA), has made it impossible for universities to draw research grants, run programmes based on endowment funds, and transfer funds earmarked for staff development in universities locally and internationally, describing the TSA policy as inimical to the wellbeing of universities.
“All our appeals for government to exempt universities from the TSA have failed. ASUU would take necessary steps to resist the continued implementation of TSA in our universities,” he informed.
On the state of the nation, the union expressed worry over the economy, especially the adoption of the World Bank/ International Monetary Fund (IMF)- sponsored policy of privatisation and deregulation, saying it has resulted to unprecedented devaluation of the naira.

Wednesday 24 August 2016

US to support education, health sectors in Northern Nigeria


US Secretary of State ; Governor Aminu Tambuwal and the Sultan of Sokoto Muhammad Sa'ad .

The United States on Tuesday promised to support Northern Nigeria in the areas of education, health care and energy.
The US Secretary of State, Mr. John Kerry, made the commitment at a meeting with five state governors from the North at the Presidential Villa, Abuja shortly after he met with President Muhammadu Buhari.
The governors he met included Muhammed Abubakar (Bauchi); Abdulfatah Ahmed (Kwara); Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto); Kashim Shettima (Borno) and the deputy governor of Benue State.
The four governors briefed State House correspondents of the meeting’s outcome.
They said the meeting which they described as fruitful was based on areas of enhancing the wellbeing of the people and ensuring stability in the country.
When asked if there were specific commitments made by Kerry, Tambuwal said, “In specific terms, I can say that there are commitments specifically on education with particular emphasis on girl-child education, commitment on health care and renewable energy.

“On renewable energy, we talked on the programme of President Obama and on Power Africa and overseas ‎private investment operations, interventions in funding renewable energy projects across the North in particular, namely solar energy and wind energy.”

Shettima also said the governors and Kerry discussed the Boko Haram insurgency and other security challenges in Northern Nigeria.
He observed that underneath Boko Haram is extreme poverty, hence the need for job creation, gender empowerment, support for health facilities and provision of adequate power.
He however admitted that nobody can solve the nation’s problem for Nigerians, saying the nation will have to hold its destiny in its hands.
“We are pleased by the commitment displayed by Kerry. We are pleased with the outcome of the meeting,” the governor said.

Tuesday 23 August 2016

AUGUST 23 International Day of "Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition"

International Day of "Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition" is being observed on Tuesday, August 23.   The day is aimed to revolt against the slave system and obtain freedom and independence of slaved men.      Special programmes and events will be organized by social and political organization across the world to pay tribute to all those who fought for freedom and abolition of slavery

Monday 22 August 2016

Two Nigerian teens get N41m scholarships from American varsities


Two products of Dowen College, Lekki, Lagos, have continued to glitter in their fledgling academic careers as they both bagged scholarships worth $107, 000 to study in two America varsities.
While Serena Omo-Lamai, the school’s best graduating student in the 2014/2015 academic session got a $51,000 scholarship to study Bio-Medical Engineering at Syracuse University, United States, the school’s outgoing head girl, Cynthia Moka, got admitted into The Baylor University, Texas, with a $56,000 worth of scholarship.
Upon the completion of her studies at Dowen College, 17-year-old Omo-Lamai was offered admission into 13 universities in the United States and Canada, including Georgia Institute of Technology, New York University and Emory University among others.
The aspiring medical engineer, who also plans to study medicine as a second degree, has a flair for research and has always been in love with subjects like geography, chemistry biology, and physics.
According to the Vice Principal of Dowen College, Mr. Muraina Olusesi, apart from Omo-Lamai and Moka, alumni of the school in recent times have continued to show how ready they were to make strong statements on international education platforms.
“Serena Omo-Lamai was our best graduating pupil in the 2014/2015 academic session and she has done it again. She secured admission to 13 universities across the globe, but she has settled for Syracuse University where she signed up to read Bio-Medical Engineering, with an annual scholarship of $56,000.
“Also, Daniel Obaseyi Buraimo, of Class of 2010, graduated in the First Class Division from the University of San Francisco, California, where he studied Computer Science.According to the university, he is the first Nigerian to attain this height.”
In a related development, students of the school were at their best at the recently concluded Akintola Williams/AISEN Parliamentary Debate, which took place at the Lekki-Epe Campus of Greensprings School.The contest, which featured 20 schools at the round robin stage, had the topic, “The Development of Renewable Energy Sources Must Become a Worldwide Economic Priority.”
At the end of the programme sponsored by the Nigeria-Britain Association, and co-sponsored by the Nigerian Bar Association and Diamond Bank, Dowen College, Lekki came first, Olashore International School, Osun State came second and Iloko Model College, Ilesha, Osun finished third. Atlantic Hall, Lekki-Epe settled for the fourth spot and Corona Secondary School, Agbara, Ogun State.

Community protests against bid to convert school land to housing project


An attempt by the Enugu State government to convert undeveloped portion of land belonging to WTC Secondary School, Ogui, Nike, into a housing estate, was recently resisted by residents of Ogui Nike community. They trooped out in protest against the move.
The residents, who took to the streets, chanted anti-government slogans, accusing the state government of “forcefully converting” the land for other purposes contrary to the agreement it entered into with the people.
Several years ago, the community gave the land to the state government when it (government) indicated interest to build a school there, and to
return undeveloped portions of it to the community for agricultural purposes.
Although the school built in the 1970s has had its undeveloped portions used for farming by the community, the state government recently mobilised bulldozers to clear the land.
In the process, various farmlands with crops and economic trees worth millions of naira were destroyed by the three bulldozers, which pulled down the perimeter fence to access the property.
Irked by the development, the community, mobilised to the area and chased away the bulldozers, and accused the state government of invading the area without their consent.
Led by their President General, Ikechukwu Anike, the placard bearing residents deplored the activities of the government, insisting that they would not leave the area until further development of the land was stopped.
Anike said:  “We are here to show our anger concerning the diversion of purpose. This place was given to the government by our community for the purpose of building a school. We are not against using the land for that purpose, but the law requires that at any point in time that that purpose is changed, the land will revert back to us. It is our right and nobody consulted us and we suddenly saw caterpillars everywhere. We want to stop this work.
They invaded here to destroy our farmlands and crops. What they have destroyed is more than one kilometer of farmlands. We know quite well that it is definitely not a school they are building here, and as long as it is not a school, we are opposed to that…”

Chairman of the Post-Primary School Management Board (PPSMB), Nestor Ezema, declined to comment on the issue saying he needs to hear first from the managing director of state housing corporation.

Rising number of unaccredited courses, a metaphor for ailing varsity system


Some Nigerian private and public universities are poorly resourced. The consequences of this are dire and manifest in diverse ways. This explains the rising number of academic programmes that are losing accreditation. Parents and concerned authorities who desire graduates with an acceptable level of competency in their areas of specialisation are very worried about this development. ENO-ABASI SUNDAY and UJUNWA ATUEYI, in this report explore some issues that gave rise to over 150 unaccredited academic programmes in Nigerian universities.
Even though some stakeholders knew about the existence of unaccredited academic programmes in Nigerian universities, not many could fathom the number. However, all doubts were recently cleared as the National Universities Commission (NUC) made public, the result of its 2016 accreditation status of academic programmes.
In sum, the report indicates that there are over 150 unaccredited courses in 37 of the country’s 143 universities. And a further analysis of the accreditation status shows that state universities top the chart when it comes to harbouring unaccredited courses, while federal universities follow immediately with 13 of them making the infamous list. Private universities are in the minority as only eight of them are found wanting.
Leading the infamous pack is the University of Abuja. It is home to 15 unaccredited courses, including law. The other schools are University of Benin, University of Jos, University of Nigeria, Nsukka and the University of Calabar.
Some of the medical laboratory science, history and international relations, public health, theatre and media arts, science laboratory technology, architecture, biochemistry, microbiology medicine, pharmacy, law, business management, statistics, electronics and public health.
Since this development came to light, some stakeholders, including parents are bothered by the fact that 150 courses out of the 4, 000 offered in Nigerian universities have questions to answer. Academic programmes that enjoy full accreditation generally have a five-year lifespan within which they are due for re-accreditation. After this period, some courses might lose or retain their status depending on how well they have been managed, while other could be visited with interim accreditation. This happens mostly in situations where facilities on ground, both in human and material terms, have evidently depreciated.
Courses that have been downgraded to interim accreditation usually walk a very tight rope as another spell at that level usually lead to outright loss of accreditation.
According to spokesperson of the NUC, Malam Ibrahim Yakassai, academic programmes are not accredited in perpetuity, but accreditation are reviewed at regular intervals to ensure that they still meet Benchmark Minimum Academic Standards (BMAS).
According to him, there is no guarantee that an academic programme that is fully accredited now will still enjoy that status beyond the next five years because changes are constantly taking place in different institutions. So, we must always be on hand to ensure that programmes that enjoy full accreditation are again looked at after five years. Courses that are enjoying interim accreditation have just two years to remedy the situation, if not they, are denied accreditation. And once any programme is denied or has its accreditation withdrawn, we write to the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), intimating it of the development, and for them to bar graduates of such programmes from taking part in the national service.
According to Yakassai, “For an academic programme to be accredited, it must meet the Benchmark Minimum Academic Standards (BMAS) put in place by the commission. In other words, such programmes must have the right mix of lecturers/faculty members, the right learning environment and adequate teaching aides, which include appropriate books, equipment and the rest.”
Yakassai, who said the NUC was also bothered about the volume of programmes that are without accreditation, added said that notwithstanding, the body is always ready and willing to respond to schools that “move quickly to remedy their deficiencies when they call us back for inspection. Unfortunately, some schools, because of the monetary involvement, don’t get back to us promptly, therefore contributing to lengthening the list of programmes with denied accreditation.
The NUC says accreditation of courses is necessary to ensure “employers and other members of the community that Nigerian graduates of all academic programmes have attained an acceptable level of competency in their areas of specialization.”
The commission says it is also important to certify courses to assure Apart from accrediting programmes for the purposes of ensuring quality assurance, the commission’s spokesperson said doing so also lets the world to know that courses taught in Nigerian varsities meet set international standards just as graduates of the institutions are qualified for employment and further studies.”

Thursday 11 August 2016

Group petitions education minister on NECO appointments


A group, the Citizens Advocacy for Equity and Educational Development, has petitioned the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, regarding recent appointments at the National Examinations Council headquarters.
The group said in a statement on Friday that the appointments were characterised by nepotism and ethnicity.
The petition, signed by the group’s coordinator, Cyril Ijegwa, and presented before the education minister, said it noted that the examinations body had of late been dominated by South-easterners right since the days of Professor Promise Okpala as the registrar.
It argued that since the establishment of NECO, four out of the five registrars appointed so far had been from the Southern region, with most of them hailing from the south-east.
The group said the “lopsided” appointment of the NECO Registrar in favour of the south-east had made “favouritism” and “nepotism” to become the order of the day in terms of promotion and transfer of staff members of the body.
It then urged the Minister of Education, Adamu, to “save NECO from the fever and fear of another crisis by swapping Prof. Charles Uwakwe with another appointee among those from the North in order to break the education agency from the sustained pang of ethnicity and nepotism.”
Excerpts from the petition read, “While we do not begrudge the appointment of any individual, it has been brought to our consistent notice that the streak of appointments since the reign of Prof. Promise Okpala was nothing but a conduit for ethnic perpetuation and ingratiation which continued with the subsequent appointment of Prof. Tommy Joshua.
“The acts of nepotism perpetrated by this duo resulted in sustained massive outcry against their actions. Especially when viewed against the backdrop of the fact that the national headquarters of NECO is instructively sited in the Northern region of the country.
“Getting out of this mess, NECO should be saved from plunging into the same crises again. Our educational agencies should not be seen as platforms for doing private business as Prof. Uwakwe is a tribesman, colleague and friend to Prof. Okpala.
“This has thus resulted in the consignment of merit and excellence to the back seat whilst mediocrity and eye service has become the order of the day.”

Wednesday 10 August 2016

Amnesty Office offers three ex-militants scholarship


The Presidential Amnesty Office has offered scholarship to three of its beneficiaries who graduated in the First Class Division, from different universities in the United Kingdom. The scholarship is for the pursuit of their masters’ degree.
A statement from the Media and Communication consultant, Owei Lakemfa, said that coordinator of the programme, Brigadier-General Paul Boroh, made the disclosure while attending the graduation ceremony for the graduands in the United Kingdom.
While three of the ex-militants made first class, 19 had second class upper degrees. The three first class graduates are Lucky Godswill Azibanagein, who studied Mechatronics and Robotic System Engineering at University of Liverpool,  Messrs. Torubein Fawei and Nicholas Nathaniel Goodnews, who studied Telecommunications and Network Engineering, and Public Relations respectively,  at the University of Bedfordshire.
The 144 Amnesty students graduated from 17 universities in UK. Eight of them had second class upper degrees in law, criminology, accounting, computer science and health and social Care from the University of Bedfordshire. Six of them graduated with second class upper degrees, from the University of Liverpool in pharmacology, geology, maritime business, accounts and finance, politics and international relations among others.
Boroh, while addressing the 144 graduates at the Nigeria High Commission in London, expressed deep appreciation and gratitude to President Muhammadu Buhari, for his interest in the development of human capital in the Niger Delta, and the aspirations of the people in the region.
“He said the government is proud of the graduates, who have been good ambassadors of the country and that the Presidential Amnesty Programme is willing to grant masters’ degree scholarships to the first class graduates”, the statement read.

Tuesday 9 August 2016

Farewell to contentious, multiple admission interviews, exams


While the dust stirred by the proscription of the Post-Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (Post-UTME) still swirls, the Federal Government penultimate week announced the cancellation of the second interview test, conducted by the National Examination Council (NECO), for admission into the 104 unity schools with effect from the 2017/2018 academic year. ENO-ABASI SUNDAY, UJUNWA ATUEYI (Lagos) and CORNELIUS ESSEN, (Abuja), write on the reactions that have greeted these decisions.
Clearly, the cancellation of the post-Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (Post-UTME), and the annulment of the second interview test, conducted by the National Examination Council (NECO) effective 2017/2018 session, appear to be the two decisions taken by the Federal Government that have given rise to an equal amount of protagonists and antagonists.
During the 2016 Combined Policy Meeting on Admissions to Universities, Polytechnics and Other Higher Institutions in the country, which took place in June in Abuja, it took the Education Minister, Adamu Adamu just a few words to put an end to the post-UTME.
That declaration was this simple. “As far as I am concerned, the nation has confidence in what JAMB is doing. The universities should not be holding another examination and if the universities have any complain against JAMB let them bring it and then we would address it. If JAMB is qualified enough to conduct tests and they have conducted tests, then there will be no need to conduct another test for students to gain admission.”
Since making that declaration, the protagonists and their antagonists are hard at work, in their bid to outdo each other, as their “superior arguments wafts across, even with some commentators also calling for the outright abrogation of the UTME.
One of those, who are in favour of the abolition of UTME, is an educationist, Amu Gabriel Idogbo, who is of the view that “UTME, post-UTME are unnecessary in a 21st Century educational system.”
Insisting that these processes were unnecessary in the first instance, Idogbo said, “The world is civilised today and things have changed for the better. The issue of Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examinations, or the post-UTME is gone and JAMB is obsolete. The ideal thing should be, let admissions into tertiary institutions be through concessional entrance examination. Let government stop the modifications going on in JAMB because they are not relevant again.”
He cited Ghanaian universities, where there were no unified examinations to pre-qualify students for admissions, adding that out there, students secure admission into tertiary institutions with only the basic requirements of five credits in the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), and other relevant examinations. He, therefore, is in favour of the Federal Government scrapping JAMB as an examining body responsible for admission into tertiary institutions.
His words: “Let universities conduct concessional entrance examination for their students. This is what is obtainable in Europe, and what is popular all over the world today. Students stay in their rooms with computer sets, make requests for admission forms, within 24 hours they are offered entry into tertiary institutions.”
The education consultant maintained that admission processes should not be cumbersome as has been the case in recent times in the country adding that, “We are faced with a challenge of no spaces in our universities and unfortunately, there is also the misplacement of the available vacancies. That is why Nigerians are talking about UTME. All these are not obtainable in civilised societies.
“As stakeholders in education, government should begin to partner with the private sector by sending surplus students who have no space in their first, second choice universities to the 57 private colleges of education in the country. They can assure them admissions because there is desire and propensity for education in the Nigeria child,” he said.
He further noted that a situation where 1.5 million applicants write the UTME, and only 500,000 are offered provincial admission was highly unacceptable, and causing confusion in our education system as students are limited to their first and second choice universities.
Idogbo deplored the excessive emphasis placed on paper qualification and not on knowledge acquisition in the country, saying in advanced democracies, practical education, which is lacking in the country, holds sway out there.
Former executive secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Prof. Peter Okebukola, begs to differ from Idogbo and his companions who wish that JAMB was done away with.
He submitted; “On the matter of the relevance of JAMB, I am unshaken in my belief that at this time in the nation’s higher education development, JAMB is still a relevant player. The important thing is for JAMB not to overstep its bounds by infringing on those areas, where the universities should exercise their autonomy.”
He continued, “Post-UTME, as originally conceived in 2004, not in its present adulterated form, is still a must if we are to get better quality students for our higher education system. Rather than shut the door on post-UTME, we should take away whatever the universities are not doing right and not throw the baby out with the bath water,” he stated.
Former vice chancellor, Niger State-owned IBB University, Lapai, Prof. Ibrahim A. Kolo, is one of those that is in favour of the ban on the post-UTME, and he is even pissed with the unending controversies generated by groups and individuals in the wake of the proscription.
According to him, the attendant furore has continued to fester for two main reasons: the failure by many to understand the role of JAMB as provided for it by the law setting it up, and a gross lack of understanding of the technicalities of standardised tests.
In a article titled, “Still on the Musings Over Post-UTME Proscription,” Kolo said, “The emotional and in some cases irrational outpourings by several groups and individuals in the past weeks that have greeted the proscription of the test components of post-UTME exercises, as conducted by universities and other tertiary institutions have only pointed to two issues: A lack of understanding of the technicalities of standardised tests as a key basis for setting minimum standards for determining eligibility for admission into higher institutions of learning; and the misunderstanding of the role of JAMB as provided for it by the Law setting up the body in the first place.”
He stressed that by law, “JAMB is an educational outfit meant to ensure examination technical factors (tests development; test items banking; tests administration, test items efficiency and psychometric properties) for preserving the validity, reliability and usability of the examinations to be conducted. It is such technicalities of public examinations that have been taken for granted that led to misunderstandings, which brought about the introduction of the Post UTME.”
The former vice-chancellor added that the reality from educational psychology point of view is that the examination, which teachers and lecturers set and administer to students after teaching them courses of instruction do not have the established and verifiable technical qualities expected of standardised tests as developed and administered by public examination bodies set up to professionally organise examinations for determining the required academic and aptitude qualities of candidates examined.

Fayose begs teachers over unpaid five months salary



Edo government denies responsibility for workers’ woes
Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose has pleaded with teachers in both primary and secondary schools over five months unpaid salaries and allowances.The governor, who blamed government inability to meet its financial obligations to the teachers on economy recession the country is passing through said he was not oblivion of their plights.
Fayose met with the teachers at Oshuntokun House, inside Government House.In spite of the initial confrontation and display of anger occasioned by non-payment of five months salaries, which had unleashed hardship on the workers at large, Fayose was able to reach a compromise on how all the benefits will be paid in due course with the teachers.
Speaking on the challenges confronting the teachers, Mrs E. A. Olaoye and Mr Adetunji Akinyemi, spoke on behalf of the public primary and secondary schools’ teachers respectively.
Part of their demands was: Payment of March to July 2016 salaries,Payment of 2014 September salary to primary school teachers, recognition of degree holders in primary schools, promotion of teachers beginning from 2010, 2016 salary increase, Core Subjects
Allowance for primary school teachers.Others include: stoppage of deductions on loan repayment and other sources, over-deduction of salaries of members from Accountant General’s office, payment of duty post allowance, payment of Leave bonus for 2016, stoppage of arbitrary cooperative deductions, robust car and housing loans, renovation of schools and effective inter-cadre policy for teachers.
The teachers said though they were not oblivious of the financial difficulty being experienced across the 36 states of the federation, reiterating that they must be given adequate recognition within the limit of the revenues accruing to the state.
However, the major roads linking the Benin City centre; Akpakpava, Mission Road, Sapele Road, Airport Road, Sokponba Road, Forestry and others were locked yesterday as thousands of members of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees in Edo State to demand their salaries arrears ranging from five to 18 months.