Category: Education

Open Institute of Technology (OPIT), a European accredited Higher Education institution under the European Qualification Framework (EQF), has launched two online degrees in Information Technology for students and professionals in Africa and across the world.

For its maiden academic year starting September, OPIT said it looks forward to welcoming students from all over the world to the first class in its special courses – BSc in Modern Computer Science and MSc in Applied Data Science & Artificial Intelligence (AI).

“For students and professionals in Africa, OPIT leadership is particularly excited about the prospect of bringing affordable, world-class technology training to students from emerging markets such as Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Ethiopia, Rwanda, etc.

“OPIT is offering these degrees to students from all over the world, which is 100 per cent online and remote. Through these degrees, OPIT seeks to equip its graduates to build resilience and create real value for the businesses they work for across Africa”, a statement from the institute said.

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OPIT was founded by Riccardo Ocleppo (founder of Docsity, a community of 20M students and a marketing partner of 250+ universities worldwide), and Prof. Francesco Profumo (former Minister of Education of Italy, and former Dean of Politecnico di Torino, considered the best technology university in Italy).

Their vision was to create a higher education institution to overcome the existing inefficiencies in the traditional system, by focusing on the teaching of competencies (and not just theory) and properly equip students for future tasks.

It is a fully EU-accredited online higher education institution with the flexibility to allow its students study from any part of the world by participating 100 per cent online.

The BSc. and MSc. from OPIT are fully accredited by the EU, with accreditation obtained from the Malta Further and Higher Education Authority (MFHEA). Its approach is practical and hands-on, by combining a faculty with decades of academic experience as well as big tech industry expertise. Students can, therefore, expect to benefit from both essential IT skills training and dedicated career coaching.

Prof. Profumo also serves as the Institution’s rector, said: “Companies require skilled individuals who can develop and implement innovative solutions to complex problems. From software engineering to data analysis and machine learning, a degree in Computer Science and AI equips graduates with the skills needed to thrive in this dynamic industry.

“The starting point for OPIT is the awareness of the misalignment in the labour market, between what is taught by universities and what companies are looking for today. That so-called mismatch is generated by too much theory and too little practical approach.”

Permanent board members of the Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board (LASUBEB) have urged Nigerians to support the fight against human trafficking.

The Permanent Member, Co-Curricular Activities Mrs. Sherifat Abiodun Adedoyin and Permanent Member, Special Projects Mr. Bayo Adefuye, stated this during a walk in Lagos to sensitise residents on the evil of human trafficking.

Mrs. Abiodun said: “Today’s programme is just a walk; a walk in support of our children. Yesterday was the International Day Against Human Trafficking, and it was a Sunday. So, we couldn’t come. So, we moved our own to today.

 “When we say human trafficking, it encompasses everybody. And we are in charge of children; we are in charge of public primary schools. So, we need to speak for them, support them, support their cause and support everything that has to do with them.

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“When we say trafficking, either child or human trafficking, it’s a global phenomenon. It’s not peculiar to us. But, it’s more on the high side when Africa is being considered. So, child trafficking is very rampant in Africa, and also in Nigeria.

“What we are doing is a continuous awareness. We’re not going to stop. We’re taking this walk to show our support that we’re against child trafficking. That is the essence of the programme.”

 Mrs. Abiodun urged Nigerians to support the government against the act.

“The government is trying a lot, at state and federal levels, even at the local government. But we need the support of everyone to make it work. And to the people that are engaging in this act, we want them to put a stop to it. We want them to turn the table around, to have empathy – that is, putting yourself in the position of others, not to just sympathise, but to empathise with them.

 “So, when you put those children as if they’re yours, you won’t pray for anyone to kidnap or sell or trade or molest or harass your own child. So, we want everybody to come on board to fight against child trafficking.”

On influx of people into Lagos, she said: “Well it’s a challenge. But our Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, is doing everything possible to make the children comfortable, even the teachers in the classrooms. Everybody knows our Project Zero, that we don’t want any child out of school.

“So, no matter your tribe, no matter where you are from, no matter your gender, everybody; all children of school age must be in the classroom. So, whether we are overstretched or not, we must accommodate everybody, because we need to take care of their future. We need to guide them into the right path, so that in the future, we will go to bed with our two eyes closed, when we have already laid good foundation for the children.”

To Adefuye, the event was aimed at creating awareness on human trafficking.

“We are very much against it, because it affects and destroys the future of our children. This is the phenomenon that has to be nipped in the bud. And the government of Lagos State, headed by Governor Sanwo-Olu, is very much against this, because are concerned about the future of our children, and we know that if this phenomenon is stamped out, it will create a better future for them. We are going to work to create that awareness, and let people be aware that this human trafficking (child trafficking) is going on, and it needs to be stopped. People need to take precaution; if they see something, they should say something, because government cannot do it alone.

“So, everybody has to do their own quota. Watch out for your children, watch out for your neighbours’ children, because these children are being kidnapped and stolen away.

We hear a lot of cases of missing children. It’s all these that’s causing it. They’ll steal these children and take them overseas, and use them for prostitution, organ harvesting, and whatever. So, we need to let people know, and we need to do everything within our power to stamp it out,” Adefuye said.

The Executive Secretary, National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), Prof. Idris Bugaje, has lamented the poor state of laboratories in polytechnics.

He said the poor state of the laboratories had affected the performance of graduates and the country’s technical development.

Prof. Bugaje spoke at a workshop on the intervention for the development of engineering laboratories for polytechnics organised by LiviaSoft in Abuja.

The NBTE ES, who was represented by the Chief Admin Officer (Liaison), Bello Abdulhakeem, called for the indigenous production of and fabrication of laboratory pieces of equipment, tools and resources.

He said: “It is my firm belief that investing in education is investing in the future. Therefore, equipping our schools with the necessary laboratory tools and resources cannot be overemphasised. If our youths who are the leaders of tomorrow are propelled to occupy the roles, responsibilities and challenges expected of them.

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“It is pertinent to re-echo that laboratory operations require periodic calibration of instruments used in the analysis, general maintenance of facilities, steady supply of chemicals/reagents, preventive maintenance, and training/retraining of staff.

“The scarcity of funds, poor maintenance and Inadequate budgetary allocation for laboratory-related issues have further worsened the state of the laboratories in our institutions. These have negatively and technically affected the performance of our graduates and our nation’s technical development.

“It is high time we began to conceive the opportunities that are embedded in indigenous production of and fabrication of laboratory pieces of equipment, tools and resources. This will not only help to conserve foreign exchange and reduce brain drain but also improve their availability.”

Chief Executive Officer, LiviaSoft Technologies, Dr. Bobga Danjuma called for a review of polytechnics’ curriculum.

He said the workshop was aimed at preparing polytechnic graduates for the labour market.

He added that the goal of the workshop was to link polytechnic students to industries.

Danjuma said students from the six geopolitical zones were picked to participate in the two day workshop.

Like Oliver Twist, who asked for more, the Vice Chancellor of Lagos State University, Prof. Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, has appealed to the Lagos State University Education Foundation (LASUDEF) to provide more infrastructural support to the institution.

Prof. Olatunji-Bello spoke at the inauguration and handing over of a 96-bed female hostel built by LASUDEF to the school management recently.

 She thanked the foundation for donating the building worth over 200 million at a time of dare financial situation and coming towards the completion of the school’s 8000-bed accommodation projects.

According to her, the LASUDEF’s project would complement the university’s attempt to provide excellent and decent infrastructural facilities for the students and workers.

Promising to put the facilities to optimal use, Prof. Olatunji-Bello pledged that the university would allocate 30 per cent of the 96-bed to Lagosians as requested by the LASUDEF Board.

 She specifically asked for more research halls, power generating plants and others.

Also, the Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Tertiary Education, Mr. Kasali Adeniran, congratulated LASUDEF on completing and handing over the accommodation facilities to the university.

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Adeniran said the project would support the aspiration of the students to learn in a good environment, thanking the LASUDEF Board for the donation.

He said: @Some years ago it seemed as if this day will never come. So, we thank God for making it possible.’’

Chairman of the Executive Board of LASUDEF, Justice Olusola Hunponu-Wusu said in realisation that the state government and indeed any government could not efficiently and completely fund tertiary education, the founding members of the non-government organisation decided to assist the state universities by putting up complementary infrastructure as its main priority and objective.

 “Let me relate a bit on the perspective of this hostel project about to be commissioned and handed over to the Lagos State University and the reason it took quite a while to materialise.

 “This hostel project took off on May 22, 2017. No sooner than the construction started that a ‘stop work order’ was issued by the LASU management in November 2017.

“Brigadier-General Mobolaji Johnson, who was the Chairman LASUDEF, had to contact the then Governor Muhammed Buba Marwa, who intervened with the LASU management before the stop order was lifted.

 “By 2019, a little over N100 million was expended on the ground floor of the one-storey building, comprising 48 beds’ units complete with the appurtenance.The devastation of COVID-19 that started in February 2020 and its consequences, including the complete lock down and, most importantly, the crippling global economy were consequential to the stoppage of work on the project.

  “But, today, I am proud and accomplished that another 48-bed units making a total of 96-bed units have been added on the one floor with a cost of N204,040,000 only for both the ground and first floors.

   “As you are quite aware, the Lagos State University started as a non-residential institution. Accommodation for students was and still the main challenge. It was for this reason that LASUDEF decided to assist the university with this 96-bed units hostel. On behalf of the Board of Trustees and the Executive Members, I stand before you, fulfilled and proud to handover this female hostel building to the management authority of Lagos State University,” he said

The retired justice said the Foundation has begun the process of repeating similar gesture to the Lagos State Universities of Science and Technology and the Lagos State University of Education.

He expressed the appreciation of the Board to the LASU Vice Chancellor for supporting the foundation to ensure that the female hostel project was completed.

As desired by the board members of LASUDEF, he craved the indulgence of the vice chancellor to implement a policy where at least 30 per cent of the female hostel would be reserved for indigenes of the state.

Professor of Guidance and Counselling, Department of Counselling Education, University of Ilorin (UNILORIN), Mary Fajonyomi has bemoaned the increasing cases of suicide attempts and  suicides by university students and the public.

The professional counsellor said this in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital while delivering the 238th Inaugural Lecture of UNILORIN.

The lecture was entitled: “Functional guidance and counselling practice for a dysfunctional society and educational system.”

She said: “This ugly trend only points to the fact that all is not well with us as people.

“Also, it clearly shows that our institutions such as family, school, religious, medical and law-enforcement agencies and the government are not doing enough to reduce the dysfunctionality in the society and educational system.

“Two cases of attempted suicide were attended to by me in the last one year within an interval of nine months. Two of them were 300-level female students.

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“The first lady was traumatised by the actions of a man who raped a-six year old girl she saw on the television. According to her, the scene reminded her of a similar experience she knew about which involved a close relation and that the man (culprit) was set free without consequences for his crime. This was obviously an irrational and illogical reasoning from the viewpoint of a guidance-counsellor.

“On the second case the lady attempted to take her life due to a relationship misunderstanding with a male friend. She was taken to the clinic where she was revived through medical intervention and fervent prayers by members of staff.

“Adopting reality therapy, the lady was counselled along with the male friend after she was discharged from the clinic. She was advised to travel home having finished her examinations and she did.”

Prof. Fajonyomi equally advised the Federal Government to integrate guidance and counselling in its rehabilitation programme for repentant terrorists in the country.

She recommended the incorporation of adult education into any programme designed to resolve violent conflicts, noting that guidance and counselling approaches targeted at concerned youths, opinion leaders and parents should be formally and informally carried out at markets, shops, football field and viewing centres.

She decried the rising cases of sexual harassment of students by lecturers at educational institutions.

She described the act as unethical, inhuman and wicked, adding that “the full weight of the law should be used to stem this ugly and evil behaviour that has given the system a very bad name and dysfunctional.”

Speaking on the rate of graduate unemployment in the country, she said that the “government may consider cutting down on retirement age instead of increasing it as proposed by the labour unions’’.

“Also, there is no reason retired professors or senior civil servants should be given contract appointments, have retirement date extended, or worse still, for some people to falsify their ages to stay on the job.

‘’To linger on in the job is to deny employment opportunities to younger ones or junior ones from being promoted leading to frustration and other social, psychological and mental problems, which implies giving more work to professional guidance counsellors.”

The Management of Khalifa Isyaku Rabiu University (KHAIRUN), Kano has appointed Prof. Abdulrashid Garba as its pioneer vice-chancellor.

According to a statement by Malam Yusuf Datti, KHAIRUN Administrative Secretary, Kano, the new VC boasts of a teaching career spanning over 33 years with vast skills in research and community services.

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The statement noted that the appointment, which was approved by the Board of Trustees of the University under the chairred by Emeritus Professor Muhammad Sani Zahradeen takes immediate effect.

“Prof Abdulrshid has previously served as the Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Bayero University, Kano, Chief Executive Officer of the National Examination Council (NECO) as well as special adviser to the Minister of Education which further highlight his commitment to educational development.

“The university expresses its confidence in Professor Abdulrashid Garba’s ability to lead and guide its path towards a future of excellence and distinction”

Professor Garba, who was born on the April 11, 1959, is married with nine children.

To revolutionise education and equip young minds with cutting-edge skills, DeZion Heritage, a nursery and primary school in Lagos, is incorporating robotics education into its curriculum.

The school is an innovative institution, whose dedication is to provide children between the ages of five and 11 with a well-rounded education that combines traditional subjects with robotics. This unique approach aims to foster creativity, critical thinking, problem-solving, and prepare pupils for the technology-driven future.

With the rapid advancement of technology, the demand for individuals skilled in robotics, automation, and artificial intelligence is growing exponentially.

Recognising this trend, the Chief Learning Officer of the school, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Ayotunde-Owolabi, has embraced the forward-thinking approach of teaching robotics to young children. By introducing pupils to robotics at an early age, the school aims to ignite their curiosity and passion for STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) fields.

Mrs. Ayotunde-Owolabi stressed that the school’s curriculum was designed to ensure a balance between conventional subjects and robotics education. Students are exposed to core subjects like Mathematics, English, Science, and Social Studies, while also participating in hands-on robotics.The programme is structured to introduce young learners to the basics of robotics, coding, and engineering principles.

Starting with simple tasks such as building and programming robots using LEGO Mindstorms kits, the pupils progress to more complex challenges. They learn to design, construct, and code their robots to perform specific tasks, encouraging teamwork, problem-solving, and logical thinking. The school’s experienced teachers, who undergo continuous professional development in robotics education, guide and mentor the students throughout their learning journey.

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According to the Chairman of the DeZion Heritage School, Ayotunde Owolabi, ‘integrating robotics into the curriculum offers numerous benefits to young learners. Firstly, it enhances their problem-solving and critical thinking skills as they tackle real-world challenges through hands-on activities.’ They learn to identify problems, develop logical solutions, and evaluate their effectiveness. This process nurtures their creativity and ability to think outside the box, Owolabi affirms.

Secondly, robotics education fosters teamwork and collaboration.

Pupils engage in group projects, sharing ideas, and working together to accomplish goals. They learn the value of effective communication, compromise, and respecting diverse perspectives.

A parent, Mrs. Melody Lawal, said: “The school’s visionary approach is laudable, as it equips students with valuable skills that are increasingly sought after in today’s job market.”

By providing a solid foundation in robotics education, the school is nurturing a generation of individuals who will be well-prepared to tackle complex challenges and contribute to the advancement of society, the mother of two concluded.

By offering young students the opportunity to explore robotics, coding, and engineering, the school is empowering them with essential skills for the future.

The school summer camp opened from the 1st of August to the end week of resumption in September.

The Sa’adatu Rimi University of Education, Kano, is offering free education to physically challenged persons, its Vice Chancellor Prof. Yahaya Bunkure, has said.

Bunkure made this known while receiving the leaders of the state Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), who visited him.

He said: “For us in Sa’adatu Rimi University of Education, I want to tell you that we are running a partial free education system. Tuition fee is free for all students, including indigenes and non-indigenes in this institution.

“Those with physical deformity are enjoying free education. The policy was initiated by the former governor of the state, Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso.”

He stated that the registration fee in the institution is among the cheapest in the country, “what we charge for NCE registration fee in the institution is N15,200; while we charge N23,000 to N27,000 for Degree programmes.

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“Our university fee is going to be affordable. Ours is going to be much lower than what is obtainable in federal universities,” he assured.

According to him, the institution will be ready to absorb students who drop out from other universities because of exorbitant registration and tuition fees.

However, he said the university would be guided by the admission policy and limit prescribed by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB).

The vice-chancellor, who appealed to corporate organisations and philanthropists to support the university with funding, however, commended the state and Federal governments for their support.

He, particularly, expressed gratitude to the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETfund) for its consistent support to the funding and development of the institution.

According to him, during his tenure as the vice-chancellor, the university has accessed about N3 billion intervention fund from TETfund.

Bunkure said the TETfund intervention fund was used to construct befitting accommodation and office blocks for academic and non-academic staff.

It also constructed 10 different types of lecture rooms; four well-equipped laboratories; N280 million block for Early Grade Reading to serve Colleges of Education in the North-West region; as well training and re-training of lecturers, among other projects, said the vice-chancellor.

He further stated that 70 per cent of the funds for the university came from TETfund, but expressed optimism that the new administration of Gov. Abba Yusuf would invest more funds to develop the institution as promised by the Commissioner for Higher Education.

According to him, the institution which was formerly Sa’adatu Rimi College of Education became a university on Feb. 13, when it received licence from the National University Commission (NUC).

He said out of the 20 programmes currently run by the university, 60 per cent are inclined to Science and Technology, “we lay much emphasis on Science and Technology. We are technology-oriented. We are in touch with modernity.”

Bunkure, however, appealed to the National Commission for Colleges of Education to checkmate and regulate the proliferation of sub-standard colleges of education in the country, which are producing quack NCE holders as teachers.

Earlier, the Chairman of the chapel, Alhaji Aminu Garko, commended the vice-chancellor for his people-friendly policies that encourage the development of education, particularly for the poor.

Garko promised that working journalists in the state would continue to partner with the institution through objective dissemination of information that promotes its policies, mission and goals.

The excitement was much. The smiles, singing and dancing by the students and staff of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, (UNIZIK), Awka, Anambra State said it all.

It was during the foundation-laying of the N1 billion edifice for the students with multiple facilities at the institution’s premises.

UNIZIK, according to the Abdul Samad Rabiu (ASR), known as ASR Africa, was chosen from the Southeast based on its leadership and academic qualities.

The BUA Group selected six universities in the six geo-political zones with the huge grant for each of them.

The university’s Vice Chancellor, Prof. Charles Esimone, was short of words to describe the gesture.

The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, ASR Africa, Dr. Uboh Udoh,  said the selection was tedious.

According to him, “Alhaji Abdul Samad Rabiu initiated ASR Africa in 2001 and started with six grants of N1 billion each to six universities, one in each geo-political zone and this university was one of the beneficiaries.

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 “We have a very tedious screening. We look at university rankings. We look at what kind of innovations the university has come up with and the publications.

“We look at different criteria to select the universities that will be beneficiaries and then we did a physical inspection and then interact with the students and staff of the school before we make a choice.

“With the project, we also go through a tedious process as well. The projects are run through a prioritisation filter. We have created a system where we can score projects based on some specific criteria.

 “For example impact, accessibility, usage, what kind of ripple effects will it have on the larger community of wherever the project sited. And this project scored the highest.

“The grant awarded to the school is a N1 billion grant. Whatever the school wants to do with the money is what we are going to implement.

 “We don’t give cash. What we do is take the project we agree on and we implement and we hand over. And the project will be cost to the grant amount.

 “As I said, we have criteria we use to select projects; it is not just to select the beneficiaries but to select projects as well. We have to look at specific criteria and one of the most important is accessibility.

“Will it be accessible to all male and female students, people living with disabilities? Will it be accessible to the students’community? What kind of impact will it create?

“How will it be impactful in terms of creating things, other intangibles like social cohesion, what kind of project will bring people together to build the community and as well provide direct impact to the university community? And that’s what we use to select our beneficiaries,” Udoh to The Nation.

“We are here to show our appreciation to ASR Africa; and in particular, to the Chairman of the BUA Group, Alhaji Abdul Samad,’’ Esimone said.

Private school owners say they are in the education business not because of money, but passion and the desire to contribute to child and national development. As a result, stakeholders have appealed for palliatives for the proprietors and proprietresses to mitigate the effects of the economic realities, Assistant Editor Bola Olajuwon, Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin, Damola Kola-Dare and Victoria Amadi report.

Private schools owners have appealed to the Federal and state governments to accommodate their schools in the palliatives package being expected to cushion the effects of petrol subsidy removal.

These, according to the school owners, would go a long way in assisting them, as they argued that they are great employers.

Parents and members of the civil societies have also backed the call, saying owners, aside being employers, are also providing social service by assisting the governments to train the younger ones.

According to them, what is going on is being felt in all critical sectors of the economy. Private school owners are not insulated from what is going on, the stakeholders said.

School owners said they are in the business not because of money, but passion and the desire to contribute to national development.

Governments, they argued, could give them tax holiday of whatever kind to assist them and grant enabling environment.

OMEP: we want subsidy

Lagos State Chairperson of Early Childhood Education (OMEP) Mrs. Bolajoko Falore, disagreed strongly with the term ‘Palliative’ as used in this contest “as the word refers to one or some short-term measures taken to reduce the harmful effects of something without removing its cause”.

She argued: “I strongly believe that what we, the body of Private School Owners in Nigeria, on behalf of whom I write, are looking at ‘subsidy’ or any other word, which will be a long-term measure that will reduce the harmful effects I am about to discuss below and also deal with these problems to the root, thus finding lasting solutions to the problems.

“First, I think the problem stems from the perception of the government officials that private school owners in this country are business men and women who smile to the bank with millions of Naira as profit  every term. Little do they know that most school owners, especially in Lagos are just struggling to break even. Until these government officials begin to see us (private school owners) as partners in progress, who are playing their part to help educate the pupils and students in the country (which is too numerous for the government to cope with) as well as partners who are also helping to reduce the level of unemployment, the problems I am about to enumerate below will not be resolved.

“The challenges imposed by the government on private school owners, which we want the government to help us reduce or alleviate, in some cases, are listed below:

“In this dispensation of removal of fuel subsidy, it is no longer news that the prices of transportation in the country, especially in major cities like Lagos has tripled. We are hereby appealing to the government to give discounted fuel vouchers to approved schools for use by our school buses at selected filling stations.

“We are also appealing to the government to grant single digit loans through designated banks to approved schools for capital projects. The cost of embarking on capital projects these days has skyrocketed.

“We appeal to our government to emulate countries like South Africa and United Kingdom that gives annual grants to approved private schools per student as this will further help to alleviate the sufferings of owners in the country. We equally appeal to the government to remove several multiple taxations that private school owners are subjected to. Some of these include vehicle advertisement  levy, LASSA fees, Hackney fees for private school vehicles, Highway Use Tax, Loading  and Unloading levies and 28 other levies charged by local government for each school bus. In addition, I also clamour for the eradication of some taxes like Radio/TV licence, entertainment and merriment tax payable for holding school events.

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“The annual levies payable by approved schools to the government should also be looked into. I appeal that the levy should be reduced. She believes that such acts are unfair.

“I also appeal to the government that inasmuch as they make provision of free lunch for pupils and students in public schools; it will not be out of place if they can give some feeding subsidy to pupils and students in private schools.

“I wish to also appeal to the government to also make provision of grants for capital projects available to approved schools as well as the reduction of fees payable to state government as annual approval renewal fees

” I wish to commend the effort of the government in the provision of free school buses in all the local governments/LCDA for government school children, and equally appeal that same should be introduced, though at subsidised rate, for teachers of private schools.

“In conclusion, I wish to commend the government officials, they are really doing a lot, but I wish they will attend to all the aforementioned and help to alleviate the sufferings of private school owners in the country.

‘Palliatives should not be limited to public sector alone’

“Teachers in low-cost private schools should be considered for palliatives by the government, they said.

“The palliatives being expected should not be limited to public sector alone. The government should find a way of accommodating the private sector,” Proprietress of Explore Academy, Hajia Abbibat Olumoh, told our correspondent in Ilorin, Kwara State.

Olumoh added: “Without any doubt, the challenges facing the country are well-known to all. They are impacting on all sectors. We know what is going on at this particular time. Private school owners are not insulated from what is going on.

“However, we recognise that the government had to do what it must do in the interest of the people and the economy. But our admonition is for the government to look at the effects of the subsidy removal and assist to make sure the effects will not be harsh on private schools. Private school owners are also great employers and the burden is on the schools owners to make sure that their teachers, who are the engine rooms, are comfortable.

“It is our prayer that the God Almighty will grant the leaders the needed wisdom to cushion the effects of subsidy at these trying times, knowing fully well that it is a phase in our country’s history.”

Corroborating her colleague, Proprietress of Lamp Bearers Islamic Schools, Olubusayo Bello said they pay their taxes promptly, thus entitling them to such palliatives.

“Private schools are equally affected by the subsidy removal. We patronise the same markets with workers in the public sector. Our staff board the same public commercial vehicles like their counterparts in the government establishments.

“In fact, the government should assist the private schools by factoring them in the multi-billion Naira buses it plans to supply to mitigate the effects of the current economic realities.”

The professor of mathematics at the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) maintained: “Our duty as parents is to encourage the children to take their time in picking the courses they feel they can do better. Also, as parents and teachers, we should not dress down a pupils. It is at this elementary stage we can catch them young. There is no question that is foolish. Allow the pupils to air their views. Let them speak out.”

NAPTAN: Mr. President that can determine that

Deputy National President, National Parent Teacher Association of Nigeria (NAPTAN), Chief Adeolu Ogunbanjo said it is at the discretion of the Federal Government to give palliatives to private schools. According to him, it is only a privilege and not a right and only the government can decide since private schools are one-man business.

He said: “It is only Mr. President that can determine that. First, he has to take care of civil servants, government workers as well as Federal Government-owned institutions. After the government takes care of its workers, it is for it to extend whatever is left to private schools.

“They are their schools as business, so the government determines what to do.”

Govt can gives us tax holiday to assist us, says AFED

President of Association for Formidable Educational Development (AFED), Mr. Emmanuel Orji said: “Whether you are a private school owner or a public school teacher, we are all citizens of Nigeria. And education is a social enterprise, thus any administration should not discriminate when it comes to the issue of palliatives. The low-cost private schools should be considered because what we are doing is what government should have done. We are active where the government facilities are not available or oversubscribed and research has shown that more is spent on children who learn in public schools than those who learn in our kind of schools, though our approach differ. The government should consider first, private schools and especially those running low cost schools because government pays those in the public sector. 

‘’Additionally, what we really need is an enabling environment for business. Private schools are being overtaxed. We pay levies to local and state government, and at times, you pay levy for parking, for premises and sewage; all these are weighing us down. We are in the business not because of money, but passion and the desire to contribute to national development. The government can give us tax holiday of whatever kind to assist us and grants us enabling environment. Teachers in low cost private schools should be considered for palliatives by government.

Proprietor: why govts must provide equal educational policies

To Proprietor of ‘D’ Peak Apt Schools, Iroko town, Sango Ota, Ogun State, Mr. Olanrewaju Adesoji, it is the mandatory duty of the government to provide equal educational policies covering all levels, private schools, not exempted.

“This is an area that the government needs to look into for private schools. Section 18(1) says that ‘Government shall direct its policy towards ensuring that there are equal and adequate educational policies at all levels’. This section talks about government’s objective for education in the country, irrespective of whether it’s the private or public sector. As a result, provisions should be made for private schools that help the government in promoting education in the country,” he said.