Category: Education

More than 700 submissions will jostle for the top prize in what may be described as the ‘battle of the wits’ in a poetry challenge.

 The challenge, with the theme “Motherhood”, is being organised by the Zacchaeus Onumba Dibiaezue Memorial Libraries (ZODML), a non-profit organisation based in Lagos, with a focus on the education sector.

The contest, which is open to students in public tertiary institutions in Nigeria, is aimed at inculcating a competitive spirit among students as well as challenge them to think intellectually.

 According to Ifeoma Esiri, the brain behind ZODML, while sharing insights on the ‘Poetry Challenge’, the competition has the tendency to awaken the creative process in the students. In constructing a poem for the challenge, students will develop skills of creative self-expression and experimentation with language.

The contest will set them to think and then prepare and formulate their thoughts.

 On the choice of a ‘Poetry Challenge’, Esiri stated that the students that join the challenge would be exposed to good literature as they would need to read literary works to do well, adding that it would also allow them to acquire language skills leading to better performance in their studies.

“I strongly believe that the challenge will make for disciplined, well-organised students with a will to compete and win. After the challenge is over, this discipline and orderliness will become part of other aspects of their lives. It will inspire them, they will gain competence, and that will give them confidence,” she said.

Esiri noted that the challenge received 791 submissions out of which 232 were rejected for various reasons, adding that the number would further be narrowed down to 10 finalists, which would be announced on Mother’s Day, which is May 14, in line with the challenge’s theme of “Motherhood”.

Meanwhile, the challenge will culminate in an award event in the presence of stakeholders of the literary community in Nigeria. The overall winner will receive a N100,000 cash prize. Four runners-up will get N10,000 each.

To ensure the challenge receives the transparent process it deserves, a panel of three judges, consisting of notable poets and authors, will oversee the judging process.

They include Mr. Tade Ipadeola as the chairman. He is a multiple award-winning author in prose and poetry, who writes in Yoruba and English. His collections of poems, ‘The Sahara Testaments’, won the Nigeria Prize for Literature in 2013.

Other judges are Ms. Aduke Gomez (a poet and author of children’s stories), and Ms. Achalugo Chioma Ilozumba, an award-winning playwright.

Since its inception in 2000, it has established 54 libraries – 34 in local government primary schools in Lagos and Anambra states, 19 in custodial centres and one community library in the country.

An education expert, Success Ojo, has harped on the need empower African learners with competitive tech and business skills.

Ojo, who is the Chief Executive Officer and co-founder of GotoCourse, said this during a virtual meeting with reporters and other stakeholders in the education and technology sectors.

She noted that a lot of youths are unemployed or unemployable because they lacked the basic tech skills and knowledge that can position them for job placement and opportunities.

According to her, in the digital world, having tech skills is critical.

“We believe that everyone should have access to them. We strive to make IT skills accessible and affordable for everyone, no matter their location or background,” Ojo said.

She noted that GotoCourse has provided a platform for independent teachers to reach learners globally and help them acquire innovative skills needed in the 21st century.

Ojo added: “GotoCourse is a leading edutech solution that provides a comprehensive virtual school platform for creators and students to connect and learn. Several challenges continually exist in the provision of virtual learning systems despite the numerous opportunities they present.

“The principal objective has remained to build solutions and functional tools that address the incessant challenges of the digital learning space. We are on the verge of launching spaces in Lagos and Ibadan to serve as practical learning hubs to support content consumed virtually. We intend to expand our reach to new markets, with a focus on untapped regions, particularly in Africa.

“We created a platform to support Africans to get themselves trained and access real-world experts. Over 600 have benefited from our scholarship programme and 150 women have also benefited from our scholarship programmes as we look to bridge the gender gap in the tech industry.

“Our goal of virtual training settings is to replicate the traditional classroom or learning experience and this we have done successfully without limits. Our focus is to be the No.1 global platform where millions of learners connect with top tech educators and boot camps to help up-skill, boost productivity, and reduce the cost of learning.”

Also, Head of Administration, GotoCourse Geeta Vasandani, said the platform believes that education is the key to unlocking opportunities and transforming lives.

Scholars, researchers and other distance learning practitioners, during the week, met at Backcock University, Ilisan-Remo, Ogun State, calling for new innovation in distance learning.

The event was the inaugural conference of the Open Distance and E-Learning Association of Nigeria (ODeLAN), in collaboration with the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN).

The conference with the theme, “Global spaces, local contexts: Digital transformations and creative innovations in open distance and e-learning (ODeL)”, was attended by over 200 participants from and outside Nigeria from 40 institutions of higher learning.

Delivering the keynote address, entitled, “Micro-credentialing as an acceptable model for open, distance and eLearning – A path to developing a policy framework”, the Vice-Chancellor, National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), Prof.  Olufemi Peters, called for embracing micro-credentialing as an acceptable model for open, distance, and eLearning in Nigeria.

He noted the need for new innovation in distance learning, stating, “Higher education can no longer do things the traditional way and expect a different kind of impact on our society. We can no longer revel in our preferred model of doing things that higher education leaders extolled at the first Glion Colloquium on higher education about a quarter of a century ago.

 “University leaders from around the world confirmed that universities follow a deliberate evolutionary path in making adjustments in their academic enterprise.

“Unlike industry, which made major changes in virtually all its activities and has even reinvented itself in many cases, universities are staid institutions which talk a big game about change but are hardly responsive to change in ways that can show impact.”

He suggested the replacement of the nation’s academic programmes with a cocktail of short courses across all distance education institutions in Nigeria to be the goal of the conference.

According to him, micro-credentials programmes are often designed to be more flexible in their delivery, compared to traditional degree programmes.

Noting that micro-credentials is no longer alien to the Nigerian educational system, he stated: “We can say we already have an appreciable subscription to the notion of micro-credentialing in Nigeria”.

Highlighting the benefits, he stated that a micro-credentials programme will be shorter than the usual number of years required to complete a college or university degree.

“It typically takes weeks or months to complete. The learner will be required to demonstrate skills, knowledge, and competencies through a mix of online lectures, group discussions, project work, presentations, and complete tests. Upon successful completion of a micro-credential course, the learner is awarded a digital badge or digital certificate,” he noted.

Earlier, the Vice-Chancellor of Babcock University, Prof. Ademola Tayo underscored the importance of the conference as the global space is witnessing an unprecedented revolution in technological advancements and educational delivery, following the watershed COVID-19 pandemic.

He stated: “I am happy to note that this conference has not only brought together academics from various institutions of higher learning in Nigeria and across Africa, but it has included the industry especially tech industries, thereby bridging a gap and creating a much-desired intersection between the educational sector and the industry.”

In her welcome address, the Director of Babcock University Centre for Open Distance And E-Learning (BUCODeL) and Chair, LOC, ODeLAN Conference 2023, Prof. Mobolanle Sotunsa, reiterated the importance of distance and e-learning as the future of education in Nigeria.

Sotunsa disputed what she described as the false notion that regular-mode students are superior to their ODL counterparts, noting that e-learning students have access to high-quality learning resources.

She noted that because e-learning is technologically-oriented, its students are groomed to have an advantage over regular students in this area.

ODeLAN President, Prof. Frances O. Egbokhare, traced the history of ODeLAN and lauded the  government for taking the bold step to open up the education space to education-hungry Nigerians, adding that the government through NUC simultaneously instituted an elaborate regime of quality assurance.

The management of Adeseun Ogundoyin Polytechnic (AOPE) Eruwa, and parents have commended the peaceful conduct of first Computer Base Test (CBT) for Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) in the institution.

The CBT centre, according to the management of the institution, is the only approved centre in Ibarapaland and Iseyin axis of Oyo State after fulfilling all necessary requirements of the examination board.

The Ag. Rector of the institution, Dr. Gbade Akinteye, said candidates posted to AOPE CBT Centre from various locations across Nigeria have been writing their exams without any glitch since the commencement of the exam, which has added glamour to the community and Ibarapaland at large.

Akinteye commended JAMB officials, management and staff of the institution for the job well done and their cooperation towards achieving the goal. 

Read Also: UTME results out Tuesday – JAMB

He also lauded candidates for complying with the laid-down rules and regulations of the examination board.

“I feel honored and delighted today as UTME 2023 is coming to an end gradually. This is the first time that our institution will be having national examination after many failed attempts.”

“The success wouldn’t have been recorded without the unparallel support of Oyo State Government for the institution as well as the maximum cooperation of the management team, Governing Council, and staff of this institution.”

“Several efforts have been put in place before we could achieve this but we thank God our efforts yielded good fruits. Holding UTME in this institution is one of the cardinal points of my administration and it is my desire to facilitate more developmental programmes for the institution. Since the commencement of this year’s exam, some CBT centres have been facing technical issues but we thank God such didn’t occur in our centre here,” he said 

The CBT Centre Director, Dr. Atanda Abiodun, lauded JAMB officials and acknowledged the cooperation of the institution to ensure a hitch-free examination.

He said: ” AOPE CBT Centre is a good one, considering the fact this is the first time such National Examination is taking place at the institution.”

A parents, Mr Abiodun Oni from Lagos, expressed satisfaction over the conduct of the CBT center as well as embracement from the host community, coupled with the conducive atmosphere.

One of the candidates, Adeleke Tolulope, said’ “The centre is very conducive compared to my previous centre because this is the second time I’m writing UTME. This exam was properly conducted. There’s nothing to panic about once you are prepared.”

European American University has conferred Honorary Doctorate Degree on CEO of Atmos Integrated Services Limited, Engr. Ajibola Ahmadu.

The conferment held on Saturday in Lagos.

 Ahmadu urged the President-Elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to increase budget to education for the overall development of the country.

The CEO thanked the Governing Council and the management for counting him worthy of honour, stating he was delighted that the university had gained recognition and acceptability in Nigeria and Africa. 

He praised the university’s vision for pushing the boundary by positively bringing to life the dream of imparting the educational sector in the country.

Read Also : Saraki’s wife urges incoming govt to allocate 22.5% of budget to education

“I would like to recognise the accomplishments of this great institution and the level of excellence that has been attained within such a short time, to the extent that men and women of academic excellence and economic independence are now being churned out from the university on a yearly basis,” Engr. Said.

“I sincerely thank the board of trustees, the governing council and (the) staff of European American University for this honorary degree. 

“I will always try my best in whichever way I can to give my support to the development of the university,” he stated

• Candidates, parents decry technical hitches

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has praised the conduct of the United Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) as impressive.

Its Head, Public Affairs and Protocol, Dr. Fabian Benjamin, stated this in a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

The UTME, the Computer-Based Test (CBT) of the board, began across the country on Tuesday, and is expected to run till May 2.

According to him, the board has noted some of the hitches in the examination in previous years.

He said it had continued to deploy resources in ensuring that such occurrences were nipped in the bud.

 “I just want to state that we are impressed with the way things are going in the over 700 centres earmarked for the conduct of this year’s examination on this first day, going by the reports filtering in from centres across the country.

“Every year after the examination, we carry out appraisals on how the centres and other stakeholders have performed.

 “This, we do to ensure that we get the process much better ahead of other examinations.

 “It is worthy to note that this effort is about the Nigerian child, as it is the resolve of our Chief Executive, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, not to leave any of them who craves for higher learning behind.

“Let me, therefore, assure you that the board will continue to do all within its power, to ensure that we attain the quest for a sanitsed education system in the country.

 “I also believe that the huge success recorded on this first day of this examination is an attestation of the work we have done, in readiness for this examination and want to also believe that it would be sustained and even get better,” he said.

Benjamin reiterated the need for candidates to get to their  examination centres early, as no excuse would be entertained.

“The board has zero tolerance for examination malpractice and, therefore, I want to urge candidates to refrain from any form of ignoble act or conduct, during the examination,” he stated.

Meanwhile, more participants have shared their experiences with NAN correspondents who visited the centres across Lagos State.

At Perfect Angel CBT Centre, Emeya Close, Off Social Club Road, Abule-Egba and Timeon Kairos Polytechnic, Lagos Abeokuta Express Way, candidates expressed satisfaction at the conduct of the exercise, describing it as sweet experience.

A candidate, who sat for the examination at the Timeon Kairos Polytechnic, Adeniran Alameen, said that he was impressed with its orderliness.

He lauded the centre officials and those of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in ensuring that candidates complied with the rules of the exercise.

“I am, particularly, impressed with the implementation in this year’s UTME.

“I must confess that JAMB has really improved, compared to what obtained last year, in this particular centre.

 ”It is indeed a hitch-free examination and I hope it continues this way,” Alameen said.

On her part, Miss Faith Bashiru, who sat for the examination at the Perfect Angel CBT Centre, also commended the centre officials and the JAMB for what she described as a job well done.

“I want to say that this is how examinations should be conducted.

”It really gave me joy experiencing this sort of calm and peaceful environment.

”It ensured that I stayed focused and finished my examination in good time. The systems were top notch,” she stated.

Mr. Okezie Chimobi, a JAMB ad- hoc official at the Timeon Kairos Polytechnic told NAN that only a few candidates did not turn up for the examination.

However, some candidates and their parents on Tuesday decried the system malfunction and technical glitches that characterised the examination.

They spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ibadan, calling on the JAMB to find solutions to the problems faced by some candidates who were unable to write the examination due to the glitches.

A parent, Mrs. Jumoke Ajayi, said: “The systems were not working.The first batch that went in for the examination at 6.30 a.m. were unable to access the examination as most of them went home crying and wailing.

“Some candidates scheduled for 6.30 a.m. were still inside while those scheduled for other sessions as at 9.00 a.m. and noon were waiting.

“The candidates experienced the same problem during the mock examination. One would have thought that things should have been taken care of at this same centre, PEFTI CBT Centre, Sango.”

Another parent, who simply identified himself as Mr. Ladipo, said 80 per cent of the candidates scheduled for the early morning session were unable to write the exam.

 One of the candidates, Idris Raji, said the computer systems, including laptops, were not working properly at his centre.

 Raji said many candidates due to the technical glitches were unable to write the examination.

The Old Students Association of the Federal Government College, Kaduna has vowed to resist the Kaduna State Government to take over their school’s land, which they called an encroachment. Bola Olajuwon and AbdulGafar Alabelewe write on the issue and other ongoing encroachments in the state.

Last Sunday, members of the Old Students Association of the Federal Government College, Malali, Kaduna, came from all over the country to Lagos for a purpose: to tell the media that they were concerned about the alleged “chicanery going on”, concerning alleged acquisition of their alma mater’s land. The situation, they said, “leaves bile in the mouth”.

The old students accused the Kaduna State Government of encroaching on the school’s land and called on Federal Ministry of Education and other authorities to intervene urgently.

The new development, the association said, contravened the Federal Ministry of Education (FME)’s directives, which is the controlling ministry over land belonging to the 110 Federal Unity Schools.

Led by their President, Seyi Gambo, the FGC Kaduna Old Students Association explained how the school made them and why they had rallied themselves to give back to their alma mater. 

Background to the story

Gambo and others lamented at the news conference that despite their efforts, “We have benefited from the success of our school and we will not be arms akimbo and watch some faceless leaders illegally take an inch of the land of our school, Federal Government College, Kaduna.

“This, we are told, is the first of future balkanisation of the parameters of other unity schools across Nigeria.

The old students explained that the state government had in 2015 requested the Federal Education Ministry to cede parts of the school’s land to it for its use.

But, Gambo said: “The ministry declined the request in a letter dated February 12, 2015 and directed it to the Permanent Secretary, Kaduna State Ministry of Lands, Surveys and Planning.”

According to him, the letter of objection was signed by the Director of Basic and Secondary Education, Chike Uwaezuoke, who he said, asked the government to consider the space outwards from the “Northwestern end of the wall fence of the school precisely along Rabah Road, without encroaching into the college’s land.”

He explained that another attempt by the state government was made in July 2015, a development, which made the school’s management to complain to the ministry.

According to Gambo, the government had stopped its “illegal efforts to claim the land until about a week ago when the government, through the Ministry of Urban Planning and Development (KASUPDA), wrote again seeking excision of unutilised land along the stretch of River Kaduna for security reasons”.

 “This is the same land they have been trying to acquire since 2015. The pretence that the land is being excised for security reasons falls short any truth whatsoever because immediately this letter was sent to the school; bulldozers have moved to the site, plans to build private homes have begun with drawing of allotted plots and work is going on at that site 24 hours/seven days a week

“This illegality is not only distasteful, but also pure wickedness on the part of leaders. It is an agenda to obliterate the memories of the founding fathers of this country and the only institution, which is the last bastion of moulding Nigerians devoid of the things responsible for our arrested development as a nation.”

The Federal Land Use Act, the old students said, frowns at the state government’s acquisition. Gambo said the association would not allow the takeover of the school’s land.

The old students said they had been  informed that the land had been allegedly distributed among top of the state government and friends.

“On behalf of the Old Students Association of the Federal Government College, Kaduna, we say this will never be allowed to go. Not on our watch,” Gambo said.

State govt’s reaction

But, the Public Relations Officer, Kaduna State Urban Planning and Development Authority (KASUPDA), Malam Nuhu, told our correspondent that only the state government executive could speak on the matter, saying that his agency is just an implementation arm of the government.

Nuhu explained: “I cannot comment on the matter because we are just an enforcement agency. Only the state government can give explanation on the matter.”

Also, Governor Nasir El-Rufai’s Special Adviser on Media and Communication, Mr. Muyiwa Adekeye, declined comment, saying that the state government did not want to join issues with the FGC Old students because the alumni were not the custodians of the land in contention.

Other lands excised by state govt

The Federal Government College, Kaduna’s case is not the first of such land excision by the state government. They include those of Federal Training Centre, Kaduna, Ungwan Rimi GRA; Nigerian Postal Institute, Kurmi Mashi, Kaduna and Ahmadu Bello University’s College of Agriculture and Animal Science, Mando, Kaduna.

At the Federal Training Centre, the state government had since created a layout of the large expanse of land excised and allocated the plots for development of residential buildings, some of which have been completed and occupied.

A check by our correspondent show that the excised land at the Nigerian Postal Institute was yet to be developed due to a legal matter at the state High Court.

KASUPDA’s defence on such land excision

Director-General, KASUPDA Ismail Umaru Dikko, had during a similar excision of another Federal institution land in March last year, accused the federal agencies of failure to fully utilise the land allocated to them by the state government.

The KASUPDA boss also accused principals and officials of federal institutions in Kaduna  of violation of the terms of land allocated to their agencies, including ‘unlawful excision of the public land for private purposes.

At the ABU’s College of Agriculture and Animal Science, where the state government took 74 hectares from the college’s land, the university’s management alleged that the state government, throughout its agencies, demolished the college fence and took its land despite a court order restraining them.

But, Dikko alleged that ABU authorities were guilty of illegal excision, subdivision and sale of part of the plot of land covered by G-Item No. 1060, occupied by the college.

“The unlawful subdivisions, excisions and sales of plots were done without the consent or approval of the Kaduna State Government. These actions constitute an unapproved change of land use and unacceptable violation of the purpose for which the G-Item was originally allocated,” the KASUPDA boss said.

When our correspondent visited the Federal Government College last Monday evening, it was observed that the school fence was broken opposite Destiny College on Umaru Muhammed Road and a new fence demarcating the school and the portion taken by the state government had been erected.

Workers were also sighted working on the land.

The Federal Polytechnic, Nekede Rector, Michael Arimanwa, has hinted on the attributes of who will take over the mantle of leadership of the institution when he leaves office in the five months.

Arimanwa, who will be vacating office in September, said he would like to hand over to somebody, who would continue research, excellence, Information Communication Technology (ICT) and other areas his administration has not done well.

The rector, who spoke in an interview, said the school had done so well that it would require somebody who has the capacity and knowledge of these areas to continue where his administration will stop.

“Who I will hand over to is not within my power to choose, but if I am to wish, I will wish to hand over to somebody who will continue the trajectory of research, excellence, ICT and other areas we have done very well.

“We have become a centre of excellence, and we have also won several awards to keep us on top. We are ranking first in ICT and recently the Ministry of Communication and Digital Technology has promised to deploy broadband internet services for our institution because of the visibility that we have created in technology.”

He advised the students that the school is fertile for them to achieve excellent academic results provided they are hard-working, diligent, focused, resourceful and understand why they have come to school.

Anambra State Governor Chukwuma Soludo has decried increasing flooding of pirated, badly published and printed books in open markets from authors and publishers, who had earlier submitted good books for review.

Soludo ordered that no sub-standard book be found in schools across the state, insisting that only good and quality books must be used in the state schools.

The governor spoke during the  World Book Day at the Prof. Festus Aghagbo Nwako Library, Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), Awka.

Soludo was represented by Commissioner for Education, Prof. Ngozi Chuma-Udeh, who spoke through Dr. Bryan Udeh.

The governor called on authors and publishers to ensure the production of quality books for use in the state school system.

He said: “The rate at which pirated, badly published and printed books flood the market from authors and publishers who had earlier submitted good books for review is alarming.

“The end users of the books sometimes complain that some of the books have pornographic, violent and other unwanted contents inimical to the moral upbringing of the envisioned digital tribe that will be useful at home and exportable abroad.”

Meanwhile, the Commissioner for Education had during a meeting with publishers and authors, on assumption of office, informed them of government’s policy of yearly book review to actualise the mandate of production of quality books for students in the state.

She said the policy was adopted to give room for removal of pirated and badly written books after one year, as against former practice of allowing the system to be saddled with such bad books for a whole six years.

She admonished stakeholders to cultivate the habit of reading in order to build the confidence needed to pass examinations without malpractice.

To improve the literacy of children, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has called for more investments in primary schools.

The United Nations agency said about 50 per cent of Nigeria’s education budget should be spent on primary education.

The UNICEF Nigeria Chief of Education, Saadhna Panday-Soobrayan, stated this during a seminar on Foundational Literacy and Numeracy in Nigeria organised in partnership with the USAID.

She noted that expected improvement in children’s literacy and numeracy won’t be achieved quickly because of poor financial investment in the education system, particularly at the basic level.

The UNICEF chief said Nigeria was spending too little on education; on average of 1.2 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the country was being spent on education when the international benchmark was four to six per cent, stressing that the available money was not even spent well.

 She said: “So, the first problem on education in Nigeria is spending too little money on education. Nigeria is spending 1.2 per cent of its GDP on education, the international benchmark is four to six per cent and even the available funds are not being spent well.

“A larger percentage of the allocated funds are spent on higher education when children at basic education level can neither read, write nor count. In nutshell, significant investment is required in Nigeria’s education system, particularly at the basic level.

“We need to get the budget right and increase the volume of expenditure, the country needs to improve the efficiency of expenditure on primary education.”

Evaluating learning interventions deployed by UNICEF in Northern Nigeria in the last five years, the UNICEF chief said the UN agency discovered the need to train teachers and make available instructional materials to scale up programmes such as Reading and Numeracy Activity (RANA), early grade reading (the USAID model) and Teaching at the Right Level (TaRL).

“In the last five years, UNICEF has been testing various interventions to solve the learning crisis in Nigeria” she said.

She added that the task for the next five years was to scale up the successful interventions across Nigeria.

She said: “We have subjected these pilot programmes to independent assessment, evaluation and they have proven to be effective to improve Literacy and numeracy rate.’’

 “We really should aim in the next five years to see a massive improvement in literacy and numeracy skills and what we need to achieve this are political will, human and financial resources, all of these are already in the system we only need to be redirected to the systems that really work like the ones we have tested.“

Panday-Soobrayan also raised the issue of the safety of the schools as she described it as a challenge which has discouraged parents and their children from attending schools.

She said: “Many children are not in school because the schools are unsafe for them. Insufficient teachers and teaching materials too are some of the challenges.”

Panday-Soobrayan, who made a case for mother tongue approach to be adopted in teaching and learning in Nigeria, particularly at the basic education level, explained that millions of children are lost, in interest and attendance, along the way of the basic education system due to language barrier.

She cited examples to several developed countries of the world where teaching in the mother tongue is in their basic education system to improve the literacy and numeracy of their young ones.

The Director, Basic Education, Federal Ministry of Education, Dr. Folake Davies, applauded the initiatives and said the government would be willing to domesticate the programme following the displayed evidence in the Northern part of the country.

According to her, the Federal Government was currently developing an appropriate policy framework to guide the practitioners, support foundational literacy and numeracy practice across the country.

 She added that the government was putting in place reviewed national policy on mother tongue for use in primary schools.