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Tag: Commissioner for Education

  • Niger to renovate 12 more schools in 2018

    Niger to renovate 12 more schools in 2018

    Hajiya Fatima Madugu, the Niger State Commissioner for Education, says the state government is to renovate six vocational and technical schools and six day secondary schools in 2018.

    Madugu said in Minna on Tuesday that the renovation was part of the second phase of the government’s school development programme which started in 2017.

    Reports say that the state government had spent N4.3 billion on renovation and provision of furniture in some selected schools in the first phase of the programme.

    The commissioner said that the programme involved renovation and furnishing of schools as well as training of teachers.

    Read also: Sokoto distributes 45,926 desks to schools

    She said that this was part of the state government’s efforts to provide a conducive environment for teaching and learning in order to improve educational standard in the state.

    “One technical and one vocational school will be selected for renovation in each of the three zones in the state and six day schools will also be upgraded.

    “We want to renovate the facilities in our technical and vocational schools and provide them with modern equipment and infrastructure to facilitate a conducive learning environment.

    “The workshops and training centres of these schools will also be upgraded to enable the students to acquire different skills.’’

    She disclosed that the ministry would also be training teachers on modern teaching techniques.

    According to her, principals and vice principals across the seven zonal offices in the state are already undergoing training.

    “Training of teachers is an initiative of the ministry. We have started with principals and vice-principals; they are being trained on modern teaching techniques.

    “They are are also being trained on how to administer schools. We are done with three zones; two zones are left.

    “Once we are done with the principals and the vice-principals, we will start with our teachers,’’ the commissioner said.

    NAN

  • Resumption: Rivers bemoans poor turnout of pupils

    Resumption: Rivers bemoans poor turnout of pupils

    The Commissioner for Education in Rivers, Tamuno-Sisi Jaja, on Tuesday  lamented the poor turnout of pupils and students  in  primary and secondary schools.

    Jaja spoke on the sidelines of  his ongoing inspection of schools in Port Harcourt.

    He expressed regret that some schools were yet to reopen for academic activities inspite of  several notices on the Monday resumption date issued  by the Ministry of Education.

    Read also: Low turnout of workers as work resumes in Abuja

    “The low turnout of pupils and non-compliance to our directive  is quite worrisome.

    “However, we are impressed with the level of compliance by private schools that have re-opened for academic activities,” he said.

    Jaja said the ministry would continue to monitor and enforce  resumption of  schools in the state.

    NAN

  • Enugu to recruit 700 teachers

    Enugu to recruit 700 teachers

    The Enugu State Government has approved the immediate recruitment of additional 700 teachers under the Enugu State Universal Basic Education ( ENSUBEB ) Scheme.

    The Commissioner for Education, Prof. Uche Eze disclosed this on Wednesday in Enugu while briefing newsmen on the outcome of the state’s Executive Council Meeting.

    Eze said that 42 primary school teachers under the employ of ENSUBEB lost their lives in active service during the outgoing year.

    The commissioner, who did not state the cause of the deaths, also disclosed that 797 others would retire by December 31.

    He explained that the development had created a vacuum which needed to be filled.

    Eze recalled that 1,320 teachers were employed in 2016, adding that after the forthcoming employment, there would be a redistribution of teachers across the state to ensure equity.

    Read also: Enugu to install 24-hour solar power in 45 police divisions

    He said that part of the challenges faced in the sector was the unwillingness of some teachers to work in the rural areas, adding that such had been taking care of.

    Eze said that the council also approved the request by the Science, Technical and Vocational Schools Management Board ( STVSMB ) for an extension of time for the continuation of physical payments of teachers’ salaries.

    He said that the measure would help the board to fully authenticate the workforce and consolidate on savings through unclaimed cheques which were being returned to the government treasury.

    The commissioner said that this followed the exposure of unverified retired and dead staff members that were hitherto accommodated in the payroll.
    Eze said that the verification had checked incidences of truancy by teachers.

    According to him, in addition to confirmation of actual staff strength, the measure has made it possible to deliver efficient service through effective monitoring and control.

    “The council also approved N37.2m for the purchase of instructional materials such as desktop computers, laptops, marker boards and chalks for primary schools in the 17 local councils,” Eze said.

    NAN

  • Fayose suspends Commissioner, Perm Sec over “Unauthorised foreign Trip”

    Fayose suspends Commissioner, Perm Sec over “Unauthorised foreign Trip”

    Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose on Friday suspended the Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Mr. Jide Egunjobi and the Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Adekunbi Obaisi from office.

    Fayose through a public service announcement on the Broadcasting Service of Ekiti State (BSES) said the suspension of the duo would last for a period of three months.

    The statement said in part: “They are to remain suspended for three months for leaving their duty posts without notice.”

    The governor said the hammer fell on the two officials for absenting themselves from their duty post.

    But a ministry source told our reporter that Egunjobi and Obaisi entered into trouble for embarking on “unauthorised trip to the United States for a function at the latter’s alma mater.”

    The source said: “The Commissioner and the Permanent Secretary landed in trouble for travelling to the United States of America to attend the Inaugural Lecture at a university, where Mrs. Obaisi graduated from.

    “Their absence affected the running of the ministry and the governor was embarrassed by the fact that both the political head and the chief accounting officer of the ministry were not on their desks to attend to files and official duties.

    “In fact, the governor was shocked when he did not see the commissioner and permanent secretary at the activities to mark his 57th birthday and their absence was very conspicuous.

    “I know that the consequences will be dire so I am not surprised to learn on the state radio that they had been suspended.”

  • Lagos schools to resume April 18

    Lagos schools to resume April 18

    The Lagos State Ministry of Education, on Thursday, announced that public and private primary and secondary schools operating in the state would resume on April 18.

    Dr Idiat Adebule, the Deputy Governor of the state, who is also  the Commissioner for Education, made this announcement in a statement in Lagos.

    Mr Adesegun Ogundeji, Assistant Director, Public Affairs Unit in the ministry signed the statement.

    In the statement, Adebule said that private and public schools must adhere strictly to the 2016/2017 academic calendar.

    The deputy governor sent a goodwill message to all pupils and parents, wishing them Happy Easter, following the successful completion of the lent.

    She said that the 2016/2017 academic calendar was jointly agreed upon at the state education stakeholders’ meeting before the commencement of the academic year.

    According to her, the adoption of a uniform calendar will enable proper planning and ensure that pupils and students attend school for the number of days required per term.

  • N869m to be spent on school equipment – Niger state

    Over N869 million will be spent by the Niger government on the procurement of science equipment in nine schools.

    This was announced  by Hajiya Fatima Madugu, Commissioner for Education announced this at the end of the state Executive Council meeting on Thursday in Minna.

    She said that N214 million would be used for procurement of science equipment and solar plant while N655 million is for the provision of furniture, instructional materials and electronics in the schools.

    Madugu added that the effort is to provide qualitative education for students and conducive teaching environment for teachers.

    She said that the schools are; Government Girls Secondary School Bida, Justice Legbo Kutigi Science School in Kutigi, Maryam Babangida Girls School Minna, Government Science College Izom.

    Others are, Government Girls School Kotangora, Government Secondary School Rijau, Government Girls College Tegina, Government Day Secondary Schools Baro and Mu’azu Ibrahim Commercial School Kotangora.

  • Oyo declares public holiday on World Teachers Day

    Oyo declares public holiday on World Teachers Day

    The Oyo State Government has congratulated teachers in the state on the 2016 World Teachers Day Celebration, saying it has declared Wednesday, October 5, 2016, as a work free day for all teachers to commemorate the special day.

    This is contained in a statement by the Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Professor Adeniyi Olowofela, in which the government congratulated teachers in the state and consequently affirmed that their role in nation building cannot be overemphasized.

    The statement reads: “Teachers are integral parts of national development as they passionately mold the lives of future leaders. We urge them not to relent in their calling to reposition the education sector and collaborate with the State Government towards ensuring the success of the Education Reform Initiative in view of the current national economic challenges.

    “The World Teachers Day, October 5, is a day set aside annually to commemorate the signing of an all-important document of ‘ILO/UNESCO recommendation concerning the pivotal status of Teachers’ adopted by the Ministers of Education of Nations under the United Nations Organisation (UNO) on 5th October 1966. The day is particularly set aside to bring global attention to the world most important profession and the welfare of its practitioners,” Olowofela explained.

  • Free compulsory education begins in Kaduna

    Free compulsory education begins in Kaduna

    Kaduna State government has concluded plans to commence the enforcement of free compulsory primary education across the 23 local government areas next month.

    The Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Prof. Andrew Nok who briefed Journalists on the activities of the ministry, said the bill to enforce compulsory primary education in the state has been passed into law and would be become effective in September.

    He said, government came up with law in order to ensure that no one is deprive of basic education in the State, “the law provides penalty to parent who refuse to send their children or ward to school.”

    “Anybody who is caught giving or receiving alms to beggars, and parent who sends their children to school would be dealt with by the law,” he said.

    He said, the State government is going to get the Almajiri children integrated into the modern school system.

    The commissioner also disclosed that a total of N2.2 billion has been spent on the payment of 1,200 newly recruited teachers in the State.

    The commissioner said the delay in payment was to ensure that all the newly recruited staff passed through proper documentation to check the “ghost worker syndrome.”

    Nok also pledged that 15 secondary schools would be reactivated as boarding schools and equipped with standard facilities across the 23 local government areas.

    He said hostels, library, clinic, kitchen facilities, perimeter fence and potable water would be provided to give the schools a conducive environment for teaching and learning.

    15 schools to be reactivated as boarding institutions included Queen Amina College, Kaduna, Government Girls secondary School, Kawo; Government Technical College, Malali and Barewa Collage, Zaria.

    Others included Government College, Kagoro; Girls Science Secondary School, Giwa; Rimi College, Zaria; Girls Science School, Kwoi; Government Girls Secondary School , Soba, Government college, Saminaka and Government College, Kagoro.

  • Abia coming first at WASSCE results

    Abia coming first at WASSCE results

    …Ikpeazu gives scholarship to 17 Students to university level

     

    The governor of Abia state, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, has given scholarship to 17 students who were among those who came first from the state after the West African School Certificate Examination [WASSCE] results was released.

    The 17 students who are to come from each of the from the 17 local government areas of the state are part of the ways the governor is using to encourage students and teachers to ensure better performance in this years’ examination.

    The governor’s gesture was contained in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary [CPS] Enyinnaya Appolos, saying that Ikpeazu is congratulating students and teachers in the state over the ranking of the state as the number one state in the May/June 2015 WASSCE result as released by the examination body.

    Appolos said that the scholarship is for the students to study in any university of their choice within the country, “In recognition of the excellent performance of the schools and students in the state’s school system”.

    He said, “Governor Ikpeazu has approved the award of tertiary education scholarship to the best students after the release of the WASSCE results from each of the 17 local government areas of the state to study in any Nigerian tertiary institution”.

    The CPS said that the governor explained that the scholarship will not end with the students who did well in last year’s examination results released by WASSCE, “Those who  will do well in this year’s and other years examination will also receive the same gesture”.

    The CPS said that the governor has directed the Commissioner for Education, Professor Ikechi Mgboji, to forward to him the list of the best student from each LGA of the state in the 2015 WASSCE examination results to enable him receive them and give them their scholarship documents.

    Appolos said that the governor has challenged the Commissioner, teachers and students in the state to ensure that the state maintains this top position in the education sector.

    He said that the governor has promised that he will do everything possible to ensure  much more improved students and teachers welfare that will enhance the performance of Abia students in future examinations.

    The Nation recalls that West African Examination Council [WAEC] recently released details of the performance of students by state andAbia State came first as the best performing state, while 35 other states and Abuja queued behind.

    Abia State has consistently maintained top position in the WASSCE performance chart in the past five years and the present administration is determined to ensure that it sustains the trend.

    In results released for 2014 and 2013 Abia came second behind Anambra State but has now overtaken Anambra state as the overall best and 1st in the WASSCE performance chart for 2015 examinations.

    The State topped the chart with 33, 762 of its 52, 801 candidates, scoring 63.94 per cent in the results released by the WASSCE for the year 2015 academic year.

    It will also be recalled that Ikpeazu during this year’s children’s day celebration donated 3 Toyota Camry cars to the best primary teachers from each senatorial zone of the state as part of the ways to

    encourage them.

  • Ishaku suspends state varsity workers

    Ishaku suspends state varsity workers

    Taraba state governor, Darius Ishaku has ordered the authority of University of Jalingo to suspend all staff the state employed between May 29, 2015 to date.

     

    This was contained in a letter with a reference number MOE/S/34/169  signed by the state Commissioner for Education who was represented by Bala Fwadu.

     

    The letter which was addressed on Monday to the registrar, Taraba State University, stated that the directive was with immediate effect.

     

    Part of the content of the letter read thus, “His Excellency, the Executive Governor Arch. Darius Dickson Ishaku, has directed that all employment of staff in the University from 29th May, 2015 to date have been suspended.’’