The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Education sector

  • ‘Oyo Education sector ‘ll be stronger after re-engineering’

    The Oyo State government has assured the residents that after re-engineering the Education sector, the state’s tertiary institutions will become better and stronger.

    The state also said the N50 billion it hopes to raise through the Education Trust Fund (ETF) will address the challenges bedevilling the sector.

    It added that the fund would be accessible to all the schools in the state – from primary to tertiary.

    The Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Prof. Adeniyi Olowofela, spoke in Ibadan, the state capital, after delivering a keynote address at the African Studies Students Association’s annual lecture at the Institute of African Studies of the University of Ibadan (UI).

    The lecture, titled: Africa Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow: Lessons, Challenges and Opportunities, was among activities commemorating The association’s annual week.

    Olowofela said: “Our tertiary education in Oyo State is going through a phase and the phase is what we called the re-engineering phase. After that re-engineering, our tertiary institutions will come out better and stronger and there will not be any trouble for our tertiary institutions again.

    “We are combining two issues in the re-engineering process. We are looking at the economic viability of development, vis-a-vis the intellectual ability of the system, coupled with standard practice. What I mean by standard practice is, having proper administrative channels, like putting the Governing Council in place and such others.

    “Don’t forget that the Oyo State government is still raising funds through the Education Trust Fund. The fund in that pool will be available for all the sub-sectors of education at the primary, secondary and tertiary levels. Be it development, salaries, infrastructure, physical structures and every other thing, the fund will address all the issues.”

     

     

  • Students protest ‘anomalies’ in education sector

    Thousands of students, under the aegis of National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), protested yesterday in Abeokuta, Ogun State capital, “the rot in the Education sector”.

    The protesters, who marched from the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) mega station on Abiola Way, passed through IBB Boulevard, to the Governor’s Office at Oke-Mosan.

    They demanded to see Governor Ibikunle Amosun.

    The protesters carried placards with inscriptions: “Rescue Ogun State Education Campaign”; “Save Ogun State education”; “Education must survive” and “MAPOLY must survive”.

    They urged the governor to save the sector from further descent.

    Ogun NANS Chairman Olawale Balogun told Amosun that the students were not happy with education in the state.

    Olawale cited the delay in the examination of Moshood Abiola Polytechnic (MAPOLY) in Abeokuta as an issue that could affect students, if not urgently tackled.

    The students’ leader condemned cancellation of the payment of West Africa Examination Council (WAEC) fee for pupils, adding that they frowned at the hike in the Acceptance Fees paid by new entrants into the Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU) at Ago-Iwoye.

    The students demanded a statement from the governor on the status of MAPOLY because of its metamorphosis into Moshood Abiola University of Science and Technology as well as the creation of Ogun State Polytechnic, Ipokia.

    But Amosun said MAPOLY had gone into extinction with its upgrade to a university.

    The governor said the institution would be in existence for the next four years.

    Amosun, who blamed the institution’s lecturers for the delay in examination, said his administration remained committed to improving education in the state.

    He said: “I am not happy because of my school. What is happening today is because those that have been given the privilege to serve us are not serving well.

    “Everybody here (current MAPOLY students) will finish their courses, it will take four years before MAPOLY will go into extinction. You are not going to Ipokia. If the lecturers don’t want that, we will sort them out.

    “We will ask for new lecturers for the university and the new poly. MAPOLY lecturers are not comfortable with it. I said the appointment they have is for MAPOLY, for the new university; they will have to reapply. If they are qualified, they can take them.

    “I will ask the commissioner to meet with the academic union of the institution. We are only admitting ND I. We are not admitting any student into MAPOLY. We are not sacking anybody. We are not taking them automatically. Why should we carry another place problem to a new one?

    “We are only admitting ND I. If you have carry-over, you are going to Ipokia. I told them (management) don’t admit new students into MAPOLY.”

     

  • Students protest rocks Ogun over rot in education sector

    Students protest rocks Ogun over rot in education sector

    • We’re committed to quality education, says Amosun

    Thousands of students under the aegis of National Association of Nigerian Students(NANS) spilled into roads in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, in protest over what they considered as “rot in the state’s education sector.”

    The protesting students who took off with their protest from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation mega station, Abiola Way in the morning, poured into the IBB Boulevard where they later branch off to the Governor’s Office, Oke – Mosan, demanding to see him.

    And bearing placards with the inscription “Rescue Ogun State Education Campaign,” “Save Ogun State education, ” ” Education must survive” and “MAPOLY must survive” among others, urged Governor Ibikunle Amosun to quickly halt the unsavoury trend.

    The chairman of Ogun NANS, Comrade Olawale Balogun, told Amosun that the students were not happy with the state of education in the state.

    Olawale cited delay in the take off of the examination of the Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, (MAPOLY) Abeokuta, as an issue if not urgently addressed could affect the career of the students.

    Olawale also said the association was not comfortable with the cancellation of the payment of the West Africa Examination Council(WAEC) fee for secondary school students, adding that they equally frowned at the recent hike in the Acceptance Fees being paid by new entrants into the Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye.

    The students also demanded a categorical statement from the Governor regarding the status of MAPOLY, in the light of its metamorphosizing into Moshood Abiola University of Science and Technology as well as the creation of the Ogun State Polytechnic, Ipokia.

    But responding, Amosun said MAPOLY has gone into extinction with its upgrade to a university status, explaining that the institution would still be in existence for the next four years.

    Amosun who blamed the institution’s lecturers for the delay in students examinations, said his administration remained committed to improving the standard of education in the state.

    “I am not happy because this my school. What is happening today is because those that have been given the privilege to serve us are not serving well.

    “Everybody here (current MAPOLY students) will finish their courses, it will take four years before MAPOLY will go into extinction. You are not going to Ipokia . If the lecturers don’t want that, we will sort them out.

    “We will sought for new lecturers for the university and the new poly. MAPOLY lecturers are not comfortable with it, I said the appointment they have is for MAPOLY, for the new university, they will have to reapply. If they are qualified, they can take them.

    “I will ask the Commissioner to meet with the academic union of the the institution. We are only admitting ND 1. We are not admitting any student into MAPOLY. We are not sacking anybody, we are not taking them automatically. Why should we carry another place problem to new one.

    “We are only admitting ND 1. If you have carryover, you are going to Ipokia. I told them (management) don’t admit new students into MAPOLY,” Amosun said.

  • Group urges Fed Govt to increase funding for education sector

    A group under the auspices of Transparency Advocacy Development Initiative, at the weekend urged the Federal Government to commit more efforts in the development of the education sector.

    The group also urged the government to increase funding for the sector.

    National Coordinator of the group, Yomi David, said this in a statement on Sunday in Abuja to commend the Vice Chancellor, University of Calabar, Prof. Zana Akpagu, on his appointment as a member of Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) National Research Fund Screening and Monitoring Committee.

    Prof. Akpagu is the only VC selected to represent the entire South- South region in the committee.

    However, David said investing more funds in the sector would ensure proper development of manpower for the country.

    This, he said, would solve some of the human capital challenges facing the country.

    “We are urge the Federal Government to devote more funds to the development of our educational system. It is only through proper funding of the sector that we can have adequate human capital development.

    “The sector has suffered from poor funding in the past. This must not be allowed to continue by the present government led by President Muhammadu Buhari.

    “We urge the president to ensure that the education sector under his administration continue to receive a lion share of the budget as he has already begun.”

    David also said he was not surprised by Prof. Akpagu’s appointment into the committee.

    According to him, Prof. Akpagu’s giant strides and development of University of Calabar had placed him on this limelight.

    “We are confident that you will bring your academic and administrative finesse to bear into worthy additional national service,” he said.

    The group also commended TETFund for the opportunity granted Prof. Akpagu to serve in the committee.

  • Malala seeks emergency in education sector

    Malala seeks emergency in education sector

    Acting President Yemi Osinbajo yesterday received Pakistani rights activist for girl-child education and Nobel Peace Prize winner, Malala Yousafzai at the Presidential Villa.

    The 20-year-old Malala, who was accompanied by her father Yousafzai and other members of the Malala Foundation, arrived at the presidential villa at about 5.30 p.m.

    The young female activist survived gunshots on her head by the Taliban for campaigning for girl-child education in Pakistan.

    She visited Nigeria in July, 2014, to campaign for the release of abducted Chibok schoolgirls, meeting with then President Goodluck Jonathan and parents of the more than 230 kidnapped Chibok schoolgirls.

    Malala urged the declaration of state of emergency in the education sector

    She said: “It was a very good meeting. We had a fruitful discussion with His Excellency, the Acting President.

    “I highlighted on the need to scale up education, that the government should declare a state of emergency in education because education of girls and boys in Nigeria is important.

    “The federal, state and local governments need to be united on this.” she added

    According to her, she also spoke on the child right act.

  • FG urged to increase education sector funding

    The Federal Government has been advised to increase its funding of the education sector if Nigeria is to become globally competitive.

    A former Nigerian Ambassador to Equitorial Guinea, Sunday Bassey, made the call for more funding of the education sector at the 2017 maiden Abuja Schools Debate Tournament organised by the Chen Teen and Youth Development Initiative (CTYDI).

    About nine senior secondary schools in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) participated in the debate
    held at the Conference Room of the Federal Ministry of Education.

    Bassey regretted that the sector had not been given adequate attention by past governments.

    “It is regrettable that Nigeria’s education sect‎or has been bedeviled by poor funding.

    “If the country is to become globally competitive, the present administration has to improve education sector funding at all levels,” the former ambassador said.

    He also called for improved salaries for teachers in the country to enhance their productivity.

    Earlier in her address, the Executive Director, Chen Teen and Youth Development Initiative (CTYDI), Dr. (Mrs) Olusola Oresanya, advocated a proper guidance‎ for youths in the country in order to overcome some of the challenges they face daily.

    Oresonya said, “When you get them to talk about things like this, it makes them to think about it.

    “When you now have other people in that same forum that have gone through that same situation and provide guidance then they can take the guidance they have had.”

    ‎The CTYDI‎ boss explained that the maiden debate was aimed at providing a platform for young people to air their views on topical issues that affects them.

    “This provides a platform on topical issues for discourse. The youths are exposed to things that affect their future and their lives.

    “I think this is the time to intervene and provide the right guidance for them to go. This opportunity is for us to discourse the ills that affects the social media,” Oresanya added.

  • Principals say political interference, poor funding ruins education sector

    The All Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS), said on Friday that political interference and poor funding had ruined the education sector in the country.
    This is contained in the communique issued at the end of its 60th annual congress held in Port Harcourt.
    The congress had as its theme, “Political Interference In Education: A Threat to Effective School Management.”
    The principals noted that there was general poor funding of the sector across the country, adding that most of what was appropriated for the sector ended up in the pockets of top government officials.
    They lamented that appointments, postings and promotion of teachers have tilted away from merit to political patronage.
    The heads of secondary schools observed that there was high disregard for continuity in the formulation of educational policies while politically significant persons unnecessarily interfere in school discipline.
    The principals added that cheap politically motivated programmes such as free education and free feeding have been allowed take priority over payment of teachers salaries and provision of infrastructure.
    “The ethos of diligence, sacrifice and self dignity is fast losing its place among heads of schools in Nigeria,” they added.
    They urged various levels of government to depoliticise the education sector and allow the sytem to run itself freely.
    “Government and stakeholders should put in place necessary in-built feedback mechanism that will guarantee continuity in educational policies.
    ” The UNESCO 26% funding policy on education should be adopted, while prudent management of available resources is advised.
    “Adequate enlightenment and sensitisation should be put in place by stakeholders on the roles of education as solution to most of the issues that breed agitation,” they said.
    The principals further advised stakeholders to be more realistic in setting priorities in education and formulate relevant laws to insulate schools management from undue harassment.
    “Schools managers should uphold the ethics of the teaching profession in the day-to-day discharge of their duties and responsibilities,” they added.
    The principals commended the the Rivers Government for providing enabling environment and support for the congress to hold in Port Harcourt.

  • Oyo commends UNICEF for changing education sector

    Oyo commends UNICEF for changing education sector

    Oyo State Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Professor Adeniyi Olowofela, has commended the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) for changing the educational status of the state and making the state a role model for other states in the country.

    UNICEF, through her invaluable support to the state, has ensured significant improvement in education service delivery.

    The state commissioner for education gave this commendation while declaring open a three-day training workshop organised for inspectors of education by the Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology in collaboration with UNICEF at the weekend.

    Olowofela stated that the essence of the training and retraining education inspectors is to transform the era of witch-hunting and fault-finding practices to a more acceptable result-oriented and friendly evaluation.

    According to him, the Ajimobi-led administration has taken proactive measures to restore the lost glory of the education sector by abolishing automatic promotion, reconstructing state of the art model schools, rehabilitating one hundred secondary schools across the thirty-three local government areas and establishing School Governing Boards (SGB) to ensure improvement in schools’ management.

    He appreciated the immeasurable contributions of UNICEF, stressing that the organisation itself is associated with quality, credibility, and standard raising. Olowofela also charged the inspectors to use the experience gained in discharging their duties.

    In his response, the Chief of Field Office, UNICEF SURE, Mr Tejinder Sandhu, commended Governor Abiola Ajimobi for transforming the education sector in the state.

    He stated that UNICEF wants to use Oyo State as a model for other states of the federation.

    Sandhu further pledged the support of the organisation in taking the education sector to greater heights

     

  • Saraki seeks support for education sector

    Saraki seeks support for education sector

    Senate President, Bukola Saraki yesterday urged religious groups to continue to support government in providing sound education for the youths in the country. He said religious groups pioneered the funding, establishment and nurturing of education institutions from pre-colonial periods.
    Speaking in Ilorin during the 75th Anniversary of the Ansarul Islam Society of Nigeria where he was turbaned as the Baba Adinni of the Society, he said it has become obvious that government alone cannot run the vital sector successfully and that the deep involvement of religious groups is necessary.
    Saraki in a statement by his Special Adviser (Media and Publicity), Yusuph Olaniyonu said, “Religious groups like Ansarul Islam have critical role to play in revamping the education sector. In fact, you have more experience than government at all levels in the operation of educational establishments and you need to intensify your involvement in this all-important sector.
    “All is not well with our education sector. Most of the problems we have now in the running of the private and public sectors can be traced to the decay in the education of our children. There is the talk of disconnect between the classrooms and the industries. We also see that our public schools which produced graduates that could compete with their colleagues across the world are no longer being reckoned with in world rating. We spend so much on education of Nigerian youths in foreign schools. Our religious societies should come to the aid of government”, he said.
    He said the Senate will review laws relating to the education sector and ensure that they are made to measure up to world standard while adding that the plan by the legislature to enact laws that will make the private sector get involved in funding of infrastructure so as to free funds for important social services like education.
    Also turbaned at the ceremony witnessed by dignitaries including Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, was the former Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Alhaja Sinatu Ojikutu who became the Iya Adinni of the society.

  • We’re on course to transform education sector – Ambode

    We’re on course to transform education sector – Ambode

    Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode on Friday expressed delight at the winning of the annual Spelling Bee Competition by students of public schools in the State, saying that the development was an eloquent testimony that his administration is on the right path to transform the education sector.

    Governor Ambode, who spoke at the Lagos House, Ikeja while hosting the 16th One-day Governor, Master Olaseinde Olufemi Joshua and members of his cabinet, said the fact that winners of the competition emerged from public schools in inner communities was a clear indication that public schools in the State are now becoming exemplary citadel of learning.

    He said: “I must say that I am impressed about the mixture of the people that we are now celebrating. I can personally say that I did watch the school debate on television and I am very excited that the schools from which the winners emerged are from our inner communities in Shasha in Alimosho, Badagry, Ilupeju and also in Mushin.

    “That in itself shows that we are on the right path. We must be able to show that our public schools are exemplary citadel of learning that we can also use to showcase the fact that the future of Lagos is brighter than what we have now,” Governor Ambode said.

    While congratulating the winners of the competition for doing the State proud, Governor Ambode said the competition was one of the ways of encouraging younger ones to venture into position of leadership, adding that development would also go a long way in preparing the students for position of leadership in the future.

    He added: “We want to say that the six winners we are celebrating today are worthy to be celebrated and we will indeed celebrate them and use them as examples to encourage other younger ones to reach out so that we can be proud that in another twenty years, these ones will take over from us and we would be proud that we really did the State proud.”

    Besides, the Governor congratulated the State’s Ministry of Education and other stakeholders for sustaining the initiative which started about 16 years ago, and called for the scaling up of the initiative to accommodate more younger students.

    Earlier, the One-day Governor, Master Olaseinde Olufemi Joshua, a student of Shasha Community Senior High School saluted the vision of the wife of former Lagos State Governor, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, who was the pioneer of the Spelling Bee competition, saying that the competition had helped students in the State to be more dedicated to their studies and strive for excellence.

    He added that the competition would not have been possible without the free education policy of the Lagos State Government over the years, which is being sustained by the present administration.

    Speaking on Governor Ambode’s administration, Master Joshua said: “Barely a year after taking over the reign of power as the Governor of the State, Lagosians have witnessed a rapid transformation of infrastructural facilities and integrated lighting system. There is no gainsaying that Lagosians’ dream of becoming Africa’s model megacity is becoming into reality through your hard work and dedication.

    “This is evident in your meticulous implementation of various developmental programmes. I can easily predict that our visionary Governor Ambode will take Lagos State to the promise land within his first tenure in office,” he said.

    Master Joshua, who said his father could not make it to the event due to health challenges, however, urged the Governor to consider donating a school bus, a well-equipped E-library to his school and the rehabilitation of drainage systems as well as the roads leading to his school.

    Responding, Governor Ambode granted the request for a school bus in Joshua’s school and all other requests in respect of the other schools of the winners.

    He also ordered that Joshua’s father be treated at the health facilities of the State Government.

    Other winners are One-day Deputy Governor, Komolafe Kehinde of Immaculate Heart Senior High School, Maryland; One-day Speaker, Okinbaloye Rashidat of Ilupeju Senior Grammar School; One-day Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Ogunfowora Islamiyat of Badagry Senior Grammar School; One-day Commissioner for Education, Abdulkarim Asiyat of Atunrase Senior High School and One-day Commissioner for Science and Technology, Ahwanyinu Sesinu of Kakon Senior Secondary School.