The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Education

  • Stakeholders blame WASSCE result on inadequate learning facilities

    Stakeholders blame WASSCE result on inadequate learning facilities

    Education stakeholders in the FCT have urged the three tiers of government to improve learning facilities in schools to boost academic performance in the country.

    The stakeholders made the call on Sunday while reacting to the release of the November/December West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).

    The result announced by the West African Examination Council (WAEC) in Lagos on Friday, showed 38 per cent credit pass in English and Mathematics by candidates who sat for the examination.

    In a telephone interview with the News agency of Nigeria (NAN), Prof Ndubuisi Ibenyi, Parents/Teachers Association (PTA) Chairman, Ezza Mgbo Federal Government Girls’ College, Ebonyi State, said that under-investment in education had affected the standard of education in the country, leading to low pass rates.

    “ I have been always saying that the standard of education in Nigeria is falling; so it may not be surprising to hear that such poor result.

    “ It is a reflection of the total decay in the education sector.”
    He said that as PTA Chairman, he was aware that the facilities for learning were inadequate.

    Citing the non-availability of staff quarters in his school as an example, he noted that teachers covered long distances to get to school.

    According to him, such a situation impacts negatively on the performance of students.

    He, therefore, suggested increased funding to the education sector as a way of arresting the poor performance currently being experienced there.

    Corroborating Ibenyi’s view, Mr Olatunji Jekayinfa, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Desk Officer, National Mathematical Centre (NMC), said that the poor performance recorded in the Mathematics and English, subjects indicated poor infrastructure provision in schools.

    Jekayinfa said that the poor performance was not only about the students but also on the part of those who teach them.

    According to him, once students are given the right instruction in the right learning environment, they will perform better.

    He expressed concern over the observed lack of seriousness on the part of the students, adding that the impact would have been less if the right learning environment and infrastructure were in place.

    Meanwhile, Mr Shittu Obassa, a parent, observed a slight improvement in this year’s WASSE results compared to last year.

    Obassa appealed to state governments to improve teachers’ welfare by paying their salaries promptly and training and re-training them, thereby boosting education quality.

    He stressed that the education sector required a lot of investment to ensure that the future leaders of the country were adequately trained and skilled to deal with the challenges of nation-building,

    “I am appealing to the government to make education top priority by ensuring that the budgetary allocation to education is in line with the UNESCO recommendation which is 26 per cent of the national budget.

    “It will go a long way toward improving the quality of education in the country,’’Obassa said.

  • ‘Education is youths’ right’

    The Solicitor-General and Permanent Secretary, Lagos state Ministry of Justice, Mrs Funlola Odunlami has said that education is not only a right for youths but also a tool for achieving sustainable development.

    Odunlami saID this yesterday in her welcome address at the annual human rights day celebration for 2016 organised by the Directorate for Citizens Rights in the Lagos state Ministry of Justice.

    “It is also a tool for improving the nation’s human capital and increasing national economic and social growth because in every youth lies the seed of greatness, extraordinary qualities and excellence.”

    Stressing the importance of good education for youths, Odunlami said it is one of the most effective ways to reduce poverty.

    “Youths are also entitled to basic human rights such as food, healthcare, safe home and protection from abuse. These special set of rights is to cater for their vulnerability and to ensure that adults take responsibility for their protection and development”, she said.

    She said it was in recognition of this that Lagos State enacted the Child’s Right law which ensures that the rights of youths are well protected.

    She added: “His Excellency, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, the Governor of Lagos State also gave a very important recognition to and as well as protection of the right of every youth as one of the priorities of his administration,” she said.

  • Etisalat Merit Award: Tool to boost education

    Etisalat Merit Award: Tool to boost education

    Etisalat, through its Merit Awards, is impacting the education sector, writes ADEDEJI ADEMIGBUJI.

    For the World Bank, corporate social responsibility (CSR) is a private sector effort to support the development of a country. To the global bank, it is relatively a new label.

    Experts, however, believe that the greatest impact of CSR comes when the environment is strong, its activities are linked to national priorities,  targeted at poverty reduction, and  are implemented through partnership.

    Several organisations in Nigeria have taken it upon themselves to complement the public sector’s efforts in the education sector. This is in recognition of the fact that the government cannot carry the burden of funding education alone.

    Recently, Etisalat Nigeria, demonstrated how its CSR initiatives, Etisalat Merit Awards, is lifting the education sector, improving the learning environment, raising standards and encouraging academic excellence among pupils.

    The initiative is one of Etisalat’s social investments aimed at rewarding and encouraging academic excellence among undergraduates. Established in 2009 as a dedicated scholarship programme for undergraduate students of universities, the award celebrates students with the highest Cumulative Grade Point Average in the departments of Electrical/Electronic Engineering, Computer Science and Management Sciences yearly.

    During a recent regional award presentation in Ibadan, 40 undergraduates from the University of Lagos, University of Ibadan, Federal University of Technology, Akure and Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma were awarded grants of N200,000 each. The universities also received research grants to boost teaching and learning. This year one special category was added to the award, namely the “Award for most academically excellent students with physical challenges.” This is in addition to the other unique Indigenes’ award, for the best performing students from the respective universities.

    Etisalat Regulatory and Corporate Social Responsibility Director, Etisalat, Ikenna Ikeme, said: “The Merit Awards is proof of Etisalat’s commitment to sustainable development of our country through sound and quality education. We have chosen education as one of our core Corporate Social Responsibility platforms because education is the bedrock of development.”

    He added: “At Etisalat we are passionate about making life easier for our customers and members of the communities where we do business.  We also recognise the importance of education as a catalyst for national development, which is why we have numerous initiatives targeted at raising the standards of education and encouraging academic excellence among students.”

    Corporate and Social Responsibility Manager, Oyetola Oduyemi, said: “Over 1,600 scholarships have been awarded under the Merit Awards Scheme since inception. It gets better as we have increased the grant from N100, 000 to N200, 000 to enable students achieve more academic success with the grants.”

    She added that this year alone, 12 universities and over 120 grants will be bestowed in total, under the Etisalat Merit Awards programme.

    UI Students Affairs Deputy Dean, Dr. Keye Abiona, commended Etisalat for its investment in youths. “Etisalat has, indeed, proven that it genuinely cares about educational development of youth in the country through its numerous initiatives aimed at encouraging students to achieve more in their academics and career pursuit,” he said.

  • Afe Babalola Varsity wins 6th Africa Education Leadership Award

    Afe Babalola Varsity wins 6th Africa Education Leadership Award

    The Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD) has won another honour in far-away Mauritius – the 6th Africa Education Leadership Award.

    It followed the harvest of awards, commendations and encomiums that have been the lot of the university since it was established.

    A statement issued in Ado-Ekiti by the university’s Head of Corporate Affairs, Tunde Olofintila, stated that the latest award will be given at an up-beat ceremony at the Le Meridien, Mauritius on December 7.

    The statement reads: “The latest award will take place 256 days after the University received the  ‘2016 Recipient of Africa Innovative and Academic Excellence Award’ in Johannesburg and its Founder and Chancellor, Aare Afe Babalola, SAN,  conferred with the Congressional Commendation of the United States (U.S.) Georgia Legislative Black Caucus and inducted into the African Hall of Fame by the Advisory Board of the African Leadership Development Foundation, Inc. USA, and African Leadership (UK) Limited for his pioneering excellence and innovation in tertiary education in Africa on March 25, 2016 in Johannesburg in South Africa.”

    In a letter conveying the cheering news dated October 28, 2016, Mr. Jacob Mills, the Global Chairman, Africa Leadership Awards, said: “The 6th Africa Education Leadership Awards are presented by World CSR Day with CMO Asia as its strategic Partner and Stars of the Industry Group as a Research Partner. The awards of the highest stature are presented to individuals and institutions that have surpassed several levels of its excellence and set an example of being a role model and Exemplary Leadership.”

    The award is given to “those who can make a difference to the lives of others, those who have achieved quality in their work, those who have global reach and outlook and possess ability to contribute value of social change”.

    “I am pleased to share with you that the Jury has decided to honour Afe Babalola University with the Education Leadership Award,” Mills said.

    The award, according to Mills, is given to “those who can make a difference to the lives of others, the quality of their work, global reach and outlook and ability to contribute value of social change”.

    The Africa Education Leadership Award, a non-for-profit activity, is organised by Professionals for Professionals. It is an intensely researched process undertaken by the Research Cell, which consists of Post Graduates in History & Management with over five years post-qualification experience.

    It is the iconic job of the Research Cell to produce a shortlist of individuals, who are doing extraordinary work and track the record of their achievements. The shortlist is thereafter reviewed by a Jury comprising senior professionals from across the globe.

    Members of the Jury are, Prof. Indira Parikh, Ex-Dean, IIM Ahmedabad & President-Antardisha, Dr. Harish Mehta, Chairman & Managing Director, Onward Technologies Limited and Emeritus Chairman, World HRD Congress & Founding Member, NASSCOM and Dr. Arun Arora, ex-President and CEO, The Economic Times, Chairman, Edvance Pre-Schools Pvt. Ltd and Emeritus Chairman, HRD Congress as well as Nina E. Woodard, President and Chief “N” Sights Officer, Nina Woodrad & Associates, a Division of NDPendence Inc.,

    Others are Dr. C.M. Dwivedi, Chief Human Resources Officer, Sopariwala Exports Pvt. Ltd, Dr. Saugata Mitra, Chief People Officer & Group Head, HR, Mother Dairy Fruits and Vegetables Pvt. Ltd and Dr. R. L. Bhatia, founder, World CSR Day and World CSR Congress as well as Jacob Mills, Global Chairman, Africa Leadership Awards.

  • Kano seeks pact with Spain on education

    The Kano State Government is seeking collaboration between the state-owned Northwest University and the Regional Government of Cantabria, in Spain, aimed at boosting the status of the university and socio-economic development of the state.

    A seven-member delegation from the state and the university led by its Pro-chancellor, Malam Sule Hamma, paid a working visit to Spain to discuss possible areas of collaboration between various enterprises of Cantabria Region and Kano State.

    Hamma told officials of Cantabria Regional Government that as a young institution, the Northwest University seeks to expand and is, particularly, interested in tapping from the experience of the University of Cantabria in the areas of research, staff/students exchange, and ICT deployment.

    “We hope our visit would open a door that will trigger a partnership with the University of Cantabria in the areas for capacity building for Staff of Northwest University, deployment of ICT, library resource management and short-term Staff/Students exchange programme,” he said.

    The team also initiated discussions with the University’s Faculty of Medicine to aid the take-off of a Public Health and Diagnostic Institute, as well as the establishment of a faculty of Clinical sciences and a teaching hospital at the Northwest University.

    Similarly, both teams discussed potential partnership with the Hydraulic Institute at Santander, on technical assistance aimed at establishing a Faculty of Engineering with specialisation in Water resources engineering at the university.

    The delegation also sought potential ties between Cabarceno Wild Life Park and Kano State Government in wild life management and tourism.

    In her remarks, the Vice President and Minister for Universities, Research, Environment and Social Policy, Eva Diaz Tezanos, said public and private sectors her region were ready to establish possible relationships in the areas of education, commercial, industrial and tourism exchange with Kano State Government and its business community.

    Mrs.Tezanos explained that Northwest University stands to benefit from partnership with the University of Cantabria, which has a track record of 40 years of teaching, research and academic excellence.

    Other members of the Kano team were Dr. Bakari Ado Hussain, Special Adviser to the Governor on Education; Prof Mustapha Isa, Vice Chancellor, Northwest University; Alhaji DanAsabe Yahaya, Director Special Duties, Deputy Governor’s Office; UbaTanko Mijinyawa, Senior Special Assistant to Governor, and Esteban Ortiz Abascal, CEO B&B Leather Ltd.

  • Local govts ‘should key into education’

    The immediate past governor of Lagos State and now Minister of Power, Works and Housing Babatunde Fashola, has urged local governments to play their constitutional role well, adding that they include provision and maintenance of primary, adult and vocational education.

    He made the remark while delivering his keynote address during the book presentation of Prof Oyelowo Oyewo at the Nigeria Institute of International Affairs,Victoria Island, Lagos.

    Oyewo, a former  dean of the Faculty of Law at the University of Lagos presented two books: “Modern Administrative Law and Practice in Nigeria and Local government Law: Cases and Materials”.

    Fashola said: ‘’We must conceptualise the change we are making. Local governments have autonomy power. They have been saddled with recommending economic planning and education to the state government. They have been saddled with providing and maintaining primary, adult and vocational education”.

    Fashola said primary school certificate is very important as it forms the bedrock and foundation of education.

    Fashola urged local government chairmen to take their roles seriously because they are closer to the people.

    Oyewo said the books are necessary as they espouse how things could be set right.

    He added that the nation’s constitution needs to be reviewed, adding that certain aspects have overstayed.  Nonetheless, he recommended the books for students, lawyers and the  public.

  • NGO partners Osun, Fed. Govt. on cancer education

    NGO partners Osun, Fed. Govt. on cancer education

    In its bid to stem the rate of prevalence of cancer in the country, the Glorious Youth Empowerment Centre (GYEC), a non-governmental  organisation (NGO), in partnership with Marie Stopes International, Nigeria, the Osun State and the Federal Ministry of Health, has held a cancer sensitisation and screening programme in Osun State for women.

    No fewer than 23 nurses were trained by a team of specialists from Marie Stopes International, Nigeria at a week-long workshop entitled “Who Shall Deliver us From This Plague?” held in Osogbo, Osun State capital city.

    Out of the 23 nurses, 15 were from Osun Hospital Management Board, seven from Osun Ministry of Health and one from the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Teaching Hopital (LAUTECHTH).

    Subsequent to the workshop, a capacity building training was carried out for health personnel at the General Hospital Asubiaro in Osogbo.

    According to the team leader of the cancer project, Glorious Youth Empowerment Centre, Dr. Samuel Ekundayo, 200 women were screened for cancer during the week-long programme.

    Ekundayo, who revealed that 80 women were screened for cervical cancer, said at the end of the exercise, no case of cervical cancer was recorded, adding that medical advice was offered to the participants.

    Explaining the mission of the programme, the founder of the NGO, Mrs. Remi Ajibewa, noted that the GYEC had vast interest and experience in the provision of support and necessities for the vulnerable youth, women and widows in the society, saying “our mission is to promote quality life for women, children, young people and other vulnerable population through skill development, enlightenment, advocacy engagements and direct support services.”

    Continuing, she said: “We have specifically focused the attention of this workshop on cancer in order to enlighten our people, especially at this time when our current lifestyles predispose us to different kinds of diseases.

    “Our interest in cancer is because the disease is one of the toughest fights anyone can face. Or even one of the greatest challenges difficult to come to terms with when it is diagnosed. The disease is growing rapidly in our community like a raged fire and the entire world at large, with several lives lost and dreams shattered.

    “The World Health Organisation (WHO) says cancer accounts for 13 per cent of all deaths registered globally. Seventy per cent of that figure occurs in middle and low income countries. In Nigeria, about 10,000 cancer deaths are recorded annually while 250,000 new cases are recorded yearly, with breast and cervical cancers being the commonest among women.

    “Prostate cancer is more prevalent in men. Unfortunately, many Nigerians are still poorly educated on this growing disease. Many Nigerians still see cancer as a disease of the wealthy, the elderly and even restricted to the developed countries. While many sufferers of the disease in the country, on the other hand, still regard it as their fate and, as such, a death sentence.

    “Cancer is not just a health issue; it has far-reaching social and economic implications. It also does not discriminate. It is a global epidemic that affects all ages. Its consequences are alarming, challenging and very demanding; even as it has been noted to kill more than HIV and AIDS.

    “Although persistent research is still ongoing towards finding a permanent cure for this most puzzled disease, we at GYEC believe that massive awareness of the general populace is critical to stemming the tide of cancer in Nigeria and indeed globally.”

  • Oyo unfolds education reforms

    Oyo State Government has released a White Paper on its education reform which it hopes would end six months of crisis in its education sector.

    Under the new reforms, each public secondary school would get a School Governing Board (SGB) that would oversee the smooth running of the school.

    The white paper is the product of a committee of stakeholders inaugurated on July 12 in the wake of protests in May over alleged plans by the government to sell some schools.

    The 30-man committee, chaired by the Vice Chancellor, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso, Prof. Adeniyi Gbadegesin, had other members drawn from Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), All Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS), National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Market Advisory Council and the Muslim Community of Oyo State.

    Others included independent education experts, community leaders, retired civil and public servants, Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) and representatives of the state’s ministries of education and justice.

    Apart from the SGB, the committee’s recommendation adopted by government include: classification of the schools into five, restructuring of education agencies for effective interaction and information management, adoption of schools by willing partners, equitable distribution of teachers, improvement of quality assurance and implementation of Education Trust Fund (ETF).

    Others are retention of N1,000 school levy to be administered by each SGB, restructuring of science and technical education and linkages of technical schools with polytechnics and universities of technology in the state, introduction of short-term in-service training for artisans in technical schools, and improvement of ICT education in schools.

    Under the new dispensation, schools would be categorized into three according to their population, infrastructure and other criteria. The categories are: Urban Schools (with1000 pupils and above), Semi-Urban Schools (250 – 999), and Rural Schools (60 – 249).

    In the new era, each agency is to gather, store and provide dependable data on its purview. However, the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology must be the repository of the data, authenticate same and be the sole issuing authority.

    The SGB for each school is to be composed of representatives of the old students association, Parent-Teacher Association, two community members, traditional ruler, a community-based Non Governmental Organisation, the Head Boy and Head Girl, principal, Local Inspector of Education and two faith based organisations in the community.

    Members of the board, who will not be paid by government, will administer the levies collected from students for infrastructural development. However, government is to continue with payment of salaries.

    Reacting to the reforms, the Assistant Secretary NUT, Bayelsa State, Mr Abiodun Oyediran, said the union participated in drafting the report and hopes that they would work fine.

    “We have no objection to the reform. It is a welcome development. We were part of the committee that made the recommendations. We are only waiting for the implementation to start to enable us assess its effectiveness.” He said.

    Also, an education consultant and proprietor, Educational Advancement Centre, Ibadan, Mr Muyiwa Bamgbose, said the reforms would help the government run schools better with the help of the community.

    He said: “The whole essence of the White Paper is for people to take ownership of the schools because things are not working well as they are right now. Even employers of labour know there is need for a new policy to help education. Parents, communities, teachers, old students association etc are all stakeholders. When given the opportunity, they will make meaningful contributions. If the reform is well implemented, it will totally transform the sector.”

  • We’ve invested N33b in education, says Bayelsa govt

    The Bayelsa State Government has said it invested N33 billion on infrastructure and other facilities in the Education sector.

    Education Commissioner Markson Fefegha said the investment was in line with the state of emergency the Seriake Dickson administration declared in 2012.

    A statement by Dickson’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Daniel Iworiso-Markson, said the commissioner spoke at the weekend when the governor hosted principals and vice-principals to a state dinner.

    Fefegha said the government was faced with falling standard of education and infrastructural decay on its assumption of office in 2012.

    Addressing the school administrators, Dickson promised to begin an annual merit award, year, to enable deserving heads of primary and secondary schools to consolidate investments in the Education sector.

    The governor urged them to see their jobs as a sacred calling aimed at nurturing young minds.

    He advised them to key into his administration’s vision for the sector, describing them as the fulcrum to drive the process.

    Referring to the education challenges in the state as monumental, Dickson expressed optimism that the vision for the sector would be realised with the implementation of his programmes and projects.

    The governor said the new model schools had received facilities, adding that all stakeholders should sustain the current achievements of his administration.

    He said: “The results of the West African Senior School Certificate (WASSC) and other examinations are indications that the investment in the sector is paying off. This is also due to the commitment of the principals and the teachers.

  • ‘Nigeria needs private sector support to deliver technical education’

    Executive Secretary, National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), Ma’sud Kazaure, has said Nigeria needs private sector support in the delivery of technical and vocational education (TVE)

    He spoke to reporters in Offa, Offa Local Government of Kwara State, on the sidelines of the eight convocation of the Federal Polytechnic, Offa.

    He canvassed the establishment of more private polytechnics in the country.

    He said: “More focus is now towards private sector participation in the delivery of education, not to mention technical and vocational education that we need most in this country.

    “I want to assure you that from 2010 till date, we have had a lot of private polytechnics springing up, particularly in the Southwest region.  In particular, when the current Minister of Education, Alhaji Adamu Adamu took over, he gave approval to so many of these private polytechnics. It is out of this realisation that we need private sector support to deliver technical and vocational education.

    “I want to also on behalf of the minister commend private sector’s efforts in the delivery of technical and vocational education in the country.”

    Kazaure further lent his voice to the dichotomy between polytechnics and universities with respect to award of degrees.

    He said: “According to the Polytechnics Act, polytechnics are not supposed to award degrees, but some have gone far, in affiliation with the universities to award degrees. This is borne out of the zeal of Nigerians to get degrees. That is why some of the polytechnics that have the capacity approached the National Universities Commission (NUC), which gave them approval to affiliate with universities that have the mandate to award degrees.”

    The institution graduated 26,955 students in a combined convocation that stretched between 2009 to 2016 academic sessions.

    Acting Rector of the institution, Dr. Ayodele Olaosebikan expressed satisfaction that workers have now put behind the acrimony of the past that had hindered the progress of the school.

    She was happy that all programmes in the school have been fully accredited and announced plans to introduce new courses that would make use of the increase in its infrastructure at the permanent site.

    “We have critically examined our operations and resources and come to the conclusion that the polytechnic has the capacity of generating revenue to augment federal allocations,” she said.