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Tag: model colleges

  • Lagos enforces protection policies at model colleges

    Lagos enforces protection policies at model colleges

    Lagos State Safety Commission (LSSC) has reiterated its commitment to ensuring safety and well-being of students at Lagos State model colleges.

    Director General Mr. Lanre Mojola, represented by the Technical Adviser, Mr. Seun Awojobi, at a training programme tagged: ‘Safety sensitisation for house managers, food vendors and stakeholders in Lagos State Model Colleges’, said the training was aimed to educate house managers, food vendors and stakeholders on the need to prioritise safety and security in boarding schools.

    Read Also: Lagos holds screening test to Model Colleges, others May 31

    He said LSSC had been working to ensure schools adhered to safety standard and protocols.

    Special Adviser on Education in Ogun State and former director general, Education Quality Assurance in Lagos State, Dr. Ronke Soyombo, spoke on effective quality service delivery, optimum house-keeping, emotional intelligence, safety and security of students and crowd control in the boarding school system.

  • Ambode orders contractors to hasten work on model colleges

    Ambode orders contractors to hasten work on model colleges

    Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode yesterday ordered contractors handling the construction of model colleges across the state to speed up work and deliver on schedule.

    The governor spoke after inspecting the level of work at Angus Memorial High School, Shomolu; Lagos City Senior College, Yaba and Awori Senior College, Ojo.

    He stated this through Deputy Governor, Dr Idiat Oluranti Adebule, who led top government officials on the tour.

    Ambode recalled that at the end of last year, the state executive council approved N10billion for the rehabilitation of existing schools as well as the construction of eight new ones, including three model colleges to boost students’ learning experience.

    Expressing disappointment over the slow pace of work on the new Model College in Awori, the governor ordered the contractor to work round the clock to meet up with the delivery time.

    “I must say I am not particularly happy with the pace of work (in Awori). We have been to other two project sites approved alongside this project and work has progressed pretty well in those places.

    “The essence of our going round today is to see the level of work in the sites without relying solely on the reports on paper and obviously, we can see what they have done so far.

    “I will be back again in the next one month to assess progress of work. I hope the contractor at Awori will improve on the pace of work because they have been mobilised. Having been mobilised, they should do what is expected of them,” he said.

    Ambode, who also commissioned the ultra-modern Herbert Macaulay Library in Yaba, said the facility would go a long way to improve reading culture in the state.

    While thanking GTBank for partnering the state to remodel the facility, the governor urged other corporate organisations to take a cue and invest in the education sector.

    “On behalf of Governor Ambode, I want to thank GTB for adopting the library and for the transformation work you have done. In the Ministry of Education, we appreciate the work the bank is doing particularly with the Principal’s Cup and today, we are here to commission the library.

    “For us in the State, we believe strongly that by doing this, we are returning this library to the general public. It has been a very historic library in the state and with the transformation that has been done, I have no doubt that this library will be assuming a landmark position where all kinds of people can come here to enjoy the benefit. We have the e-library and other facilities here,” Adebule said.

    The governor also appreciated the Herbert Macaulay family for being part of the transformation, and assured that the government would continue to uphold the glory of the library.

    Earlier, Managing Director of GTBank, Segun Agbaje said the decision to partner with the state Government to remodel the library under the Adopt-A-Library Initiative was to contribute its quota to enhance the education sector.

    He expressed optimism that with the facilities embedded in the library, residents of the state can gain access to a wide range of educational and historical materials to enhance their reading knowledge.

    Among the features of the library include a room dedicated to historical artefacts -including some relating to the life and times of Herbert Macaulay -, an innovation hub that will serve as a Coding Centre, a lounge/café area, a reading area with updated books and an e-library section, wheelchair accessible ramps and a finished courtyard area, among others.

     

  • Ambode urges students to shun negative values, vices

    Ambode urges students to shun negative values, vices

    …Lays Foundation of two additional Model Colleges

    Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode on Friday advised students in the State to fully embrace the opportunities being provided by his administration in the education sector and shun all negative values and vices that could hinder them from realising their dreams

    The Governor said his vision remained the building of great future full of opportunities, possibilities and prosperity for the youths through the provision of qualitative education that is consistent with the demands of the 21st century, and as such it was important for students to reciprocate by showing commitment to excellence.

    The Governor, who spoke at the foundation laying ceremony of two additional Model Colleges in Yaba and Shomolu, recalled that since his assumption of office on May 29, 2015, conscious efforts have been made through policies and programmes that placed high premium on education as a vehicle for continued and future prosperity of the State.

    Governor Ambode, who had earlier on Thursday performed the foundation laying ceremony of the New Model School in Awori College, Ojo, said he remained committed to the reformation and strengthening of public schools in the State with the view to ensure that they are given the best in terms of quality teaching and learning environment.

    Speaking at Angus Memorial High School in Shomolu where he was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr Tunji Bello, the Governor said the sustained efforts on education was already yielding results as the performance of students in the last West African Examination Council (WAEC) conducted examination was most assuring and an indication that the State was moving in the right direction.

    Already, the Governor said contracts have been awarded for the construction of eight new blocks of classrooms as well as the renovation of 174 existing blocks of classrooms and the construction of perimeter fence in various schools to enhance security, while government has also commenced the supply of over 40,000 students’ furnitures on a quarterly basis to clear the identified shortfall of 160,000.

    The Governor, who also performed the foundation laying ceremony of New Model School Building at Lagos City College, Sabo, Yaba where he was represented by his Special Adviser on Education, Mr Obafela Bank-Olemoh, said the new edifice being added to secondary schools, apart from aiding teaching and learning, would compare favourably with high school structures in leading countries of the world.

    “Apart from the aesthetics value, the new structure is capable of enhancing security of students, staff and schools materials in the face of the recent security breaches in our schools. It would comprise 36 classrooms, library, staff rooms, multipurpose hall, laboratories, Principal/Vice Principal’s offices and modern toilet facilities for both junior and senior schools.”

    “Let me assure all parents that we will continue to do our very best to ensure that our schools are safe from intruders. We have put in place measures to secure our pupils, students, teaching and non-teaching staff. Our standards are high and we will continue to make them better,” the Governor said.

    In her welcome address, Deputy Governor and the State’s Commissioner for Education, Dr. Idiat Oluranti Adebule thanked the Governor for his passion for education, just as she assured that the Ministry would take ownership of the project and use it judiciously.

    The Deputy Governor, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Mr Adeshina Odeyemi, also said that government would not rest on its oars, but rather redouble efforts to ensure continuous improvement in the sector.

    In his remarks, Chairman of Lagos State House of Assembly Committee on Appropriation, Rotimi Olowo commended the Governor over provision of world class infrastructures in public schools, saying that the Governor has now become the reference point of good governance not just in Nigeria, but in Africa.

    On their parts, Sole Administrators of Yaba and Bariga Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs), Bayo Adefuye and Sanya Osijo respectively, said it was evident that Governor Ambode has shown relentless determination toward ensuring that qualitative education gets to the grassroots.

    “We are indeed grateful that our Governor is living up to expectation by taking education as of utmost importance and we like to urge residents to take good care of this edifice that is being bequeathed to us by government,” Adefuye said.

    Also, Lagos State Chairman of National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Comrade Moses Adewale, hailed the Governor over the massive infrastructure development in the State.

    Adewale, who spoke on behalf of students in the State, said it was gratifying to note that Lagos under Governor Ambode has been recruiting and paying staff as at when due when other States were retrenching and even unable to pay staff, saying that the development exemplified the Governor’s managerial acumen and commitment to welfare of Lagosians.

  • 10,289 take Lagos model colleges exams

    10,289 take Lagos model colleges exams

    With candidates showing increasing interest in the Computer Based Test (CBT) mode, the Lagos State government has promised to improve ICT facilities in its education sector.

    Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Education, Mr Adesina Odeyemi, reiterated government’s commitment to ICT development while monitoring the screening test for primary six pupils seeking admission into Lagos State model colleges last Saturday.

    Fifty-four out of 10,289 candidates registered for the CBT mode of the examination – 37 more than last year.  They took the examination at the Computer Centre of the Lagos State Examinations Board in Iyana Ipaja in two batches because of its limited capacity.

    Odeyemi, who started his monitoring from the board, said the government would expand the board’s ICT facilities so that it can accommodate more candidates next year. He also said the Ministry of Science and Technology was already working on equipping schools with computers and solar panels for alternative power supply.

    He said: “We just started last year and throughout the federation, Lagos State is the first.  Last year we had 17 candidates, and this year we have 54.  We have intention of expanding the facility.  The Ministry of Science and Technology is working at it.  By next year, when we expect to have more candidates taking the examination, the facility would be improved.”

    Odeyemi also visited Government Junior College, Agege and Vetland Junior Secondary School, Ifako Ijaiye, some of the 28 centres where majority of the candidates sat for the examination using the Paper and Pencil Test (PPT) mode in company of the Director, LSEB, Mr Olufemi Hassan.  Save for registration hitches that resulted in a few candidates not having the customised Optimal Marker Recognition (OMR) sheets, and the fielding of underage pupils, the examination went smoothly.

    At the Vetland Junior Secondary School Centre, more than the number of candidates  that registered for the examination turned up.  Though there were only 468 names registered on the board, 477 candidates sat for the examination.  However, those whose names were not on the list were allowed to write.

    Mrs Mariam Yakubu, mother of Alimot, one of the affected candidates, said she registered her daughter appropriately but was surprised her name was not on the list.

    “I saw her exact examination number on the list but another person’s name and passport photograph was on it.  I registered her properly.  She is not the first child I have that would write the examination for this school.  Her senior brother is here,” she said.

    Odeyemi said the board would investigate what went wrong and act accordingly.

    “Some of the candidates don’t have OMR so we put them in a class and allowed them to write the examination. After this, we will investigate.  If the error is from their end, we will let them know; if it is ours, we will take correction,” he said.

    LSEB Director, Mr Hassan, also said the board would investigate reports that underage pupils took the examination meant for primary six pupils.  He took phone calls from an officer posted to another centre who reported that a primary three pupil was registered at his centre.  Hassan told the officer to allow the pupil take the examination and investigate afterwards.

    Explaining the reason for it, he said: “The psychology of that child matters to us. We won’t just stop the child from taking the examination.  That was why I told the officer to set the script aside so we investigate,” he said.

     

  • 10,289 candidates jostling for admission into Lagos model colleges

    No fewer than 10,289 candidates on Saturday sat for the Lagos State 2016 screening test into the 15 Junior Model Colleges and Upgraded Secondary Schools in 28 centres across the state.

    The Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Education, Mr Adesina Odeyemi,  disclosed this to newsmen after monitoring the exercise.

    Odeyemi was accompanied by the Director, Lagos State Examinations Board, Mr Oluwafemi Hassan to monitor the examinations across the state.

    They visited Government Junior Grammar School, Iyana-Ipaja, CBT centre at the Examination Board Complex and Vertland Junior Model College, Agege, Lagos.

    Odeyemi expressed satisfaction in the smooth conduct of the examination at the centres visited.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that this is an improvement compared to the 8,900 candidates that sat for the test in 2015.

    The permanent secretary said the examination was conducted both in the Computer Based Test (CBT) mode and the Paper Pencil Test (PPT) mode.

    He said 54 out of the candidates sat for the computer mode, while the rest sat for the PPT.

    He said more pupils sat for the CBT mode this year compared to 17 candidates who opted for the CBT pilot scheme in 2015.

    “We have not done badly in the conduct of the examination, some centres started early, while a few others started late due the late arrival of candidates.

    “Generally, it was a well conducted examination, but the observations and complaints from some parents will be look into and be corrected in future examinations.

    “The number for the CBT mode is increasing because of the awareness in schools; it also shows that parents too are embracing ICT.

    “Government will continue to invest in education and train our children acquire ICT knowledge from kindergarten.

    “Candidates will be placed in schools according to the cut- off marks,’’ he said.

    The permanent secretary said the state government was preparing to adopt the CBT mode in primary and secondary schools in the state.

    He said the Lagos State Ministry Science and Technology had been directed by the state governor to provide ICT centres, equipment and facilities in schools across the state.

    He said the state would switch over to the CBT mode of examinations as soon as the facilities were on ground, adding that the world had gone beyond manual mode of examinations.

    The Director, Lagos State Examination Board, Mr Oluwafemi Hassan, also told newsmen that more students were developing interests in computer based examinations.

    He said that in 2015, the 17 candidates who sat for the examination passed and gained admissions into the model and upgraded schools.

    He said an Optical Marker Recognition sheet, with embossed pictures of the candidates was used for the test.

    “The CBT mode is not easier than the PPT, the questions are the same but we randomized it in the computer mode so the candidate cannot cheat or assist each other.

    “The CBT mode has eliminated examination malpractices and delayed results; with this mode, students get their results almost immediately after the test.

    “Last year, we had 17 candidates for the pilot scheme, and this year we have 54 candidates, which shows that our pupils are becoming aware of the computer-based- test mode of examinations,” he said.

    A parent, Mrs Mariam Yakubu, however, complained that the picture and name of her daughter was omitted from the list of candidates at Vetland Junior Secondary School.

    Yakubu said the print-out given to her daughter after registration stated the centre but other information missing.

    She urged the state government to investigate the complaint so that her child would not be denied admission on errors not caused by her.

     

  • Lagos Assembly condemns neglect of model colleges

    Lagos Assembly condemns neglect of model colleges

    Chairman, Committee on Education of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Olanrewaju Ogunyemi has condemned the state of infrastructure in the state’s model colleges.

    He then advised the state government to urgently address the issues in the colleges to sustain the visions of their founders and restore the lost glory of the schools.

    Ogunyemi, who led other members of the committee to Lagos State Model College, Igbonla, Epe on Wednesday lamented in an interview with journalists that the school has been cut off from the society, and that the facilities in the hostels and the school generally have been overstretched.

    “We don’t want to assume that things are right, which is why we decided to go round all our schools in the state to be sure that we are really doing what ought to be done.

    “Our tour so far has been extremely revealing about the dilapidation and retrogression of our model colleges. There is need for us to improve the situation. Since much is being given to education in the budget of the state this year, we should seriously improve the facilities in our model schools. We would go back to the drawing board and advise the executive to ensure that we give the children in model schools a new lease of life,” he said.

    According to him, a trip round the school revealed that the students were being subjected to inhuman condition in their hostels, which he said were over-populated and unkempt.

    “The facilities in the hostels are inadequate, we see a lot of cramping of beds and we saw that it is not conducive. There is a hostel there that has been abandoned since the school was established, if the building is completed, it would go a long way to improve the hostel facilities.

    “The feeding of the students should be improved upon, also some of the children could not take care of themselves because they are under-aged. So, the government should apply age restriction and we feel that the model schools in the state should be model in their outlook,” he said.

    Ogunyemi described as worrisome a situation, where the students have to keep their luggages outside the hostels due to congestion and over-population, defecate in the open, while some of them that are under-aged have special rooms because they bedwet.

    He also condemned the conversion of the school library to examination hall without an alternative location for library, where he said the children could do researches.

    “The school should have improvised a room for library because without a library, the students cannot research. The vision of the founders of model schools in Lagos State needs to be sustained and we need close and adequate monitoring of our model schools to ensure that we get it right. We will go back to let the executive know that we have an urgent and critical need in our model schools.

    “We have asked the school authority about their security, the number of security men they have and advised them to ensure that they relate with the community to handle emergency situation,” he said.

    He also condemned the state of the road leading to the school, stressing that it is terrible and that the schools in the state should be accessible to the public.

    Addressing the students in the dining hall, Ogunyemi said that the committee decided to pay an unscheduled visit to the school to see how they were faring.

    “Though you cannot vote due to your ages, but some of your parents voted for us and we promised them that we would protect their interest. We came to see where you sleep and where you are learning and what you eat.

    “By the grace of God, your situation would change. We want you to continue to be good children and keep good hygiene, nobody would take care of you better than yourselves,” he stated.

    He told the students that some of the things that the committee members saw in the hostels were irritating, adding that some of the students were defecating in the open spaces.

    “The odour around your hostel was bad. We have seen the condition under which you live and we could see that the facilities are overstretched. By the grace of God, the government would do something about it and we are happy to be here,” he said.

    The Principal of the Junior Section of the school, Mr. Bolaji Oyesola, who led other staff to receive the committee members, said that a room has actually been converted to a library for the students.

    Oyesola added that the school management is trying to make do with what they have within their limited resources.

    “We take care of their feeding very well and give them water. We make sure that the students are comfortable. We have been managing what we have since the school was established in 1988. The facilities were meant for below 200 students, but now we have over 1,000 students,” he said.

    The committee later visited the Education District 3 of the state in Falomo, Ikoyi, Lagos that is controlling the college, where they met with the Tutor General/Permanent Secretary of the District, Mr. Olayinka Gbemi Olaniyi and other top management staff of the district.

    Ogunyemi intimated them of the findings of the committee in the school and urged the district to ensure that they are conversant with the condition of the schools within their jurisdiction with a specific reference to the model college in Igbonla and its challenges.