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Tag: Principals

  • Principals to southeast govs: prioritize infrastructure, human devt in schools

    Principals to southeast govs: prioritize infrastructure, human devt in schools

    The southeast zone of the All Nigerian Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS) has urged governors of the zone to prioritise infrastructure and human development in public schools.

    Southeast president of ANCOPSS, Mathew Uzuegbu stated this at the 2023 Southeast Mandatory Professional Training program held at the Dora Akunyili Women Development Center, Awka.

    He praised Governor Chukwuma Soludo for the giant strides recorded by his administration in the education sector, noting that the State had always played a leading role in education.

    He said: “Anambra has always played a leading role in education. I implore other Governors of the South East zone to prioritize infrastructure and human development in public schools.”

    Declaring open the training, the commissioner for education, Prof. Ngozi Chuma-Udeh, said Governor Soludo’s passion for education has remained unparalleled.

    Chuma-Udeh, represented by the Director of Schools, Ifeoma Agbaizu, said the feat was demonstrated immediately on his assumption of office by the employment of 5000 teachers, while activities have commenced for the employment of an additional 3000 teachers.

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    He said: “Principals occupy a highly placed position in Governor Soludo’s education agenda, as their roles in actualizing the education agenda of the State cannot be underestimated.”

    Assuring the principals of an enjoyable stay in the State, the commissioner charged them to maximize the benefits of the program for the progress of education.

    Earlier, Anambra state president of ANCOPSS, Jovita Arazu had listed Soludo’s achievements in his drive to make education an equalizer.

  • Honour for principals, teachers

    Tutor-General/Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Government Education District III, Mrs. Titilayo Margaret Solarin, a lawyer, has held the 12th annual merit award to honour junior secondary schools and senior secondary schools in Epe, Eti-Osa, Ibeju-Lekki and Lagos Island. The programme was also intended to reward best principals, teachers and students in those schools.

    The award ceremony held at B.H.S. Tafawa Balewa Square, Obalende-Lagos.

    The guest speakers were Lagos State Deputy Governor, Mrs Idiat Oluranti Adebule and a member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Tasir Olawale Raji from Epe Federal Constituency.

    Mrs Adebule, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Teachers’ Establishment and Pensions Office, Mrs Olatokunbo Adeleye, congratulated the award recipients and said to whom much is given, much is expected. Hard work leads to being champions and to sustain the championship, hard work is still expected.

    She said the award recipients are role models to some principals, teachers and students.

    Other principals, teachers and students will be looking onto them and strive to get to their level.

    “Comparing a passionate teacher with intelligent teacher, a passionate teacher will see to it that the lowest and weakest student gets to the highest level,” she said.

    Hon. Wale Raji also congratulated the recipients. He promised to give scholarships up to university level to the best three outstanding students who pass the West African Examinations Council (WAEC). He said arrangements in that regard will be concluded before the year ends. The students with the best result in the core subjects will also be specially recognised. The details would be presented later for necessary approval.

    Dignitaries that attended the event were His Royal Majesty (HRM) Oba Abdul-Ganiyu Aderibigbe Asumo, paramount ruler of Odo-Ayandelu Kingdom, Ikosi-Ejinrin, Epe; Tutor- General/Permanent Secretary, Education District I, Dr. (Mrs.) Oluyinka Ayadele; Tutor- General/Permanent Secretary, Education District II, Otunba Ebenezer Abayomi Olusanya; representative of Speaker of Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Wale Esinloku and others.

     

  • Two principals sacked in Anambra over corruption

    Two principals sacked in Anambra over corruption

    The Anambra Government on Wednesday said it sacked two school principals for collection of unapproved fees.

    Prof. Kate Omenugha, the Commissioner for Education made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Awka.

    According to the commissioner, the action is to rid the education system in the state of corruption.

    The commissioner, who declined mentioning the names of the sacked teachers and their respective schools, said the move was also to demonstrate government’s position in the fight against corruption and impunity by public servants.

    She said that the sacked teachers collected illegal fees from students against government position, noting that the present administration had zero tolerance for corruption.

    The commissioner said that under her watch, all bad eggs would be weeded off the education system.

    Omenugha said that another teacher was facing disciplinary action for aiding examination malpractice and assured that the ministry would ensure that sanity returned to the schools.

    She said the measure was part of efforts to promote quality and affordable education in the state.

    On welfare of teachers, she said that plans were ongoing to build teacher’s quarters in schools, especially in the rural areas.

    Omenugha said this would go a long way in encouraging and motivating teachers to put in their best in the discharge of their duties.

    She called on well-meaning individuals to key into the state government’s  “Adopt a School Policy Programme’’, noting that the business of education should not be left for the government alone.

    Omenugha also urged wealthy individuals to also support schools in their respective communities to ensure that children of poor background have access to quality education.

  • Lagos principals challenged to improve learning outcome

    Principals of schools in Lagos State have been tasked to be good leaders, role models and mentors in order to achieve improved learning outcomes for pupils.

    Permanent Secretary, Teachers Establishment Pensions Office (TEPO), Mrs Sewanu Amosu, counselled the principals on delegating, taking charge and ownership of their schools, at the opening of a three-day training and workshop for 100 principals of the state’s secondary schools.

    The exercise, held at Virgin Rose Resorts ,Victoria Island, was themed: ‘Improving schools’ leadership for better learning outcomes.’

    Mrs Amosu said participants were expected to transfer the knowledge acquired at the workshop to their subordinates.

    She said: “There is need to delegate duties to vice principals and teachers in order to meet targets. It helps your subordinates get the feeling of inclusion in the work, which enhances results. Be good mentors to your students. Don’t be afraid of assigning responsibilities. It helps them as much as it helps our health. Strive to ensure good health management.

    “Rest and eat quality food. At the end of this training, we would have been transformed into effective, efficient leaders with greater knowledge. I urge you all to take advantage of the training and transfer the knowledge when you return to school.”

    Mrs Amosu explained that 100 principals were picked in order to facilitate interaction, which would have been hindered if all 700 principals in the state were deployed at once.

    She promised to reciprocate the training on the others in subsequent batches.

    Chairman of the occasion, Dayo Famakinwa, who is Chairman, Committee on Establishment, Training, Pension and Public Service, Lagos State House of Assembly, said: “After this training, we expect to see better administration of schools in Lagos State. The end point is to see that pupils come out in flying colours in their various exams. It is principals that manage schools; so if schools are well managed, that will have a rippling effect on pupils’ results.’’

    Lagos State Chairman All Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS), Mrs Omotunde Lawson, advised participants to network and engage one another in creative thinking and capacity building, so as to make the most of the state’s investment.

    Principal of Lagos State Senior Model College, Badagry, Mr Sunday Fadahunsi, who spoke on behalf of trainees, said: “We are so motivated that we cannot wait to get to our schools and start turning things around. We really thank the Lagos State government for this. Even the environment is very conducive and this will definitely manifest in the results of our students in the next West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).”

     

  • Nasarawa sacks five principals for charging fees in schools

    The Nasarawa State Government says it has removed five principals from different schools for charging fees from students.

    Ramatu Ajuji-Abubakar, Nasarawa State Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, made this known during interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), in Lafia on Tuesday.

    “From our investigation so far, we discovered and have removed five principals of different schools for charging students fees”, she said.

    She further threatened to sanction any principal in public schools caught collecting fees from students.

    According to her, the free education policy of the State Government is still in force from primary to secondary levels.

    “Students are not supposed to pay any money and any principal caught extorting money from the unsuspecting students in the name of school fees would be sanctioned.

    “Students in all the public boarding schools across the state are not to pay money or give any food item as the government has taken full charge of their feeding”, the commissioner said.

    She explained that the state government, through the ministry, had set machinery in motion to check illegal practices by principals.

    Ajuji-Abubakar added that, the government has provided massive infrastructure at both primary and secondary schools in the state in order to provide environment conducive for teachers and students.

    She said in spite of the huge investments of government in providing infrastructure and feeding for boarding students, government was still battling with the high influx of students from private schools.

    She cautioned the leadership of Parent-Teacher Association in the state not to charge the students any money without permission from the ministry as doing so would not be tolerated.

     

  • Principals, head teachers, should acquire PGD in Educational Leadership, NIEPA

    The National Institute for Educational Planning and Administration (NIEPA) has recommended to the federal ministry of education that only teachers with Postgraduate Diploma in Educational Leadership should be appointed as school principals and head teachers.

    The Director-General of NIEPA, Dr Kolawole Ojedele, made the recommendation at the opening of the fifth phase of Millennium Development Goals (MDGS) training for select  head teachers and principals of junior secondary schools from public schools across 36 states, as well and principals of federal unity colleges. It was held at NIEPA’s office in Ondo West local government area of Ondo State.

    Ojedele noted that if it sailed through, the policy would make the nation align with global best practices of appointing qualified teachers for the positions of head teachers and principals.

    The DG noted that NIEPA has submitted a memo to the Joint Committee on Education on the adoption of this new policy.

    “For the nation to enhance quality education at the basic education level, there is the need for mandatory postgraduate diploma in educational leadership for any teacher that is aspiring to leadership position in the school system.

    “In developed countries, appointment to the position of a principal is hinged on the possession of a professional postgraduate diploma in Leadership.

    “In Africa, countries like South Africa and Namibia have the possession of Professional Postgraduate Diploma in Education Leadership, a prerequisite for appointment to the position of head teachers of primary schools and principal of secondary schools.

    “However, in Nigeria, appointment to leadership position in the primary and secondary schools is based mainly on possession of degree in Education or Postgraduate Diploma in Education (PGDE), a minimum of National Certificate in Education (NCE) for primary schools and number of years of experience, as classroom teacher, vice principal and assistant head teacher.”

    “These criteria have been found to be inadequate in preparing Nigerian school managers for exploring issues such as effective educational leadership policy and strategy, human resources, leadership development, complexities of educational organisations and teams which are essential for achieving Nigerian educational goals and objectives at basic and post basic education respectively.”

  • NIEPA trains 37,000 principals to manage data

    No fewer than 37,000 principals of secondary schools have been trained by the National Institute for Educational Planning and Administration (NIEPA) on data management and students’ discipline in the last four years.

    Disclosing this to reporters at NIEPA’s third national conference held in Ondo, Ondo State, the Director-General of the institute, Dr Peter Ojedele, said the trainees were selected from junior and senior public schools in all the 36 states of the Federation.

    Ojedele expressed worry over poor management of data by schools’ head teachers, a development, he said has stunted government’s education policies.

    He noted that NIEPA had been moving round the senatorial districts in the 36 states to train head teachers since 2011, but had to change its gear as a result of the advice by the federal ministry of education to camp trainees at the NIEPA office to enhance participants’ cross fertilisation of ideas.

    Part of the measure put in place by NIEPA to make education system in Nigeria attractive, according to Ojedele, was the discussion at the conference by scholars, who advised government on issues affecting educational planning and administration with respect to integrity, accountability and development in Nigeria.

    According to Ojedele, two papers were presented by Prof Adebayo Abdulkareem from the University of Ilorin, Kwara State and Prof Taiwo Edun from Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State.

    However, in their communiqué made available to The Nation, participants observed that poor  record-keeping in schools and falsification of records, inadequate funding of staff and fraudulent practices by some individuals or groups, are the major problems affecting educational planning and administration in Nigeria.

    They listed other issues as the affective domain of learning in curriculum design for learners and lack of integrity by most people including those in the academia. They, therefore, suggested that educational administrators should be groomed in the science and art of management to get equipped in the principle of administration for use appropriately.

     

  • NIEPA trains 37,000 principals to manage data

    NIEPA trains 37,000 principals to manage data

    To fewer than 37,000 principals of secondary schools have been trained by the National Institute for Educational Planning and Administration (NIEPA) on data management and students’ discipline in the last four years.

    Disclosing this to reporters at NIEPA’s third national conference held in Ondo, Ondo State, the Director-General of the institute, Dr Peter Ojedele, said the trainees were selected from junior and senior public schools in all the 36 states of the Federation.

    Ojedele expressed worry over poor management of data by schools’ head teachers, a development, he said has stunted government’s education policies.

    He noted that NIEPA had been moving round the senatorial districts in the 36 states to train head teachers since 2011, but had to change its gear as a result of the advice by the federal ministry of education to camp trainees at the NIEPA office to enhance participants’ cross fertilisation of ideas.

    Part of the measure put in place by NIEPA to make education system in Nigeria attractive, according to Ojedele, was the discussion at the conference by scholars, who advised government on issues affecting educational planning and administration with respect to integrity, accountability and development in Nigeria.

    According to Ojedele, two papers were presented by Prof Adebayo Abdulkareem from the University of Ilorin, Kwara State and Prof Taiwo Edun from Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State.

    However, in their communiqué made available to The Nation, participants observed that poor  record-keeping in schools and falsification of records, inadequate funding of staff and fraudulent practices by some individuals or groups, are the major problems affecting educational planning and administration in Nigeria.

    They listed other issues as the affective domain of learning in curriculum design for learners and lack of integrity by most people including those in the academia. They therefore suggested that educational administrators should be groomed in the science and art of management to get equipped in the principle of administration for use appropriately.

     

  • Parents seek principal’s probe for alleged corruption

    Parents and guardians of students of the Federal Government College, Efon Alaaye in Ekiti State, have petitioned the Presidency and the Federal Ministry of Education accusing the Principal, Mrs. Grace Ogunyemi, of corruption.

    In their petition, a copy of which was made available to The Nation, they accused Mrs. Ogunyemi of extorting money from their wards through imposition of illegal fees without the knowledge of the ministry.

    The aggrieved parents and guardians in the petition signed by their Chairman, Tolu Ajibade, Secretary Paul Omotayo and 57 others, urged President Muhammadu Buhari to raise a panel to probe the matter to prevent further exploitation.

    They attached a list of their grievances to the petition, including all related circulars regarding fees from the Federal Ministry of Education which Ogunyemi allegedly ran foul of.

    Besides, the principal was also alleged of running the college like her private estate through “declaration of unapproved holidays and resumptions while teachers and non-teaching staff were isolated from the running of the school,“ the petition further added.

    They accused Ogunyemi of running the college like a typical private school because of the exorbitant fees charged, thereby making life difficult for poor parents who had thought a federal school would give them some succour.

    The petition reads in part: “We have since found out that the principal was merely acting alone as such fees were never approved by the ministry.

    “We also have in our custody, a recent circular from the Federal Ministry, signed by the Director, Department of Secondary Education, Mr. D.C. Uwaezuoke and dated June 23, 2015 stating details of approved fees payable by students, but which the principal has continually ignored.

    “We want Mr. President and the ministry to act fast so that his good vision of transforming the education sector and making it affordable and accessible is not truncated by the activities of elements such as the principal of our children’s school,” the parents said.

    According to them, the Federal Government must ensure that an external auditor was also sent to the school while the principal must be made to refund illegal fee so far collected from parents and pupils to avoid crisis.

    The parents threatened to embark on street protests as well as disrupt students’ resumption if no action is taken to address their grievances before resumption.

    Reacting to the allegations against her, Mrs Ogunyemi said she should be appreciated for what she called “the great work” she had done at the college. In a telephone chat with our reporter, she said: “You know I am a civil servant. I am not supposed to talk on this matter, but you can come over to the school when we resume and see what God has done through me in that school.

    “You are entitled to your opinion and I am entitled to my opinion. In whatever you do, don’t let other people use you to bring down somebody else.

    “I am at present in Abuja. I am not in Efon now, but you can visit the school and see what I have done.’’ Federal Government Girls College, Efon came first in the Southwest region in Mathematics and you can verify what we have achieved since we came in.

    “Those doing this are pursuing some interests; the mischief of human beings cannot stop the work of God,” Mrs Ogunyemi added.

     

  • Bonus for principals, others

    It was cheering news for principals and directors of the Lagos State Ministry of Education when the Head of Service, Mrs Oluseyi Williams, announced a 15 per cent bonus on top of their December salaries last Friday.

    Mrs Williams announced the bonus at a party and award programme in honour of principals of public secondary schools and directors in the ministry, which held at the Grandeur Event Centre, Oregun, Ikeja.

    She said the money was ready to be remitted into their accounts, adding that the state was ahead of many others in the country in timely payment of salaries.

    “Government is appreciative of what you are doing.  Continue to put in your best.  Our December salary will be out any moment from now and it is coming with a bonus of 15 per cent.  This is coming at a time when some other states owe up to three months; some are still looking for November salary,” she said.

    Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Mrs Omolara Erogbogbo, thanked the principals for working hard during the year to achieve the state’s educational objectives. She urged them to continue in the same way.

    “The Ministry of Education cannot exist without teachers and principals.  As you take care of those children committed to your care, God will take care of your children; you will find favour.  We encourage you to do more and to be appreciative of what we have done.  We know it is not yet uhuru, but we will get there,” she said.

    Other dignitaries, who spoke at the event, included Mr Wahab Alawiye-King, Chairman, House Committee on Education; Prof Abisogun Leigh, former Vice-Chancellor, Lagos State University (LASU), the NUT Chairman, Comrade Segun Raheem, and the President, All Nigerian Confederation of Principals of Secondary School (ANCOPSS) Lagos State Chapter, Mrs Omotunde Lawson.

    Prof Leigh, who chaired the occasion, congratulated Mrs Oladunjoye for her achievements in managing the ministry.  He said it was different from the time he served as Commissioner for Education in 1978.

    “You have done so well so far and I pray that God will continue to direct the ministry under the leadership of Mrs Oladunjoye.  Precisely in 1978 I was holding that position and I can see the development that has taken place,” he said.

    Plaques were presented to outstanding principals and directors in the six education districts, Otunba Ayobade Obajimi, former Tutor-General/Permanent Secretary, Education District IV, and Sir Kessington Adebutu,were given awards  for his support to the education sector. Also awarded was Mrs A. Jemerigbe, Director-General, Nigerian Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA).

    Oladunjoye and Erogbogbo were also presented with awards.