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Tag: resumption

  • Resumption: FCT schools record high turnout

    Primary and Secondary schools in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), that reopened on Monday for the second term, recorded high turnout of students.

    The News Agency of Nigeria correspondent who visited some of the schools, reports that students were seen in their numbers receiving lectures from their teachers.

    At the Government Secondary School (GSS), Garki, the Principal, Mr Haruna Nabayi, told NAN that out of the 980 students in the school, 484 were in school on the first day of resumption.

    “ The school has just resumed its second term academic activities and we are expecting `bumper harvest both in academic and in number.’

    “We have 980 students population, out of this, 484 have resumed and hopefully before the week runs out, all the students will resume. It is an indication that parents know we are serious. ’’

    Also, Mr Haruna Nabayi, Principal, GSS Tudun Wada, Wuse Zone 4, said teachers had resumed work fully and called on students who were yet to resume to do so.

    “We are expecting the students to focus more on their studies as much as the teachers are ready to work, so there is need for them to study day in and day out.’’

    While reacting to the fixing of elections during school calendar, Nabayi said the elections would not disrupt academic activities.

    “Fixing of elections has nothing to do with the school system because the elections are on Saturdays and it will have no effect on schools, ‘’ he said.

    Mr Agbambu Ramah, Head Boy, GSS Tudun Wada, who spoke, called on students yet to return to do so.

    Similarly, Miss Khadijah Muhammad, an SS 3 student of GSS, Tudun Wada, appealed to students to begin the term with zeal and determination.

    NAN also spoke with head teachers of some private schools on the resumption and fixing of elections during the school calendar.

    Mr Seth Mmadufor, Head Teacher, God’s Power Academy, while commending parents for releasing their children for the second term, called on those who travelled to return as soon as possible to enable their children be in school.

    On the elections, Mmadufor called on the Federal Government to consider fixing elections when children were on holidays to avoid disruption of academic activities.

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    “ Fixing the elections during this period is really going to affect parents and students.

    “Sometimes you hear parents saying they may not come back after the festive period till the general elections are over.

    “ What the government should do in subsequent elections is to carry along education stakeholders, INEC and the rest to fix a convenient date for elections.’’

    Similarly, Mrs Olabisi Abiina, Proprietress, Eshaddai Academy, called on the government to show increased commitment to the development of education.

  • Resumption: Teachers visit pupils over low turnout

    There was low turnout in many schools in Lagos State on Monday. A school, De Gloryland College, Ejigbo, Lagos, sent teachers to visit their pupils at home to find out why.

    But some schools began academic work immediately to encourage their pupils to resume.

    Principal of De Gloryland College, Mrs Sophia Onajaefe, said the teachers visits revealed that the pupils were still preparing for resumption.

    “The number of pupils that resumed yesterday (Monday) was really low, so some teachers were sent out for visitation. It tuned out that parents were still preparing their children for resumption,” she said.

    However, by Tuesday, she said the attendance had improved.

    When The Nation visited Anifowoshe Primary School, Ikeja, Lagos on Monday, the pupils were few. In some classes, there were only five or nine pupils.

    The head teacher, who simply identified herself as Mrs Aliu, said the turnout was too poor, attributing it to the habit of the pupils not resuming on time.

    She said academic work would start in earnest to encourage the pupils turn up in school.

    “The turnout is too poor – though we are still expecting them.  That is always the norm with them in Lagos State primary schools and even the secondary schools. When we resume, some of them will still doubt if it is true until they see others coming back from school.

    “I have told my teachers to start work fully today so that when the pupils get home, they can inform others and this will encourage them to join us,” she said.

    One of the teachers who did not want to be named said they had been instructed to start work fully and even conduct a test which would be recorded.

    He said those that resumed would benefit more than those that did not.

    The experience was similar at Mahrifan Keystone Private School, Okepopo Street Lagos Island, where the proprietor, Mahruf Atolani, attributed the low turnout to the unpreparedness of parents.

    He said: ” Owing to the fact that this is the first week of resumption, and that some parents are not ready for resumption yet, there is partial resumption of pupils in school but will not stop us from commencing studies fully as that would propel others to come to school.’’

  • Clouds over LAUTECH’s resumption

    Clouds over LAUTECH’s resumption

    The reopening of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) in Ogbomoso, Oyo State, last week, ought to be cheery news for students, who were sent home for six months due to a workers’strike. But after the resumption announced by the institution’s Governing Council, students were worried about the “disheartening responses” from their lecturers who have vowed not to resume until their demands are met. ISRAEL FAWOLE reports.

    Six months after activities at the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) were paralysed following an industrial action by teachers and non-academic staff, the institution’s Governing Council, last Thursday, announced its reopening. But, strike-weary students are not cheered by the news.

    In an email by the Registrar, Mr. Jacob Agboola, the management urged students and employees to resume at the Ogbomoso and Osogbo campuses, adding that registration would commence on October 3, after the Independence holiday.

    Mixed reactions have been trailing the announcement of the school’s resumption. Besides, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and other workers’unions, under the aegis of the Joint Action Committee (JAC), have vowed not to return to work, until their demands are met.

    ASUU Chairman Dr. Biodun Olaniran and the JAC leader Mr. Muraina Alesinloye said their members would not resume, because the unions were not aware of the resumption directive.

    Olaniran said the union was unaware of the university’s announcement of a resumption date. He said members would remain on an indefinite strike until its demands were met by the Visitors to the school – Oyo and Osun state governments.

    The ASUU demands, according to Olaniran, include payment of 11 months’ salaries, earned academic allowances, gratuities and pensions, health insurance and promotion, among others.

    He said: “ASUU will not obey any resumption directive until our demands are met. If our demands are not addressed by the Visitors to the school, the strike continues indefinitely.”

    Alesinloye said none of the three unions under JAC was aware of the resumption. He said: “I am the chairman of SSANU, but I am speaking as the chairman of JAC now. We are not aware of the resumption and you will agree that you cannot obey any directive you are not aware of.”

    For students, the unions’ responses to the resumption are worrisome, raising anxiety that the resumption could be a mirage at the end of the day.

    Seleem Adeniyi, a 500-Level Chemical Engineering student, said the reactions of the academic staff indicated that there was no agreement between the Governing Council and workers before the announcement of the resumption date. He urged the owner-states and the school management to meet with workers and accede to their demands.

    Adeniyi said: “I am not elated about the resumption, because it could be temporary. The lecturers’ demands have not been met, yet we want them to come to teach. They also have heavy financial responsibilities to meet. They have children and family members to care for. They also need to pay for healthcare and other services. If they are not paid, we would be foolish to expect them on campus. The management needs to give them strong assurance on their demands.”

    Having spent months at home, Oyekunle Oyedijo, a 500-Level Biochemistry student, said it would be disappointing if students’ hopes were dashed because of the ASUU’s no-resumption comment.

    He said: “This crisis has caused a irreparable damage to students’ psyches. Some of us have died in the course of the strike. Some are on sickbeds. Even, some of our lecturers died because there was no money to pay for treatment. In the interest of students, the government and the management need to create a lasting solution to the crisis. Our hopes in the school would be dashed if this resumption is short-lived.”

    Sodiq Babatunde, an Agricultural Science student, expressed concern about the rumour making the rounds that there could be hike in tuition fee.

    “The burden of paying for hostels we have not stayed in for months is on us already. Yet, we are hearing that tuition fees could be increased, to drive up the school’s Internally-Generated Revenue (IGR). How do they expect us to balance this? They need to consider our plight, because the economy is not in good shape,” he said.

    Enike Oleghe, a Pure and Applied Chemistry student, said: “I was so excited when I heard the news about our resumption, but it is unfortunate that the demands of the workers have not been met. This is pertinent to solving the crisis. The management, as a medium between the workers’unions and the government, should consider students’plight and hasten up the process of engaging the lecturers. They need to ensure that nothing disrupts this resumption. We are tired of staying at home.”

    Damilola Abodun, a students’ leader, warned against tution fee hike, saying it would be counter-productive. He said the solution was not to increase tuition fee, but the effective management of resources. He added that students would move against any  fee hike.

    Titilayo Robert, a Transport Management student, said: “Announcement of resumption without the workers’unions looks like a political propaganda. We are begging the government to stop toying with our future. We are not getting any younger. If their own children attend schools abroad, they should remember children of the poor masses who can’t afford to send their own children overseas.”

    Busayo Oyedele, another student, lamented that she had remained on the same level since 2015, describing the perennial strike as “disturbing”.

    Busayo said: “The state of LAUTECH is pathetic. Our mates in other schools are ahead of us in many ways. How can university students remain on the same level for two years? We will keep begging them until they consider it right to do what is needful to restore the lost glory of LAUTECH.”

    CAMPUSLIFE gathered that members of the Students’ Union Government (SUG) held a congress with some students’ bodies on Wednesday, last week, to discuss the way forward for LAUTECH. The congress was attended by the National Association of Nigeria Students (NANS), Alliance of Nigerian Students Against Neo-Liberal Attacks, Liberal Movement, National Liberty Vanguard, and Democratic Socialist Movement.

    In their joint communiqué, the students’ bodies said they would mobilise against the Oyo and Osun states’ government should the school fail to re-open. They vowed to move against the Governing Council.

     

  • A resumption that never was

    A resumption that never was

    After spending months at home, many Kogi State tertiary institutions’ students rushed back to their schools on learning of their resumption. But it turned out to be a hoax. The government has, however, fixed June 5 for their resumption. MOHAMMED YABAGI reports.

    ‘With our vibrant and competent Governing Councils in place in the tertiary institutions and the Visitation Panels, we have put in place, sustainable solutions to possible future disruption’

    It  was supposed to be good news for students of Kogi State higher institutions who have been at home for four months, but it turned out to be a hoax.

    When the students heard about their reopening last week, many rushed to their schools. But they met empty institutions.

    The government denied  making the announcement, saying it has fixed June 5 for resumption.

    But the students are unhappy with  the government and their lecturers over the development.

    The workers’ strike, which affected schools remain unresolved, leaving the eight higher institutions shut for almost four months.

    Hopes of resumption were raised last week when news broke that the government and the workers had struck a deal. This was reinforced by goverment’s statement penultimate week, warning that it would take “drastic action” if the institutions were not reopened last May 15.

    Apparently excited by the news, the students prepared for resumption. Many of them returned to school on May 4 in the hope that the strike would be called off. However, their hopes were dashed when they met their schools still shut.

    The government and the aggrieved workers are yet to reach an agreement. CAMPUSLIFE gathered that the workers’ unions, especially the Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), vowed to continue with the strike, unless the government meets their demands.

    Finding the schools’closure as embarrassing, the government attempted to re-open them on two occasions. But the workers’ unions, it was learnt,  rejected the move.

    The schools, including the Kogi State College of Education (Technical) in Kabba, College of Education in Ankpa, Kogi State Polytechnic (KOGI POLY) in Lokoja, School of Nursing and Midwifery in Obangede, and the Kogi State University (KSU) in Anyigba, were shut when CAMPUSLIFE correspondent visited last weekend.

    At the KSU, the campus was literally a ghost town. Some of the classrooms and key facilities overgrown by weed. The community residents had converted some land belonging to the school into farms.

    The school’s main gate, which used to be a beehive, was deserted. There were no security guards at  the gate. CAMPUSLIFE gathered that some of the guards in the security unit of the school were affected by the mass sack that trailed the recently-concluded government’s verification.

    Enraged by the resumption hoax, the students embarked on peaceful protest. They condemned the government, academic and non-academic workers. They expressed sadness over the strike, saying their lecturers and the government are “inconsiderate and insensitive” to their plight. They called for immediate resolution of the crisis.

    Ilemona Onechojo, a 300-Level Economics student, told CAMPUSLIFE that KSU students were strike-weary, adding that the continued closure of their school has rendered many of them useless. If the school is not re-opened on time, he said, the state might witness increased crime rate as the students might be forced to resort to crime because of idleness.

    Ilemona described the sacking of over 200 KSU staff as wicked, wondering why the government bypassed the Governing Council to screen the affected employees.

    He said: “The government needs to reverse its stance on the recently-concluded screening of the university workers, because there is a constituted Governing Council in place to undertake the exercise. I believe verification or screening of workers of any academic institution should be the responsibility of the management.”

    For Mohammed Abubakar, a Higher National Diploma (HND) II student of KOGI POLY, it does not matter to him whose fault it is that the state-owned tertiary institutions were shut. He said those concerned must reach a compromise, so that the students could return to their studies.

    He said: “The continued closure of higher institutions owned by the state has created a security threat in the state. Many students have died in this needless strike, because they were at wrong places.

    Some resorted to vices and dangerous ventures. Lecturers need to put themselves in the shoes of our parents, because the strike is having serious socio-economic impact on the state.”

    Some lecturers, who preferred to be anonymous, defended their actions. They told CAMPUSLIFE that they understood the pains the students were going through, urging the aggrieved students to direct their frustration at the government, which they described as “stubborn”.

    On its part, the government claimed some schools complied with the directive to re-open for academics on May 15. The compliant institutions, according to the government, include Kogi State College of Education in Ankpa, School of Nursing and Midwifery in Obangede, College of Health Technology in Idah, and College of Education (Technical) in Kabba.

    But CAMPUSLIFE found the government’s claim misleading when our reporter visited some of the schools. Academic activities in those schools remained grounded, with no sign of lecturers on the campuses.

    However, Governor Yahya Bello’s Director-General of Media and Publicity, Kingsley Fanwo, said talks were ongoing with the KSU and Kogi Poly workers to re-open their campus in line with the government’s directive. He added that all insitutions would be reopened for full academic activities on June 5.

    As part of efforts to ensure resumption in June, the government’s spokesman said the workers’ March salaries had been paid, while April salary would also be paid before resumption.

    Fanwo said: “We urge the few schools that are yet to resume to comply with Gov. Bello’s directive. They need to learn to trust the current administration on meeting their legitimate demands. We also appeal to all parents and students to remain steadfast as we work round the clock to ensure education remains our most cherished industry in the state.

    “With our vibrant and competent Governing Councils in place in the tertiary institutions and the Visitation Panels, we have put in place, sustainable solutions to possible future disruption.”

     

  • Lagos asks Queens College to delay resumption

    Lagos asks Queens College to delay resumption

    The Lagos State government has recommended that Queens College, Yaba, delay its resumption till appropriate measures are in place for the safety of its pupils.

    According to Commissioner of Health Jide Idris, the recommendation was necessary to ensure that all sources of contaminants in the school, which have been causing the death of pupils be properly handled.

    Idris said the source of the problem was contaminated water.

    The commissioner said:  “Available health records from the sick bay showed that the date of onset of illness was January 16.

    The total number of pupils at the clinic on account of abdominal pain, fever, vomiting and diarrhea was 1, 222 from the first date of presentation January 16 to the last date of presentation February 15.

    “There were four peak periods of infection namely  January 31, February 2, February 8 and February 14.

    “The highest peak was   January 31. Sixteen cases were admitted in various hospitals.

    Nine have been discharged, two died, one is still on admission at the Intensive Care Unit of  Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja and three in Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi-Araba.

    “Water samples from six sources in the school were collected and analysed at LASUTH’s Drug Quality Control Laboratory.

    “Another day of water samples from 10 sources were collected and analysed at LUTH’s Microbiology Department.”

    Idris said the results from the two laboratories showed high bacterial content in the water samples from the kitchen, behind dining hall and Queen’s Delight, the school’s water factory.

    The bacteria range from Coliforms, Escherichia Coli, Salmonella, Klebsiella Ozoana and Aeromonas Hydrophila.

    He said specimens collected from 40 kitchen staff revealed cysts of Entamoeba Histolytica were isolated in the stool of 23 food handlers, Salmonella Paratyphi, the causative agent of Typhoid fever, was also isolated from three food handlers.

    “All these imply a common source (continuous) outbreak showing repeated or continuous infection from exposure to the infectious agent.

    “Findings from the investigation were consistent with Enteric Fever.

    “The infection was most likely spread through contaminated water sources and infection by good handlers,” said Idris.

    He said it is pertinent to once more enlighten the public on good, water-borne, sanitation and hygiene related diseases.

    “We advise that the resumption be delayed till appropriate measures have been put in place for the pupils’ safety.”

  • Kogi varsity students elated over resumption

    Students of the Kogi State University (KSU) have heaved a sigh of relief as they returned to school to complete their semester examinations. The students were sent home for four months, following an indefinite strike by a school workers over the government’s inability to pay their arrears of salaries and other allowances.

    The school was reopened last week when the government and the striking workers struck the deal to end the industrial action. As the students returned, theyvhoped both parties would sustain the agreement, praying against another strike.

    Some of them, who spoke with CAMPUSLIFE, decried the strike, describing it as an “unnecessary distraction and interruption”. Some students were philosophical about it.

    Adeleke Omofaye, a 300-Level Education student, expressed bitterness, describing the strike as the worst period in the time he spent on the campus. He said he did not pray for another strike till his last day on the campus.

    Adeleke called for understanding between government and the university workers to avoid a situation where the school would lose its credibility, because of constant disruption of its academic calendar.

    He said: “Whatever is the problem, I will appeal that all stakeholders sit down and iron out the issues, because it is affecting the fortunes of not only the students, but the institution and the government negatively. We are being perceived as an unserious institution and this is detrimental to the future of students.”

    For Victor Ogbonnaya, a 100-Level Social Science student, the strike changed all his plans, expressing regret for being a student of the institution. He said if he had had a premonition that the institution would be on strike in his first year in the school, he would have turned down the admission offer of the school.

    Steven Akoji, another student, was happy the strike was suspended, praying against its reoccurrence.

    He said: “We should hope that government now has a grasp of what the demands of the workers are. It would be in the best interest of all if the issues are resolved amicably, so that normal activities would return to the institution.”

  • YABATECH Part-Time students resume April 2

    YABATECH Part-Time students resume April 2

    The authorities of Yaba College of Technology, Lagos, on Friday said its part-time students for the 2015/2016 academic session would resume on April 2.

    This is contained in a statement by the institution’s Head, Public Relations Unit, Mr Charles Oni, in Lagos.

    It reminded all newly admitted candidates that they were expected to pay their acceptance fees and school fees on or before the resumption date.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that full-time students of the institution had resumed on March 29.

    The school had been closed on Feb.11 after some of the students went on the rampage following the death of one of them.

    They had alleged that the institution did not respond on time to the emergency needs of the sick student who eventually died.

     

  • YABATECH reopens, kicks off semester examination

    YABATECH reopens, kicks off semester examination

    The Yaba College of Technology, Lagos on Tuesday reopened for academic activities after a four-week break to mourn the death of a final year student, who died on Feb. 10.

    A correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), who monitored the resumption, reports that anxious students trooped in to complete their undertaking forms and collected examination dockets.

    NAN reports that security was beefed-up on the campus, as only students with the institution’s identity cards were allowed in.

    Some students were seen rushing to their various course supervisors to submit undertaking forms and were collecting their examination dockets.

    In a female hostel, ‘`Akada hall’, scores of students were seen queuing up for allocation of bed spaces.

    An ND II, Business Administration student, Miss Adebamigbe Fadaini, told NAN that she was very happy to be back on campus.

    Fadaini said she spent the break to read and prepare hard for the examination.

    “I have completed my registration and collected examination docket, the process is very simple.

    “I just want to be through with the examination once and for all, because we have wasted a lot of time this session.

    “I am very happy to be back on campus,’’ Fadaini said.

    Another student, an HND I, Micro Biology student, Miss Toyosi Adekanye, commended the college’s management for reopening the college.

    Adekanye said that she was ready for the examination but urged the management to provide basic amenities during the examination period.

    “I am happy to be back on campus because back home, there were so many distractions from reading.

    “I have filled the undertaking form and also collected my examination docket, everything is ready for the examination,’’ she said.

    Also, the Head, Public Relations Unit of the College, Mr Charles Oni, told NAN that the management was prepared for the smooth conduct of the examination on March 30.

    Oni said that the interests and welfare of the students were important and that the management would continue to ensure that.

    “We love our students even if they pretend and do not acknowledge it but as parents and management, their welfare is very important to us,’’ he said.

    NAN reports that the Academic Board of the college had on March 16, directed that the institution be reopened on March 29.

    The Board also announced that the 2014/2015 Second Semester Examination would start on March 30.

    It directed all students to fill an undertaking form to be of good conduct during the examination.

    The college was closed following students’ protest on Feb. 11, over the death of a student, Miss Comfort Dazan.

     

  • TSA delays FEDPOFFA resumption

    The Students Union President of the Federal Polytechnic, Offa (FEDPOFFA), Yusuf Imran Olalekan, has urged students of the institution to be calm as they await the resumption of academic activities on October 19 (for new students) and 26 (returning students).

    The institution was scheduled to resume on Monday but could not because of issues that had to do with complying with the Federal Government’s directive that all Federal Government-owned institutions must operate a single Treasury Single Account (TSA).

    The institution is yet to be appointed a TSA for students to pay fees, while training of workers on the operation of the account is scheduled to hold October 13 and 14. Yusuf said in a statement that the students should remain calm as the issue is beyond the institution’s control.

    He also noted that the institution had assured the student leaders that some problems on campus, such as rehabilitation of streetlight and hostels and vehicles, had been addressed

    “I know we all are eager to resume, because we had already wasted a lot of time in the past, but the fact is that there are some situations that are beyond the control of any institution. Our polytechnic is not the only institution affected by this situation. It affects others planning to resume on October 5 too,” he said.

     

  • Kwara Utd in Ijebu Ode for resumption

    Kwara Utd in Ijebu Ode for resumption

    Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) comeback team, Kwara United, are currently in Ijebu Ode preparing for the resumption of NPFL week four matches which has been scheduled for  April 19.

    The Harmony Warriors left their base in Ilorin on Sunday for Dipo Dina Stadium, in Ijebu Ode, which has been a choice venue for teams to prepare ahead of the season. Kwara United are yet to lose a match after three weeks of NPFL football, the Ilorin based team picked a point against Dolphins, recorded a win at home against El-Kanemi Warriors and an impressive draw in Bauchi against Wikki Tourist.

    As part of their preparations at Ijebu Ode, Kwara United will play two test games this morning and evening with teams that were named yesterday.

    According to Kwara United defender Isiaka Oladuntoye, in a chat with SL10.ng, the expectation in camp is high and preparations have been going on fine.

    “We arrived here on Sunday and so far preparation in camp has been going on well. We are preparing ahead of the resumption of the NPFL and we hope to make the most of the opportunities we’ve got. The expectation in camp is very high and we shall host Heartland on Sunday and then hit the road to visit Ibadan in week five. We hope to pick maximum points to continue our good run,” Isiaka told SL10.ng.

    The Harmony Warriors are expected to leave Ijebu Ode on Friday for their NPFL week four match against Heartland FC of Owerri at Ilorin.