The Nation Newspaper

Tag: schools

  • Build schools for rural dwellers, Joshua urges NGOs

    Build schools for rural dwellers, Joshua urges NGOs

    General Overseer, Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN), Prophet Temitope Balogun. Joshua, has urged governments and humanitarian bodies all over the world to always focus attention on the plight of people living in remote areas rather than the cities.

    The cleric addressed reporters at the Synagogue premises on Sunday after returning from Ecuador where the Emmanuel TV, of which he is the Executive Producer, inaugurated a basic and secondary school in the country’s Esmmeraldas Province last week.

    He said SCOAN has finalised plans to establish four basic and secondary schools in each continent to consolidate on its humanitarian gesture. However, the schools would be located in the hinterlands, where residents of such places are often abandoned by governments and their wards denied quality and affordable education, the cleric added.

    Going down memory lane, the televangelist recalled that following the earthquake that shook Esmmeraldas Province in Ecuador in April, last year, killing over 500 and leaving many wounded and homeless, he received a vision from God to send relief materials to victims. He added that later God instructed him to commit more lasting legacy for the communities in the Esmmmeraldas Province, noting that it was at that point the idea of a school struck him.

    According to him, his journey from Ecuador capital to Esmmeraldas Province for the inauguration of the project was hectic.

    “It was about a four hours journey from the main town; but more difficult was the terrain. The ground was naturally marshy and it was raining heavily. My aides and I had to mount the back of a pick up van.  At a point, we had to use a raincoat to cover ourselves because of the intensity of the rain. At a pint, the vehicle sank deep into the ground, but eventually, we all made it to our destination by trekking through.”

    Further, he challenged Africa to henceforth stop seeing herself as always begging for alms, particularly from the West, saying this is what has set the continent back for ages.

    “For many years, Africa has enjoyed scholarships, grants and fellowships from the West. But I’m of the belief that we must reverse this trend by giving back to the West.

    “In this part of the world, we have always complained of hunger, poverty and homelessness; but my experience has made me to realise that even developed countries suffer same fate. I have travelled wide and have seen people even in developed societies sleeping under the bridges and begging for food.

    “I have since realised that in line with the words of God, you can only be greater when you learn to give. When we started this ministry, we had nothing; yet whenever I had the opportunity to travel out, I kept on giving, but see where we are now?

    “On our own part, we have chosen to donate even to the West. We have decided to build four primary and secondary schools in each continent but they would be in rural areas where the poor can access quality education.

    “We have also realised that even in developed societies, equal attention is not given to rural dwellers. It’s only schools in the capital that look beautiful, while those in remote communities are abandoned. This is the new task God has given to us and we have also hit the ground running.

    “We are in talks with the government of Ecuador to make the road accessible and motorable for pupils. We will also continue to maintain facilities in the school. In the near future, we are considering offering scholarships to some of the best students in the school to study in some of the best universities in the world.

    He said his greatest joy in Esmmeraldas was seeing smiles on the faces of the innocent children, their teachers and parents all of who now see a renewed hope of education for their wards.

  • Why we established secondary schools, by Police

    Why we established secondary schools, by Police

    The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Idris Ibrahim, has explained why the Nigeria Police Force(NPF) established Police Secondary and Children Schools nationwide.

    He said the initiative formed part of the welfare package for serving and retired police officers to give qualitative education to their children, as well as the public.

    Idris, represented by the Force Education Officer (FEO), Rabiu Ladodo, a Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), spoke at the inauguration of the new boys’hostel at the Police Secondary School, Ita-Ogbolu, Akure, the Ondo State capital.

    According to him, the schools were founded not to deny the public schools their rights, but to let the public know the ability of police authorities in providing quality education.

    The new hostel was named after the IGP.

    Ladodo said there were 10 police secondary schools and 86 police children schools across the country, adding that because of agitations by some state governments and other relevant stakeholders, five additional police secondary schools had been approved for Bayelsa, Gombe, Abia and two other states.

    Already, Ondo, Niger, Cross River, Oyo, Kano, Imo, Akwa Ibom, Katsina, Rivers and Zamfara states, have secondary schools.

    He explained that the schools were not meant for police family members alone, as civilians are also beneficiaries.

    The FEO described Police Secondary School in Akure as one of the best in the country, because of its high academic standard.

    He urged the public to embrace police the more, addding that its welfare package is being extended to the civilians through the schools.

    In addition, Ibrahim approved a new bus to ease mobility of the students and staff of the school,  promising to assist the school with  resources.

    The Commandant of the School, Police Superintendent (SP)Peter Augustine hailed the IGP for facilitating the construction of the hostel, adding that it would reduce accommodation problem in the institution.

    He, however, pleaded for the completion of new girls’ hostel still under construction, provision of library, more classrooms as well as 200KVA generator, among others.

  • Meningitis vaccination goes to schools

    Authorities of Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) have directed its agency, Primary Health Care Board (PHCB) to extend the ongoing meningitis vaccination to schools, officers in its employ and residents of the six Area Councils of the FCT.

    The development is part of proactive measures to forestall the spread of the dreaded disease in the FCT.

    FCT Permanent Secretary, Dr. Babatope Ajakaiye who gave the directive in his office during a meeting with the six area council chairmen and other stakeholders urged officers, schools and residents of the territory to be available for the exercise, adding that government would not hesitate to arrest and prosecute those who defy the directive.

    According to a statement issued by the Press Secretary, Office of the FCT Permanent Secretary, Tony Odey, Akjakaiye charged parents and religious organizations to always make their children and followers available for vaccination, while stressing that the FCT Administration would continue to carry out policies and programmes aim at enhancing the wellbeing and welfare of residents of the Territory.

    The Permanent Secretary assured the board of the readiness of FCT Administration to make financial intervention in the event of shortage of vaccines and other facilities.

    He further remarked that no responsible government would watch the lives of its citizens being ravaged by diseases that can be prevented.

    Responding, the Executive Secretary of PHCB assured the Permanent Secretary of the readiness of the board to carry out the directive.

  • Homes, schools flooded as rain wreaks havoc in Oyo

    About 70 houses and markets were flooded at the weekend after a downpour in Ibadan and its environs.

    Although nobody died during the rains, which lasted over five hours, property worth millions of naira were destroyed.

    Worse hit is Ido Local Government of Oyo State where the roof of schools and houses were blown off and buildings flooded.

    The popular Omi-Adio food market was flooded. Goods were swept away and shops submerged by the torrential rain.

    Residents were displaced, as they spent the night outside.

    The affected people scooped water out of their homes yesterday morning. They could not attend church.

    One of the victims, who gave her name as Alhaja Mulikat, described the destruction as monumental. She implored Governor Abiola Ajimobi to assist them financially.

    Environment and Water Resources Commissioner Mr. Isaac Ishola said the government was aware of the problem and had taken proactive measures to mitigate it.

    He said 24 rivers would be dredged.

    Ishola urged the public to obey environmental sanitation and waste management laws.

    He warned them to desist from dumping refuse in drainages and building kiosks on culverts.

  • Kogi students protest continued closure of schools

    Students of tertiary institutions in Kogi State yesterday marched on Lokoja, the state capital, to protest the continued closure of their schools.

    At Ganaja junction, where some of the protesters converged as early as 7am, there were security operatives and Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC), to prevent a break down of law.

    The students carried placards with inscriptions such as: “JAC and Government open our schools”; “Enough is enough, we cannot spend eight years for BSc”; “We are tired of sitting at home”.

    Some students complained of being tear gassed, lamenting that it happened despite approval got for the protest.

    Chairman of the Nigeria Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) Comrade Usman Attaja, who addressed reporters, said it was unfortunate security agencies, who granted them permission, could turn against them.

    He said all they wanted was for the government and unions to reach an agreement to reopen their schools.

    He said: “As I speak now, students are being trailed by the police on the order of the Commissioner of Police, just because we are expressing our dissatisfaction on our present predicaments.

    “Some of us are in hiding and can no longer move freely.”

  • Why schools must improve teacher’s education, by NCCE boss

    The Federal College of Education in Umunze, Anambra State, has held its 25th anniversary and 23rd convocation. At the event, stakeholders urged the Federal Government to elevate the college to a degree-awarding institution. 

    Based on its improved rating in technical knowledge and acclaimed academic excellence, the Federal College of Education (Technical) in Umunze, Anambra State, should be converted to a full-fledged University of Technical Education, former Governor Chukwuemeka Ezeife has said.

    Ezeife urged the Federal Government to elevate the college to a degree awarding-institution, saying the move would widen students’ access to higher degrees in technical education and equip them with employable skills.

    The former governor made the appeal during the school’s silver jubilee anniversary, which was part of activities to mark its 23rd convocation of the college.

    Speaking on The nascent of Federal College of Education (Technical), Umunze in the Southeast of Nigeria: The growth, impacts and strategic plans for tomorrow, Ezeife said the college stood a better chance of becoming a centre for excellent vocational and technical education in the region.

    The pioneer Provost and traditional ruler of Azia community, Prof Titus Eze, supported Ezeife’s call, saying the school would be a model University of Education.

    Also, former Vice-Chancellor (VC) of Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK) in Awka, Prof Boniface Egboka, said the Federal Government needed to grant the college autonomy to award degree to satisfy the expectation of students.

    Prof Egboka, who chaired the college’s pre-convocation lecture, said the college witnessed improved infrastructure under the current management led by Prof Josephat Ogbuagu. He said the college had developed the capacity to become a university, with focus on vocational, technical and science training.

    Prof Ogbuagu noted that enrolment into the college increased progressively in the last five year, because of the introduction of the degree programme in affiliation with UNIZIK. He said the college’s employees showed exceptional dedication to train sound graduates of National Certificate in Education (NCE) and Professional Diploma in Education (PDE).

    “While we acknowledge and appreciate government’s efforts in improving the infrastructure in the college, it is necessary that we bring to your notice the needs for the college to meet up with provision of hostel accommodation for students, landscaping of the permanent site, revamping of campus roads,” he added.

    The Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE), Prof Muhammadu Bappa-Aliyu, who was the guest lecturer at the pre-convocation event, stressed the need to focus on quality training to breed quality teachers for the change agenda of the Federal Government.

    Speaking on the theme: Qualitative teacher education and entrepreneurship in contemporary Nigerian society, Prof Bappa-Aliyu said Teachers’ Registration Council of Nigeria (TCRN) and other stakeholders must work out means of improving the position of teachers, noting that there was need for teachers with intellectual and professional background to add value to the profession. He said teachers must have a thorough knowledge of the subjects they teach in order not to misguide their students.

    He said: “A number of questions readily come to mind these days. Do teachers have a thorough knowledge of the subject they teach? Do teachers have a perfect command of the medium of instruction? Are they professionally trained for a classroom interaction with their students?

    To improve the quality of teacher education, schools must allow in-depth curriculum content, which are the basis for effective teachers and teaching.”

    He urged teachers to improve their knowledge to become authority in their chosen discipline. According to him, good teaching is the hallmark of teacher education.

    He said: “It is obvious that the progress of education requires that teachers should enjoy a moral and material status worthy of their mission. In some states of the federation and beyond, there is a problem in recruitment and retention in service of qualified teachers and this could be achieved only if the status of the profession is adequately recognised by teachers themselves, governments, education authorities and the public.

    “Teaching and learning should engage learners with big ideals, key processes or modes of discourse and narratives of subjects, so that learners can understand what constitutes quality and standards in particular domains. Schools must change today.”

    Others at the lecture included

  • Lagos schools to resume April 18

    Lagos schools to resume April 18

    The Lagos State Ministry of Education, on Thursday, announced that public and private primary and secondary schools operating in the state would resume on April 18.

    Dr Idiat Adebule, the Deputy Governor of the state, who is also  the Commissioner for Education, made this announcement in a statement in Lagos.

    Mr Adesegun Ogundeji, Assistant Director, Public Affairs Unit in the ministry signed the statement.

    In the statement, Adebule said that private and public schools must adhere strictly to the 2016/2017 academic calendar.

    The deputy governor sent a goodwill message to all pupils and parents, wishing them Happy Easter, following the successful completion of the lent.

    She said that the 2016/2017 academic calendar was jointly agreed upon at the state education stakeholders’ meeting before the commencement of the academic year.

    According to her, the adoption of a uniform calendar will enable proper planning and ensure that pupils and students attend school for the number of days required per term.

  • Firm to deploy 60 graduates to under-served schools

    Come September, the first batch of 60 high-achieving young graduates will be deployed in under-served schools and communities to work as teachers for a two-year period under the Teach for Nigeria project.

    They are being selected from a pool of first class and second  class upper graduates who have also demonstrated leadership in their careers and have passion for education.

    Teach for Nigeria Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Ms Folawe Omikunle, said at a briefing in Lagos, that the introduction of the initiative, which has its roots in the United States, to Nigeria is to help provide access to quality education  for children from disadvantaged backgrounds so they can compete with their more privileged counterparts.

    “Our focus is really to address education inequality in Nigeria. We face inequality issues ranging from rich to poor, male/female etc. We believe every child should get the best education regardless of their backgrounds,” she said.

    To this end, Ms Omikunle said Teach for Nigeria fellows would be deployed in schools which would otherwise have been unable to afford them as teachers. Whatever the school pays them as salaries will be supplemented by incentives from Teach for Nigeria.

    She said the first batch of 60 fellows would be deployed to low cost private schools in the state and public schools in Ogun State, where apart from teach, they will demonstrate leadership and address problems of their new communities.

    “The first aim is we really need to get exceptional graduates to teach. The second goal is to get more communities to identify problems that cause inequality in education,” she said.

    Before being posted to schools, the fellows will undergo a six-week residential training, which Chioma Okotcha, who is in charge of recruitment, said would cover pedagogy, classroom management, leadership and teaching practice.

    While in service, the fellow will enjoy the support of mentors and school tutors to support them as teachers.

    She said the recruitment of fellows, which is in progress, opened with online registration last month. Shortlisted candidates will be interviewed, followed by a test, and then full assessment of the candidates.

    Mrs Ifedola Dada, President, Association for Formidable Educational Development (AFED), the umbrella body for low cost private schools in Nigeria, said the group was glad to partner Teach for Nigeria because its vision aligns with the group’s goals.

    “AFED was the first to sign MoU with Teach for Nigeria. We find that it is in line with what AFED stands for. We want to give children the best but how can we afford it with the fees we charge? Most of today’s teachers read education because they were rejected from other departments. So why won’t we have problem in Nigeria. But Teach for Nigeria will supply us with first class graduates as teachers,” she said.

    Teach for Nigeria Ambassador, Tosin Ogunkoya, said by participating in the project, he was following in his mother’s footstep, who spent her career as a teacher moulding lives.

    After the first year, Ms Omikunle said Teach for Nigeria would deploy 72 fellows to the north.

    “Our plan is to reach three regions in Nigeria by our fifth year of operation. By our 10th year, we hope to reach all the regions,” she said.

    Chairman, Teach for Nigeria, Mr Gbenga Oyebade, said the organisation was willing to partner with like-minded organisations to move its objectives forward.

    Member, Teach for Nigeria Board of Trustees, Mrs Nike De Souza, said the board was happy the programme was finally seeing the light of day after many years in the works.

    “We have been on this journey for three to four years and we are happy to see Teach for Nigeria finally up and running. Teach for All America sends out 10,000 fellows into the school system in America. We need to come up with disruptive education solution to solve problems of out-of-school children in Nigeria,”she said.

     

  • Council chief lifts 10 schools

    Council chief lifts 10 schools

    The Sole Administrator of Ojokoro Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Dr Waleeh Adeleke Ipaye, had doled out cheques worth millions of naira for schools’ renovation.
    Presenting the cheques to 10 schools at Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu House last Friday, Dr Ipaye said: “I have inspected your schools and I did that after school hours because I do not want you to window dress for me so that I can see the true state of our facilities and also instructed the council engineering section to do same in other to ascertain the cost of putting some of those dilapidated facilities in form.”
    He promised another sets of financial assistance to schools that judiciously utilise the fund, which would be distributed quarterly.
    The defaulted schools, he said, will be exempted from next disbursement.
    The beneficiaries are Agbado Ijaiye Nursery and Primary School I, Agbado Ijaiye Nursery and Primary School II, Gbeleyi Primary School I, Gbeleyi Primary School II, Vetland Primary School I, New Oko-Oba Primary School, Wesley Primary School, Ebeneza African Church School I, Ebeneza African Church School II and Saviour Primary School.
    Each school went home with N200,000.

  • Many dangers of unsafe schools

    Many dangers of unsafe schools

    An incident happened last year which sent shock waves in Mafoluku,Oshodi Lagos state. A three year old child got down from a school bus, his water bottle fell down and rolled towards the back tyre of the bus, the boy went to the back of the bus to pick up the water bottle, just at that instance, the bus driver reversed and the boy was crushed to death on the spot. What a horrific tragedy!

     That accident could have been avoided, if the school had better safety compliant policy. A few observers at the scene of the accident argued that it was the drivers fault and attempted to lynch him but for the quick intervention of some passersby.

     One of the school safety requirements for schools is that there should be a crossing marshal, whose job it is to monitor drop off areas in school and pick up areas, to make sure that children alight safely from the bus and enter the school safely. Also, it is the job of the school bus attendant to monitor the children in and out of the school bus. Failure of the school to do these shows negligent on the part of the school management.

    School safety is a very important factor that a parent must put into consideration before enrolling his/her child in a school. Before you enroll your children in a school, you must check if the school is complying with at least minimum safety standards. You take a tour of the school and watch out for evidence of safety infrastructure e.g. clean toilets, separate staff toilet, security measures in place, perimeter fencing, the sanitary condition of the school, fire exits, safety signs on the wall, good ventilation, good lighting etc. These are minimum required standards. If a school does not meet these requirements, do not enroll your child in such a school. Some parents are not particularly meticulous in finding schools with high safety standards, to them checking for unsafe conditions in a school are immaterial; they focus more on the academic performance of the school, forgetting that their child’s life is at high risk in a school with no safety standards.

    Most parents don’t even know that they have a right to question any unsafe condition they find in a school and as a matter of fact they should demand for it to be fixed or they withdraw their children from such a school. A school that doesn’t put effort on the safety of children placed in their care should not be patronized or be allowed to function. Children that attend unsafe schools are prone to accidents, infection, abuse, serious injury and even death.

    Before schools are registered shouldn’t they attain minimum safety standard? The truth is that majority of schools in Nigeria are below the school safety standard.  Most classrooms in Nigerian schools are highly overcrowded, there are no safety policies in place, teachers are not trained on safety, no risk assessment  is being carried out, no evidence of safe recruitment, no emergency evacuation plan, no fire exits or fire extinguishers, no smoke detector, no school crossing marshal, no school bus attendants, untrained school bus drivers, no hand washing facilities, no sick bay, fire drill has never been done in the school, no appropriate toilet facilities, no access control and surveillance, hazardous chemicals in the school environment, slippery floors, steep stair ways, stairways without hand rails, no safety signs on the wall, defective structures, no programs on safety for children and so many ignored best practices.

    If you own a school, you must make safety a priority to avoid crisis in your school and parents should demand for safe condition and practices in their children’s school. Children spend a lot of time in school, so schools should offer a safe stimulating environment for children. 

    There is an ongoing Lagos state schools safety project by Lagos state safety commission. Safety inspectors are going to nursery, primary and secondary schools to conduct safety audits to ensure safety culture and compliance. This is highly commendable but should be scaled up and approached with greater aggression so that thousands of schools in our cities and communities can be forced to maintain the minimum required operational standards.

    Njideka obi, a lawyer, Child Safety Advocate/ Child Safety Expert.  08060424282, safersmarterchildren@gmail.com