The Nation Newspaper

Tag: schools

  • FG to introduce farming in schools

    The Federal Government has disclosed plans to introduce farming programme in secondary schools.

    The programme is expected to take off in 12 states across the country’s six geo-political zones.

    Speaking in Abuja yesterday, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Schools Agriculture Programme, Dr. Baraka Sani, explained that the programme will alleviate poverty, create jobs and close the age gap of the existing farmers

    According to her, “in the pilot phase, students agriculture club will be established in selected schools from 12 states of the federation, two from each geo-political zone. Each club would compromise approximately 120 members.

    “The multiplier effect of this programme in the respective household would definitely play great role in poverty eradication, help with nutrition and at the same time create jobs, especially at the rural level.

    She explained that it will expose participants to various skills in the areas of agriculture.

    Speaking on the goals of the programme, she said: “The programme is expected to develop positive attitude amongst youths towards agriculture, equip school leavers for job opportunities through practical teaching of skills for life, build entrepreneurship skills in students to run agriculture as a business, to offer the young farmers a voice and to create a stronger spirit of working together and unity amongst students.

    Dr. Sani, while urging youths to embrace the initiative, said involvement in agriculture will reduce the rate of unemployment.

    She advised youths not to depend on white collar job.

    “Farming can be done before the white collar job comes and it will reduce the agitation of the young ones that they are out of school and the government is not giving them job.

    “Really, the white collar jobs are not meant for everybody.

    “Some people are meant to work in the private sector or be self reliant; it depends on where your luck is and where you think you can do better. But I tell you, even if you have the white collar job, it is better to acquire skill and agricultural skill is a good option.

    She added: “It is a skill for life, and it will give people better standard of living and make life more comfortable for everybody.

    The programme is expected to focus on food/vegetable production, including small scale irrigation where needed, fisheries and aqua-culture, poultry, nutrition, processing and packaging, apiarist training for honey production, livestock production and entrepreneurial programme for members of the club.

  • Low mfee paying schools will grade well

    President of the Association for Formidable Education Development (AFED), Mrs Dada Ifejola is optimistic that schools under the group would excel in the grading programme planned by the Lagos State Ministry of Education. AFED is an umbrella group for schools for mostly low-income communities.

    The ministry is in the process of grading private schools into categories that would allow parents to determine the quality of schools their wards attend.

    In her address at the congress to mark the group’s national annual week at the A.S Badeh Youth Centre, Nigerian Army Resettlement Centre (NAFRAC), Lagos, Mrs Ifejola said: “The Lagos State government has decided to undertake a grading exercise to check, evaluate and, measure the level of activities going on in various schools in the state thereby categorising them into different Grade levels A-D. I assure you that all AFED schools would pass this test.”

    The state Commissioner for Education, Mrs Olayinka Oladunjoye, who was represented by Director, Private Education, Mrs Sewanu Amosu, said the government and AFED must work together to achieve the millennium development goal.

    She urged school owners to embrace the grading exercise.

    The day’s lecture was delivered by Dr Virgy Onyene, an associate professor of education at the University of Lagos (UNILAG).

    Dr. Onyene  praised AFED for serving the less privileged children in the society. She urged school owners to regard their foray into education as a service to humanity and not to make excessive profits from their businesses.

    “AFED is addressing vulnerable groups in the society.  Though they use shoes, they are the Jonathan of our time.  Education is something you are giving back and cannot be quantified. So, private schools of the low cost level (AFED) is not something you can say that you’re making profit, because in business you count your profit, but education is a service that is not measurable,” she said.

    Dr Onyene urged the government and society not to look down on the group because it plays a crucial role in education.

    “That person that puts a cardboard there and says ‘this is Go School and I am doing admission’, is as important as the person, who built Atlantic Hall, but they are addressing different cases and some cases are more critical,” she said.

  • Computers for 13 Anambra schools

    Computers for 13 Anambra schools

    No fewer than 13 secondary schools in Anambra State have been equipped with computer sets. A group, Anambra Family Association of Memphis (AFAM) provided the computers. Their teachers and pupils were happy and danced in appreciation of the group’s efforts. The state Commissioner for Education, Prof Kate Omenugha was all smiles.

    The 13 beneficiaries were Mater Amabilis Secondary School Umuoji in Idemili South Local Government Area, Abbot Boys Secondary School and Abbot Girls both in Ihiala council. Others were Government Technical College (GTC), Merchant of Light, Oba, Our Lady’s Comprehensive Secondary School, Nkpor, Nteje Girls Secondary School, Nri Boys Secondary School and Agulu Boys Secondary School. Also among them were Nnewi High School, Saint John of God Secondary School, Awka, Obosi Community Secondary School and Oraifite Boys Secondary School.

    The donation of the 25 computers was made at the Post Primary Schools Service Commission (PPSSC) headquarters in Awka.

    Speaking with the Nation, one of the students, Miss Stella Maris Obichigha expressed happiness that good things are coming to the education sector in the state to help the students in their academic work. The 14-year-old assured that the facilities would boost their skills in Information Communication Technology (ICT).

    The leader of the group, Dr Peter Azogini told the Nation that the gesture was a practical demonstration of their support for the education of Children in (ICT) and computer literacy. This, according to Azogini would enable them compete favourably with their counterparts throughout Nigeria and world over.

    He expressed his happiness in what he called the all round development witnessed in the state, adding that Education had received tremendous improvement and infrastructure.

    Azogini further told the Nation that the group was planning other bigger things to help the state Governor, Chief Willie Obiano in getting it right in the state.

    The Chairman of (PPSSC) Lady Joy Ulasi commended (AFAM) for remembering the school children in the state. She told the Nation that the computers would assist the state government in (ICT) training in different schools in the state.

    Anambra State commissioner for Education Prof Omenugha told the Nation that the donation by (AFAM) is an indicative of their commitment to the advancement of Education in their home state.

    Omenugha said: “This is a good example of Private Public Partnership whereby people contribute their quota instead of leaving government to do everything”.

    The association has taken the lead among those contributing to the uplift of education in the state”.

    However, she has a word for the principals of the benefitting schools “make sure that these computers are put into proper use”.

    Omenugha further told the Nation that by 2015, the students would face external examinations that would be computer-based.

  • Don seeks establishment of Mathematics lab in schools

    Don seeks establishment of Mathematics lab in schools

    Mathematics expert, Dr. Kehinde Adenegan has stressed the need for schools to establish mathematics laboratory to promote classroom experiences that will last in the memory of the students.

    Adenegan, who is a lecturer at Adeyemi College of Education (ACE) in Ondo West local government area of Ondo State, made this known while delivering a lecture at this year’s Science Teachers Association of Nigeria (STAN) workshop, held in Akure, the state capital.

    The workshop themed: ‘Popularising the mathematical science through Mass Media Reportage’, Adenegan urged the media to increase its collaboration with the education industry to popularise mathematical science.

    He lamented that the public does not appreciate assets of mathematics, seeking the need to arouse the public interest further on it.

    He urged the government to fund education to the required UNESCO budgetary allocation and give science and mathematics their rightful place in the funding.

    Adenegan said: “Online media reportage should be seriously encouraged as the global trend is now focused on paperless media. Teachers can also popularise mathematical sciences through social media-tweeter, facebook, whatsapp among others.

    “The human and social side of mathematics is a powerful tool for creating public interest and awareness. Through population, we can elucidate main ideas of modern mathematics and science, explain what applications they have. Through carefully crafted popularisation activities, we can address issues concerning attitudes and belief surrounding mathematics and its use in the society”.

    He, however, urged mathematics teachers to upgrade themselves with the modern ways of teaching the subject for their students to be able to adapt to.

  • Churches, schools pray for Super Eagles’ success

    Churches, schools pray for Super Eagles’ success

    Some churches and schools in Nigeria have embarked on fasting and prayer sessions to ensure that the Super Eagles lift the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.

    The Coordinator of the programme, Rev. Udo Nwoke, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the prayer session was being facilitated under the “Nigeria win World Cup International Intercessory Praying Network”.

    He said the prayer session was being anchored from Lagos.

    “As I am talking to you, we have been able to mobilise churches and some other prayer groups and schools to fast and pray over this.

    “By revelation, we have over 10,000 churches from all denominations and few schools praying and fasting along this line nationwide.

    “With this prayer session, we are clinching the World Cup in Brazil for the first time in the history of Africa and Nigeria come July 13. That’s our belief and prophetic utterances,” Nwoke said.

    He urged Nigerians not to doubt the effectiveness of the prayer as it had been revealed to him and would surely be a reality.

    Nwoke noted that the country was on the threshold of making another history after their prayer that ensured the country’s Olympic team won the Atlanta, U.S, Olympic gold in 1996.

    “We prayed for the Nigeria Olympic football team that won gold at Atlanta ’96 Olympics.

    “It was when Jim Nwobodo was the Minister of Sports. We had a parley with him and I told him that come the final day of the Olympics, that we are coming out as number one.

    “That was a history breaking record in the whole of Africa.

    “It was not just the gold we were targeting; we were also targeting leading such a prayer for the nation over what we were going through then,” he added.

    He noted that just like it happened before, winning the World Cup would be an opportunity to celebrate and take Nigeria’s challenges to God.

    Nwoke noted that prominent members of the society, including the “Gowon Group’’ and “Nigeria Prays’’ have joined in the prayer session.

    He said the group had written President Goodluck Jonathan and some State Houses of Assembly to join the mission.

  • Schools should produce thinkers, says founder

    Schools should produce thinkers, says founder

    Beyond transferring knowledge and skills, President of the Lagos City Polytechnic, Mr Babatunde Odufuwa, has said schools should teach students to think.

    Odufuwa, who said this at the eighth commencement of the institution held at the LTV8 Blue Roof, Agidingbi, last Friday, said if schools can produce thinkers, then more problems would be solved in the society.

    He said: “Before now literacy used to be defined using three indicators- ability to read, ability to write, and ability to do arithmetic.  Now literacy has gone beyond learning.  Schools now should be designed not only for ‘learning’ but for thinking.  More and more insistently, today’s schools and colleges are being asked to produce men and women who can think, who can make new scientific discoveries, who can find more adequate solutions to impending world problems, who cannot be brainwashed; men and women who can adapt to change and maintain sanity in this age of acceleration.  This is a creative challenge to education.”

    Addressing the 816 graduands from the 2012/2013 and 2013/2014 academic sessions that collected their scrolls at the event, Odufuwa urged them to create value for their future employers by solving problems.

    “It is only by adding value that you can justify your being in an organisation.  Think of and do things that can promote the interest of the organisation as no employer will tolerate liabilities.  Your fruit is your contribution to life,” he said.

    Delivering the convocation lecture entitled: Enhancing the standard of tertiary education in Nigeria, Michael Olulenu, an Abuja-based tax analyst, counseled the Federal Government to eliminate all forms of dichotomy in tertiary education.

    Olulenu, who was represented by Mr Olaniyi Azeez, argued that if Auchi Polytechnic could be ranked the second best tertiary institution in Nigeria by Webometric ranking of world universities, then all tertiary institutions can succeed if given equal opportunities by the government.

    “The dichotomy in some tertiary certification should be eliminated at the national level. If a polytechnic can be rated second among tertiary institutions in Nigeria, it means that according polytechnics the same status as the universities may be more fruitful,” he said.

    The convocation lecturer also warned against the negative impact of strike on Nigeria’s education system, urging unions to seek alternative measures to get government attention.

    “Industrial action as a tool for getting government attention should be instrument of last resort; it should not be used as often as it is currently being used.  The effect of long school closure on the life and psyche of the students and their parents and guardians cannot be quantified,” he said.

    Special prizes were awarded to students who excelled in the six programmes run by the institution at National Diploma (ND) and Higher National Diploma (HND) levels.  Omowunmi Oloyede shone brightest among all the scholars, finishing with a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 3.86 in Business Administration and Management.

  • Exchange teachers praise schools

    Exchange teachers praise schools

    Two teachers who are on a week  exchange programme in the country have praised their host schools.

    The teachers – Ms Alice Player,  who teaches English&Literature, and her counterpart, Mr Daniel Kenway, a Technology teacher from DepFortgreen School, Lewinsham London – are part of the DFID Global School Partnerships (DGSP).

    On the programme, one of them said: “Thereare things you can’t learn from the textbook. You can’t relate the experience on paper. I am a teacher of English & Literature and for me, it is a fascinating experience trying to integrate Uganda culture and Nigerian culture to literature. Well, the fact is:  there is no one way that is right. It’s a platform like this that gives a child early form of education. Don’t forget that as teachers, our main concern is the child; we want to inspire and engage them. We want them to realise that learning is for every aspect of their lives.  There is something that you just cannot learn by reading books but you have to go and live it.”

    They said they would return home with fond memories of their experience in Nigeria and what their host Rainbow College in Asese-Maba, Ogun State offered them.

    The DGSP aims to raise young people’s awareness of global development and equip them with the skills and knowledge to become active global citizens.

    The programme supports mutual beneficial learning partnerships between schools in the UK and Africa, Asia, the Caribbean and Latin America, which seek to embed a global dimension in the curriculum. Under the deal, DepFortgreen School, St Kizito Kampala, Uganda and Rainbow College Nigeria encourage openness and access to partner schools.

    “It’s my first time here and everybody has been fantastic and wonderfully generous. For our one week stay, we visited various schools under Rainbow College and are amazed by the love, the diligence, respectfulness, inquisitiveness the teachers and particularly the students demonstrated,” said  Kenway while expressing his gratitude for Rainbow’s hospitality.

    Rainbow College Senior Principal, Mrs. Christiana Ebai, thanked the British Council, which initiated the DGSP and from which the trio have collaborated on projects, staff/student as well as curriculum exchange, exhibition, among others.

    The partnership, Ebai said, promotes teacher and student exchanges, curriculums and cultural exchanges. However most fascinating to Rainbow, is the window of access the college has to relate with East Africa, a practice she said is not too common as most commercial and educational issues are often done by Africans within their region.

    The three schools, Ebai said, have partnered on projects is various subjects, such as arts, geography science and English, to climax in a ‘face-to-face’ session, where the schools would engage in a comparative analysis of their experiences.

    She said: “We did a project in the UK where we visited varying market within our country to do comparative analysis of changes in food prices. We eventually met in our usual ‘face to face session’ where each school shared its experience; and we found that rates of food prices were not so different anywhere in the world.

    “Last session, we did a project on HIV where the three schools looked at the impact of virus on the world and sensitised youths on the scourge. We also did another one in Geography where each school looked at the three key areas of geography- physical, human and regional.

    “Last year, we had a joint arts exhibition showcasing artworks from the three schools which were brought together for a week-long art exhibition. On English, our theme was Africa with a select number of students that wrote poems on Africa which we co- published.”

    Rainbow Director of Studies Dr Abioye Laoye said the projects the school embarked on are submitted to the British Council in London which assesses it and if one is qualified, gives 15000 pounds grants to each school to cushion the effect of facilitating teachers on exchange programmes.

  • Pension Alliance takes financial literacy to schools

    Pension Alliance takes financial literacy to schools

    Pension Alliance Limited (PAL), a Pension Fund Administrators (PFA), has taken financial literacy awareness campaign to primary and secondary schools across the country.

    The pension manager also intends to consolidate ongoing efforts in the financial services market of creating a wider savings culture through financial inclusion as being promoted by the various financial industry regulators – Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the National Pension Commission (PenCom) and the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM), among others.

    Its Managing Director, PAL, Dave Oduanu, who led a team of the company to Home Science Association Primary School, Ikoyi, Lagos, said the firm  believed that inculcating the tenets of good financial management into young generation of Nigerians at an early stage of life will build in them the savings culture.

    He said this had eluded adult Nigerians.

    He said: “On this campaign kick-off tagged “Financial Literacy Initiative in Schools”, which coincided with the Children’s Day, PAL is engaging 25 schools in Nigeria with 20 in Lagos and five in other parts of the country.

    “In the past, we used to have CSR whereby we visit motherless babies’ home and old people’s home to donate things to them. But this year, we thought we should expand it to promote financial literacy in a bid to improve financial inclusion.

    “The idea is to teach them what money is all about, how to save money and what to do with money. By so doing, we begin to inculcate the culture of savings in them right from their young age.”

    Uduanu pointed out that if they cultivate the habit, when they grow up the culture of savings will resonate with them.

    He said they also gave piggy banks to the deserving pupils so that they will begin to save right away.

  • Education commissioners seek security in schools

    Education commissioners seek security in schools

    The State Commissioners for Education Forum in Nigeria has called on the government to provide adequate security in schools, especially in the northeast, until the Boko Haram insurgency is fully crushed.

    They also sympathised with the parents of the abducted Chibok girls urging them to be patient with the Federal Government as it makes efforts with the international community to rescue the girls.

    A statement by chairman of the forum, Prof Offiong Offiong, also urged all concerned should intensify efforts in securing the release of the abducted Chiboks girls without any further delay.

    Offiong, who is also commissioner in Cross River State, said: “The forum urges provision of adequate security in all our schools to prevent future reoccurrence of this unfortunate act as it appears no student is safe in the country until this insurgence is crushed totally. Accordingly we enjoin all parents of the girls to exercise patience as the federal government in collaboration with her allies carries out rescue mission and the girls are safely back to the comfort of their homes.

    “This, indeed,, is a trying period for the nation’s education sector and the casualties of this dastardly act are not the girls alone, though they are directly the victims; not the parents alone, who have been waiting endlessly for the news of the release of their daughters and not the Borno State Government alone.

    Although this inhuman act was perpetrated on its soil. We are all collectively victims as Nigerians because the victims are Nigerians, they are our children and our jewel, the future mothers of the nation. All hands must be on deck to ensure their release.

    “The forum is, particularly, worried over the plight of education in the northeast geopolitical zone in general and Borno in particular. The need to restore law and order in the region has become more urgent chiefly as there is a high rate of out- of-school children there. Continuous closure of school gates against our children in the region due to insecurity would continue to adversely affect the future of education in the north east and Nigeria as a whole.

    “It is against this background that the forum welcomes the assistance offered by the nation’s international friends towards ensuring the release of our children. We cannot afford to wait helplessly as our children our being degraded.”

  • ‘Lagos schools got N221m from SBMC in 2013’

    The Director, Social Mobilisation, Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board (LSUBEB), Mr Ade Abatan, has praised the School Based Management Committee (SBMC) for its complimentary role in improving the teaching and learning environment in Lagos public primary and junior secondary schools.

    Speaking while monitoring a two-day training for SBMC members at the St Francis Primary School, Maryland, one of the 20 centres in the state, Abatan said last year, the committee attracted up to N221 million used to improve facilities in schools.

    “If there is a state where SBMC has worked, it is in Lagos State.  They have really helped improve schools.  Last year alone, the SBMC in Lagos were able to generate funds up to N221 million in cash and kind used for building classrooms, toilets, providing instructional materials, as well as uniforms for children in need,” he told The Nation.

    Abatan, who moved through all the four classrooms where facilitators trained the SBMC members, appreciated them and urged them to help the state reduce the number of out-of-school children.

    He said to the participants: “We are happy you could leave your work because it takes a lot.  But because of your interest in children, you have decided to partner with us. Your sacrifice will be rewarded by God.

    “As SBMC members, we need you to look out for those children who move around your environment during school hours. When you notice them please draw the attention of the SBMC. We don’t want children to be wandering about selling ‘pure water’ and others during school period.”

    During the training, which is the third level for the SBMC members, participants were taken through various topics including: “What is a School?”; “How can SBMC help children get quality education?”; and “What is a School Development Plan?” among others.