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Tag: schools

  • Total Upstream, NiBUCAA take HIV/AIDS campaign to Lagos schools

    Total Upstream, NiBUCAA take HIV/AIDS campaign to Lagos schools

    To increase awareness on the universal health coverage goal and commemorate this year’s World AIDS Day, Total Upstream companies in Nigeria and Nigeria Business Coalition Against AIDS (NiBUCAA) have launched a campaign for secondary schools in Lagos State.

    The campaign is aimed at helping youths – secondary school pupils to develop life skills that will enhance healthy behaviours, empowering the girl-child with skills on family life education, and equipping them with information on reproductive health-related issues.

    At the event at Dairy Farm Secondary School, Agege, Managing Director, Total Upstream Companies in Nigeria, Mr. Nicolas Terraz: “The theme for the World AIDS Day is: right to health. At Total, we cannot agree more. Just as all children have a right to education, we all also have a right to health. HIV/AIDS disease has been a great dilemma globally over the past decades. It is a concern that, up till now, the prevalence rate remains high due to the negligence and ignorance of the public.

    “The truth about HIV/AIDS is that it is not only a health challenge, but it is a developmental challenge as well because young people suffer the most infection rates. And as long as young people are the worst affected by the epidemic, the prospects for Nigeria remain bleak.”

    Terraz added: “The youth have a great role to play in heightening awareness and the prevention of this pandemic. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), prevention is not only better than cure, but cheaper and prevents complications.’’

    Nigeria Business Coalition Against AIDS Acting Executive Secretary, Mr. Gbenga Alabi, called for more efforts in ending HIV by 2030.

    “Every December 1 presents us with an opportunity to reflect on how far we have gone in addressing the challenges of HI/AIDS pandemic. Hence, the school setting provides a great opportunity in shaping students’ behavior and their thoughts.

    “Recent prevention gaps have identified the need for all countries to intensify efforts in HIV response  to end AIDS by 2030. The universal and inalienable right to health provides everyone with the right to realise the highest attainable standard of health without discrimination or stigma. Though HIV and AIDS is still very much around, but together the path towards winning the fight is bright if we can tailor the response to individual/group needs in our various programming.”

    Justifying the need to engage the pupils, Alabi said adolescents are victims of rising HIV-related deaths. He urged the pupils to join the Anti-AIDS Club to be established at Dairy Farm Secondary School, Sanngo Senior Secondary School and Keke Senior Secondary School.

    “Adolescents are the only age groups where AIDS –related deaths are rising daily occasioned by sexual exploitation, abuses and sometimes subjected to rape and other sexual violence. This school based project will empower students with reproductive health related information, empowering the girl-child with assertive skills as well as life building skills. In addition, anti-AIDS Club will be established in the beneficiary schools for reasonable coverage, effective participation and sustainability.”

    HIV and AIDS tool kits were presented to the beneficiary schools- Dairy Farm Senior Secondary School, Sanngo Senior Secondary School and Keke Senior Secondary School all situated in Education District 1 of the state.

    At the event were officials of the Lagos State Ministry of Health led by Mrs. Adeyoju, Mr. Ayodele Adeyemi of Education District 1, where the beneficiary schools are located, representatives of Technical Partners to Total Exploration and Production Nigeria Limited – NAPIMS, Petrobras, Sapetro and CNOCC – principals and teachers of the beneficiary schools.

  • Delta institutes award of excellence among schools

    Delta State government has instituted an award of excellence to promote positive learner behaviour among pupils in primary and secondary schools.

    Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education Mr. Chiedu Ebie, who spoke at the maiden Award of Academic Excellence for pupils, who excelled in competitive examinations and academic competitions, said the initiative would motivate pupils to strive for excellence in their academic pursuit.

    He noted that Public Private Partnership in the education is imperative, stressing that the burden of education should not be on the government alone.

    Ebie said this informed Governor Ifeanyi Okowa’s approval for the Support A School Programme last year.

    He said the programme provided a platform to galvanise individuals, friends of the state, corporate and community-based organisations as well as social groups to contribute to the development of education and complement government’s effort.

    The commissioner said the programme had recorded landmark partnership, which improved the standard of education.

    He hailed Eroton Exploration and Production Company for sponsoring the award, promising that it will be an annual event, include head-teachers and teachers.

    The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Eroton Exploration and Production Company Ltd, Mr. Ebiaho Emafo, pledged his company’s support for the programme, saying it was a way of giving back to the society.

    Prizes were given to the best three candidates in each examination – Cognitive Placement Examination for Primary Six Pupils, Basic Education Certificate Examination, West African Senior School Certificate Examination, NECO Senior School Certificate Examination, National Technical Certificate Examination and National Business Certificate Examination.

    Awards were given to a visually-impaired pupil, who made credit in his papers, a pupil that emerged first in the NNPC National Quiz Competition and a primary school pupil, who came first in the 2017 Mathematical Association of Nigeria Competition for Primary Schools.

  • Oyo repairs 100 schools with N2b

    The Oyo State government has approved the rehabilitation of 100 public secondary schools in the 33 local government areas.

    It also approved the construction of four-compartment VIP toilets in the schools.

    The government said the project would cost N1,960,417,772.57, adding that 10 contractors will handle the projects in the state’s 100 schools.

    The Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Mr. Toye Arulogun, who spoke yesterday in Ibadan, the capital, said the State Executive Council (Exco) approved the contract at its meeting last week.

    Arulogun said upgrading  infrastructural facilities for an enabling environment to fast-track transformation and repositioning of education was non-negotiable.

    The commissioner noted that the Abiola Ajimobi administration has prioritised education.

    He said 34 schools would be renovated in Ibadan zone, 30 in Oke Ogun Zone, 15 in Ogbomoso Zone, 12 in Oyo Zone while the remaining nine are in Ibarapa Zone.

    Arulogun said among the schools to be rehabilitated with four-compartment VIP toilets are: Emmanuel Grammar School, Samonda; Anglican Grammar School, Kudeti; Otun Agbaakin Community Grammar School, Akinyele; Fiditi Grammar School, Fiditi; Orayan Grammar School and Progressive Grammar School, Tede; Community High School, Alarere and Lagelu Grammar School, Agugu.

    Others are: Jericho High School, Eleyele; People’s Girls’ Grammar School, Molete; Igboora High School, Igboora; Baptist High School, Eruwa; Ayete Grammar School, Ayete; Araromi Awotan Community High School, Apete and Iba High School, Saki.

    The other schools to be rehabilitated are: Anwar-Islam High School, Iseyin; Baptist Grammar School, Otu, Ilupeju C. G. S, Iwerele; Onjo Community High School, Okeho and Community Grammar School, Lalupon.

    Also to be renovated are: Ogbomoso Girls’ Grammar School, Ogbomoso; Molete C. G. S, Ogbomoso; Community High School, Iwo-Aye; Muslim C.GS, Igbeti Pegba C.S I & II, Pegba, C. G. School, Amuloko; Ifelodun G. S., Igboho; Olorunda C. G. School, Olorunda; Durbar G. S., Oyo; Ladigbolu Grammar School, Oyo; Obalufon Grammar School, Okere High School, Saki and CHS, Arolu.

    Arulogun said the state’s Bureau of Public Procurement had issued the certification for the renovation of the 100 schools, warning that contractors should abide by the project specification and duration.

     

  • Oyo gets fund to rebuild dilapidated schools, others

    Oyo gets fund to rebuild dilapidated schools, others

    The Oyo State government has unfolded a plan to establish its Education Trust Fund (Oyo ETF) for rebuilding schools with dilapidated facilities and training of teachers.

    The chairman of the fund, Mrs Onikepo Akande, told reporters at the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism in Ibadan, the state capital, that the fund would be primarily applied to schools with dilapidated buildings and other facilities to complement the job of the School Governing Boards (SGB).

    Mrs Akande said the state of education in Nigeria was appalling, adding that Oyo ETF would revive quality education to meet global standards.

    The agency chief said the fund would assist the state in the financing of education and oversees the prudent management of the fund as well as other related matters.

    According to her, the fund will be applied to education at all levels and ensure completion of intervention projects.

    An amount equivalent to five per cent of the Value Added Tax (VAT) accruing to the state and its local governments would go to the fund.

    One per cent of Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of public institutions in the state as well as any other fund appropriated by the House of Assembly would also go into the fund.

    These would be in addition to donations and grants by organisations and charitable individuals, she said.

    Mrs Akande said schools in need of urgent intervention were being collated for consideration, adding that many public and private schools had also been responding positively to the call to pay their statutory dues to the fund.

    She added that the work of the fund would complement those of OYOMESI and SGBs for overall improvement in public education across the state.

  • Oyo striking schools to get councils

    The Oyo State government has said it will, this week, set up governing councils for the six striking state-owned tertiary institutions.

    It described the measure as a “holistic view” of addressing challenges in the sector.

    The government, however, said it was not owing 15-month arrears, as workers in the institutions claim.

    Last Friday, members of academic and non-academic staff unions in the six institutions began an indefinite strike.

    Protests were held simultaneously in Ibadan, the state capital; Oyo, Saki, Igboora, Eruwa and Lanlate.

    The affected schools are: Oyo State College of Agriculture and Technology (OYSCATECH); The Ibarapa Polytechnic, Eruwa; The Polytechnic, Ibadan; The Oke-Ogun Polytechnic, Saki; The College of Education, Lanlate and Emmanuel Alayande College of Education (EACOED), Oyo.

    Workers initially gave a 14-day ultimatum to the government, saying they embarked on the strike to protest cut in their salary by 25 per cent and unpaid 13 to 15 months’ arrears.

    Speaking after a meeting with heads of the institutions, Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology Prof. Adeniyi Olowofela said the government was looking at how to resolve their problems.

    The commissioner noted that despite workers’ claims, the government is neither owing them nor stopped paying subvention to the schools.

    He said: “We have just met with heads of tertiary institutions and we are making progress. One of the issues has been addressed. Ordinarily, governing councils are supposed to be managing institutions.

    “So, we are not looking at the issues from microscopic perspectives; we are looking at the problems holistically and solve them downwards.

    “This week, by the grace of God, we are going to constitute the governing councils for the tertiary institutions. That is one of the fallouts of the meeting. Subsequently, the issue of funding will be resolved.

    “But, as I said, subvention is support, and government has not reneged in granting subventions to the institutions. We have not reneged. However, if the subvention is not enough, it is a different ball game.´

    On claims of insufficient funds to the schools, Olowofela insisted that the amount given to each school was based on what the government could afford at the moment.

    He said: “When you are talking about percentages, what you called 25 per cent might actually be a 100 per cent. If you say you are offering assistance to somebody, the assistance is dependent on the situation. Currently, what we are saying is that, yes, we used to give a certain amount of subvention, but now it is that amount divided by four. It is still subvention because it is still assistance.

    “That is what we have the capacity to do or that we can afford this time around. So, we must be careful when we are misconstruing the concept of owing workers certain percentages of salary. No, we are not owing.”

  • Schools shut in Akwa Ibom

    Academic activities were disrupted yesterday in most public and private schools in Akwa Ibom State.

    This followed a rumour that a killer vaccination was being given to pupils.

    Although no person has been confirmed dead, parents stormed schools in Uyo, withdrawing their children.

    It was learnt that fear became heightened, when a parent, who had taken his children to a school in Oron Local Government, hurried back to withdraw them after hearing the rumour

    Investigation showed that by 11am, most schools had been shut.

    The rumour spread to adjoining local governments, causing tension and fear, as parents ran to schools to withdraw their children.

    Health Commissioner Dr. Dominic Ukpong could not be reached for comments last night, as his lines were not reachable.

    But his Information Officer, Mr. Ifiok Udo-Abasi, dismissed the rumour as “false and misleading and capable of causing fear and tension in the state.”

    He advised parents to disregard the information, warning those behind it to desist.

  • Vigilance group to stop kidnapping in schools

    The Lagos Command of the Vigilante Group of Nigeria (VGN) has unveiled plans to combat kidnapping, robberies and ritual attacks around primary and secondary schools in the state following the resumption of academic activities.

    The Command, which yesterday inaugurated seven executive members including the Deputy State Commander of Operations, said it had restrategised to achieve maximum impact in securing schools and other places.

    VGN State Commander, Mr James Udoma, who spoke at a stakeholders’ conference in Ikeja, said the rejigging would ensure that experienced individuals were fixed in the right positions to direct security affairs at the community level.

    He said stemming the increasing spate of social threats in urban areas could only be possible with the cooperation of the Police and government.

    Udoma said the group was willing to augment the efforts of critical security agencies, noting that it had leveraged on the idea of attaching members to familiar terrain to effectively unearth looming crimes and their perpetrators.

    “Community policing is a collaboration of community members and the police. With the concept of the establishment of vigilantes, they are domiciled in their area of operation and understand their terrain, topography and even speak the language. These are people who will understand security challenges in their area and call for solutions,” he said.

    Stressing the need for the National Assembly to expedite the legal recognition of the Vigilante Group of Nigeria, the Director-General Institute of Security, University of Lagos (Unilag) Adebayo Akinade, said a local government law promulgated during the military regime already backed the establishment of the VGN to operate in their community.

  • ECCE: Experts crave special unit, schools

    Early Childhood Association in Nigeria (ECAN) has said the Federal Government needs to do more to enhance the practice of Early Childhood Care Education (ECCE).

    The body said integrating ECCE into policy documents such as the National Policy on Education, Minimum Standard for the Establishment of ECCE Centre, integrated Early Childhood Development, NCCE minimum standard and one year pre-primary curriculum, among others, were steps in the right direction.

    Nonetheless, the group believes that a special unit set up by the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) to oversee the running of ECCE centres and programmes nationwide, in addition to special schools for training ECCE teachers, would also help.

    The group’s suggestions were contained in a communiqué issued at the end of its five-day conference held at the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN), in which participants also called for the adoption of the name ‘caregivers’ instead of ‘teachers’ for adults trained to handle children in their early years.

    The communiqué signed by national president and national secretary, Prof Ajike Osanyin and Muyiwa Ashimolowo, advocated character education in preschools.

    Members also admonished governments to urgently, ‘increase its supervisory and regulatory activities to curb incessant inappropriate practices in public and private schools.”

    Professor of Science Education Adekunle Solomon Olorundare, from UNILORIN, who delivered a keynote address with the theme: “Repositioning early childhood education in Nigeria for global competitiveness: A peek into global best practice” said of all education approach, play serves as the best way for a child to develop, exercise and experience fundamental life skills. Therefore play should be a significant feature of all curriculums, Olorundare argued.

    He urged Nigeria to take cue from countries such as Finland, Netherland, New Zealand and Turkey which renewed their commitment to ECCE.

    He said: “Federal, state, and local governments should put measures in place to ensure standards. This is because the pre-primary level is bedrock for a smooth transmission to the primary school. Definitely, if the foundation of a house is faulty, it will naturally affect the superstructure. The government’s policy ironically failed in this aspect.”

    “Since governments have subtly ‘abandoned’ pre-primary education in the hands of private entrepreneurs, graduate teachers are unwilling to take up jobs as early childhood care givers because of low wages, job security associated with the private institutions and poor morale and recognition.

    “This is because the government is failing in its responsibility of placing premium on early childhood teacher education even though its policies are specified and laudable. Government must initiate mechanisms to regulate and control private establishment and operation of pre-primary education in the country. It is only when classroom teachers are trained under specific and specialized courses that lend themselves to early childhood education that they would acquire pedagogical orientations that would assist them to develop skills to be deployed to stimulate and sustain children’s interest in learning”

    One of the presenters, Dr Babaijide Abidogun from Lagos State University, advocated emphasis of use of mother tongue or language of the immediate environment.

    Osanyin said the theme could not have come at a better time, considering the urgent task of repositioning the Nigerian child for global competitiveness in the face of scarce resources and recession.

    She noted that access to ECCE could eradicate global poverty and help achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.

    “Eradicating poverty and achieving sustainable development therefore requires that significant attention be paid to early childhood; it therefore means that ECAN members must be more than ever be readily committed to issues affecting children and feature significantly in policies in this regard,” she said.

     

  • Kudos for Lagos schools renovation

    Kudos for Lagos schools renovation

    Chairman, Committee on Education of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Olanrewaju Ogunyemi, has commended Governor Akinwunmi Ambode for the ongoing renovation of schools.

    Ogunyemi spoke with reporters after he led his committee members on a tour of some of the renovated public schools.

    He said he was impressed with the renovation and rehabilitation he saw during the tour.

    “This government must be commended for its efforts. The Governor has really done so much in the last two years, particularly in overhauling infrastructure in the education sector.

    “What we have seen so far shows that there is so much hope for education in the state and I would say that the dilapidation of infrastructure in the schools has been turned around.

    “I must commend the governor and the Ministry of Education ably led by the Deputy Governor, Dr. Oluranti Adebule, for a job well done, and for monitoring the contractors to deliver a good job,” he said.

    Ogunyemi also praised the  House of Assembly for ensuring that the executive is closely monitored: for appropriating funds, following up and monitoring to ensure funds are judiciously used.

    Ogunyemi recalled how the committee, as part of its oversight functions, visited Model College, Meiran, about a year ago, and complained about its poor facilities. He  is happy that the government promptly responded and the school now wears a new look.

    He said: “We visited the school over one year ago and we complained about the state of facilities there. The hostel accommodation, the toilets, the classrooms, the water system have improved.

    “The House of Assembly is happy that our Governor is working and that the Ministry of Education is responsive to the observation of the House.

    “I think on the whole, we are pleased that our oversight function is yielding the desired results. We came and we spoke, and the government has responded.”

    According to him, the committee would ensure that upgraded facilities are used very well. He added that the principals of the schools have been told to ensure that the hostels masters and captains ensure facilities are maintained.

    Ogunyemi explained that it is important for the state government to overhaul the facilities in the schools regularly. He therefore used the opportunity to call on corporate organisations, well meaning members of the public and philanthropists to support government to make education better.

    “We need public spirited individuals, corporate organisations and philanthropists to come up and exhibit corporate social responsibility and support education.

    “Education will always produce personnel that would go back to work in those organisations.

    “I am happy that some organisations, individuals and corporate bodies are contributing to move education forward in the state,” Ogunyemi said.

    Some other schools visited by the committee included Millennium Junior and Senior Secondary School, Egbeda; Estate Junior High School, Ifako/Ijaiye; and Dairy Farm Senior Secondary School, Agege.

     

     

     

     

  • Standard IBTC offers solutions to schools

    Schools no longer have to worry about collection of fees from parents as Standard IBTC Bank has introduced various electronic platforms for easy transactions.

    Schools will now have multi-bank collection channels including online card payment via their websites, customised point of sale (POS) solutions, business banking online, as well as branded students identity card that can also be used as payment card.

    Speaking at the launch of the innovative education solutions at the Wheatbaker, Ikoyi, the bank’s Head of Public Sector Group, Personal and Business Banking,  Mrs Idu Okwuosa,  said many schools faced challenges keeping their financial books in order.

    She said: “Schools are faced with diverse challenges ranging from fees collections and reporting, salary payments, registration and record keeping to general administration.

    “We have provided more options and solutions to schools and we are also discouraging people from going to banks to make payments. You can actually do that in your comfort zones and the payment will be traced immediately to the child you paid for as long as you put the identity number of the child. The schools in turn get the message.

    “The whole idea started in Uganda and we want to reflect it here in Nigeria. Education is very important to any country and we give credit to Lagos State government. We want to partner with schools to help them solve their challenge, lend to them, most especially. We are actually adding more value to schools” she noted.

    She noted that IBTC goes beyond financial mediation as education is part of the bank’s Corporate Social Responsibility.

    The Head Merchant Solutions Digital Channels Acquiring Mrs Amaka Nwosu, explained that the bank’s aim is to provide seamless integration of the school’s portal system for validation of student information before payment is accepted. It guarantees extensive financial control of transactions, transparency across all payment channels and monitors the transactions.

    She noted that during the bank’s survey of schools’ financial challenges, it was discovered they need a simple and automated multi-channel solutions for receiving payments from parents/guardians/students/members.

    “They are also in need of integration of e-collection channels to the schools’ portal for ease of reconciliation, an efficient and secured solution for disbursing and managing petty cash expenses among others,” she said.

    Financial Controller of Corona School Trust Council, Mr Adewale Soremi  praised the initiative, noting that issues of collection of fees, how and when due and making payments to other various vendors have been a challenge for schools.  He said it will also re emphasie the importance of a cashless society.