The Nation Newspaper

Tag: varsity

  • New national curriculum, varsity requirements at variance’

    New national curriculum, varsity requirements at variance’

    The new education curriculum has been described as one of the best-ever produced in the country because of its specialisation-driven concept.

    Nonetheless, for the curriculum to realise its full potential, tertiary institutions, particularly universities, need to synchronise their requirements to meet its demand.

    This is the opinion of the Proprietors of Good Shepherd Group of Schools Meiran, Lagos State, Dr Adebayo Bamidele Oyeyemi, who lamented that some subject combinations in the curriculum contrast those for admission into universities, which still use the old requirements.

    “University requirements are different from what we have in the new curriculum,” Dr Oyeyemi said.

    He continued: “We have schools that follow this curriculum but in the end their children could not secure admission to universities.

    “For instance, if a child is going to study Engineering, the curriculum specifies that that child does not need Chemistry or Biology.

    “In the curriculum, there are five compulsory subjects – English, Math Trade, Civic and Computer. Then a student picks three or four subjects from his area of specialisation, and then one elective from the four divisions-Humanities, Business, Science, as well as Mathematics and Technology.

    “To be more specific, Business and Technology are having crisis. The new curriculum does not make it compulsory for a student to do Biology, Chemistry or Physics but other subjects like Basic electronics, Basic Electricity, Food and Nutrition and Technical Drawing. But if a child should follow that, he would not get admission into universities which still base their requirements on the old curriculum which states that a child who wants to study Engineering should have Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics.

    “Again, government removed Economics from Commercials and put it under Humanities but universities are still requiring Economics for commercial students. Some schools started doing Economics when JAMB recommended Economics in the UTME and many of those students failed woefully.”

    At the school level, Oyeyemi frowns that the new curriculum is becoming enigmatic, and school managements have to modify the curriculum in ensuring students meet university prerequisites.

    Identifying curriculum, infrastructure and manpower, as the three major components of a school system, Oyeyemi further kicks against the scenario where except in Lagos schools, there is dearth of facilities in most public school nationwide to meet the Trade recommended in the curriculum.

    He attributes the development to policy somersaults and default of the policy formulators to take a cue from realities from the field (school) before coming up with the policy, resulting into complexities and often inability of schools to interpret such policy.

    “The curriculum is perfect but by implementation, there is a gap. Many schools till now do not know what to do; yet gthe overnment wants us to comply with it to the letter. Now here (Shepherd Group of school), we have to look at university requirements and align it with the curriculum.

    “It’s not just about copying what happens in UK or US but customising and communicating it. It’s like we are gambling with the lives of these children. To worsen matters, there is no document to guide the curriculum in case it needs some adjustment. I am suggesting that all ideas should be synchronised and fused into a single document,’’ he added.

     

  • Kwara varsity is exploitation machine’

    Kwara varsity is exploitation machine’

    Pioneer graduates of the Kwara State University (KWASU) have alleged exploitation against the school, following its directive that its graduates must pay N45,000 for accommodation. The graduates vowed not to pay, claiming they did not stay in the school hostels. MATTHEW AJAKAIYE (Zoology) reports.

    The Kwara State University (KWASU) in Malete, Ilorin, the state capital, held its maiden convocation last June, with the hope that its first set of graduates would be mobilised for the National Youth Service in October. But, three months after, the institution is yet to release the results of the graduates to enable them participate in the service.

    The school’s action has generated discontent among the graduates, who condemned the management’s refusal to initiate the process that would enable them participate in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme.

    Some of the students, who spoke to CAMPUSLIFE, said various letters had been sent to Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed to draw his attention to their plight, but there was  no response from the government  . The students accused the university of using its “extortion policy” to delay their future engagements.

    CAMPUSLIFE gathered that the KWASU management had decided it would not release the final year results of the graduates and stopped the process of their certificates until they pay N45,000 each for hostel accommodation. This, it was gathered, is meant to serve as a penalty for the graduates’ refusal to stay in the university-acquired off-campus hostels.

    But, the graduates said they could never pay for hostels they didn’t use.

    The university authorities mandated all freshers and graduating students to stay in its hostels, on and off-campus, which went for N45,000 per bed space.

    The final year students were not satisfied with the arrangement, which led many of them to go for cheaper private hostels outside the campus. They complained the accommodation fee in the school hostels was “exorbitant” compared to the rent they would pay living in the school’s host community.

    A student, who simply gave his name as Dayo, said the management was wrong not to allow students to have choice on the accommodation matter, adding that the school authorities wanted to extort money from the students by forcing them to pay “outrageous fee” for school hostels. He said private hostels are relatively cheap.

    “The school hostels are very far from the campus, such that students living in those hostels spend high fare on transportation to and from the school. This is why many of us decided not to stay in their hostels,” he said.

    Another student of Mass Communication, who simply gave her name as Monisola, described the school’s accommodation policy as brazen exploitation, adding that students would not pay for a service they never sought for.

    She said: “The KWASU management’s insistence that we pay N45,000 hostel accommodation before they can process our results and certificates is a brazen exploitation and sheer wickedness. How can they expect us to pay for bed spaces we did not use when we were in school?”

    Monisola said students considered the “illegal payment” as “dubious”, alleging that the school management wanted to use the money to pay its staff. She added: “If the Kwara State government cannot fund the school anymore, they should rather privatise it than turning it to an exploitation machine to rip off the public.”

    CAMPUSLIFE gathered that Gov. Ahmed was embarrassed by the students’ allegation and ordered investigation of the matter, but there has been no official statement from the government.

    However, the school management denied allegation of extortion, noting that its policy was introduced in the interest of students. This was contained in a statement released by Information Office on the school’s website.

    The statement reads: “KWASU neither extorts nor compels all students to stay in university accommodation. However, it has made hostel accommodation mandatory for fresh and final year students for their own benefits. For example, fresh students are placed in accommodation where they can be monitored.

    “It is equally compulsory for the final year students to stay in the hostel because that is the year they need to take their studies seriously. When they live in the accommodation provided by the school, they will have time for their studies and perform better than living off-campus.”

    The management added that, if any student had a genuine reason to stay out the accommodation provided by the university, such student was expected to pick up an exemption form and state his “genuine reason” for rejecting the school hostels.

     

     

     

  • DAVIDO PERFORMS AT DAD’S VARSITY

    DAVIDO PERFORMS AT DAD’S VARSITY

    POPULAR musician, David Adeleke, better known as Davido, over the weekend, visited his billionaire dad’s university in their hometown, Ede, Osun State to attend the maiden convocation of the Adeleke University.

    OBO as he is fondly called went to the school along with his elder brother, Adewale Adeleke, his manager, Kamal Ajiboye, producer Shizzi and billionaire father, Deji Adeleke.

    The young, versatile artiste performed at the university convocation dinner which was hosted by the Pro Chancellor who happens to be his father, after which, himself and his HKN crew inspected an on-going construction at the University’s permanent site.

    The new site has been described as an “ultra modern educational facility” worth billions of Naira.

  • Varsity holds maiden convocation

    The Samuel Adegboyega University, in Ogwa, Edo State will graduate her pioneer set of 50 students tomorrow.

    Listing the achievements of the four-year old university, At a press briefing to announce the convocation, its Vice Chancellor, Prof Benard Aigbokan, said the institution has partnered with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to nurture 100,000 oil palm nursery for sale to small-scale farmers and offered international ICT training to students in collaboration with New Horizon, an e-training firm, among others.

    “In order for the students to achieve the competence necessary to prepare them for the labour market, the university has ensured that all students graduate with a minimum of three certificates which include a certificate for their course of study, ICT certificate from New Horizon and entrepreneurial certificate in which students are empowered with additional skills in hair dressing, tie and dye, farming and so on,” he said.

    The vice chancellor debunked the allegations that National Universities Commission (NUC) rated the university as substandard, noting that the rumour has been corrected by the regulatory agency.

    Activities that featured as part of the convocation included a novelty match, convocation drama as well as the inauguration of a multipurpose hall and Centre for Economic Research (CERDEL).

     

  • Obasanjo challenges varsity on agric enterprise

    Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has urged the Landmark University, Omu-Aran, Kwara State, to teach agricultural enterprise to its students to help end poverty and unemployment.

    He spoke when he visited the university in company of its founder, Bishop David Oyedepo.

    The University, inauguration on March 21, 2011, has a mandate to drive a agrarian revolution through its undergraduate programmes in the Colleges of Agricultural Sciences, Engineering, Sciences, Business and Social Sciences.

    The former president said product development, innovative use of equipment, and food production are some aspects of agricultural enterprise the university can focus on.

    In a statement by the university, Obasanjo was quoted as saying that the challenge of unemployment can be addressed through agribusiness.

    After a tour of the university, Obasanjo was quoted as saying: “I am most impressed with the overall commitment of the proprietor to agric-business and the enthusiasm of the farm director and staff. In totality, it is exemplary and worthy of emulation.

    “The University has the basic requirement to turn out engineers. I think our emphasis should be on Science, Technology or Science, Engineering but I will always add innovation because it is not every time we can invent, but we can improve on what already exists and that is where innovation comes in. The University is really doing well.”

    The university has 23 agriculture-related programmes such as Agric Extension and Rural Development, Agricultural Economics, Animal Science, Soil Science, Crop Science, Agric and Biosystems Engineering, among other engineering courses.

    The Living Faith Commission Worldwide is said to have made available accessible loans to the tune of N1billion to graduates who have interest in embarking on agriculture entrepreneurship.

  • 12 jostle for Ekiti varsity VC job

    12 jostle for Ekiti varsity VC job

    No fewer than 12 candidates have applied for the post of the Vice Chancellor of the Ekiti State University (EKSU), Ado Ekiti which becomes vacant in four months time.

    Incumbent Vice Chancellor, Prof. Patrick Oladipo Aina, is expected to vacate office on December 2 when he would have completed a five-year non-renewable term.

    Aina, a professor of Soil Physics, is credited with massive infrastructural development, execution of reforms which has repositioned the university and better welfare for staff and students, among others.

    He was a senior academic at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile- Ife before he became EKSU Vice Chancellor.

    EKSU Registrar, Emmanuel Ogunyemi, confirmed to The Nation yesterday that 12 candidates were interested in the office of the Vice Chancellor, but he declined to give their names.

    Ogunyemi, who is also the Secretary to the Senate and the Governing Council, disclosed that filing of applications has since closed while candidates will be interviewed in October.

    Inside sources told our correspondent that out of the 12 candidates who beat the deadline for submission, six are senior academics in the university while the rest six are from other universities around the country.

    The Nation gathered that candidates have been lobbying powerful individuals, including politicians, council members and other people that matter in pushing their case.

    Expected to play key roles in the emergence of a new VC are the Visitor, Governor Ayo Fayose and Chairman of the Governing Council who is also the immediate past Minister of State (Works), Prince Dayo Adeyeye.

    In the race for the EKSU VC job are former Vice Chancellor of the defunct University of Science and Technology, Ifaki (USTI), Prof. Oye Bandele; Prof. Joel Adegun, former EKSU Deputy Vice Chancellor (Development) and Prof. Gbenga Aribisala; former EKSU Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic).

    Other EKSU senior academics gunning for the plum job are Prof. Samuel Ashaolu, former Dean of Faculty of Science; Prof. Adeolu Ibijola of Mathematical Sciences Department and Prof. Joshua Kayode.

    The identity of the six applicants from other universities could not be ascertained at press time, but a strong lobby was being intensified to ensure that one of the ‘insiders’ got the job.

    A source said: “The candidates are expected to face the interview panel in October and it will involve the Governing Council, the Senate and members of the congregation.

    “The papers of the applicants are being scrutinised while for the outsiders, visits are being paid to the universities where they had worked in the past.

    “The search party is already on the field and this is one of the measures to ensure that the process is credible and transparent.”

  • Protest rocks Otuoke Varsity

    •Indigenes demand managerial positions

    Aggrieved youths in Bayelsa State yesterday protested in Otuoke, the hometown of former President Goodluck Jonathan, in Ogbia Local Government Area.

    They sought the appointment of indigenes into managerial positions in the Federal University, Otuoke (FUO).

    The protesters accused the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Mobolaji Aluko, of ethnicity.

    They said none of the principal officers in the institution hails from the state.

    It was learnt that the over 200 placard-carrying youths consisted of members of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide and students from tertiary institutions in Niger Delta states.

    The protesters were said to have converged on FUO main campus and locked the workers and students out.

    They were said to have marched from the main campus to the administrative buildings. But they were denied entry by security operatives, who got a wind of the protest.

    The protest caused panic among the residents.

    Business owners hurriedly closed their shops for fear that hoodlums could hijack the protest.

    Some of the inscriptions on the placards include: “Bayelsa youths say no to change of principal officers from Bayelsa”; “Registrar is not a Bayelsan. He is short-changing Bayelsans”; “Leave our woman bursar alone. We need equal representation in the management of FUO, Otuoke”; “IYC declares war, if bursar and librarian are changed” and “VC and registrar must go now. Enough is enough.”

    The President of the National Union of Bayelsa State Students (NUBSS), Richard Lawyer led the protest.

    He said the protesters were sending a message to Prof Aluko and the school management.

    The union leader alleged that the VC edged out the Acting Bursar, an indigene, and “manipulated” the retention of his preferred candidates for choice positions.

    Richard said the people would not accept a situation where principal offices, including heads of departments, were occupied by non-indigenes.

    The students’ leader said they were unhappy with the way Prof Aluko was running the university, adding that the alleged neglect of Bayelsa indigenes must stop.

  • Varsity holds training

    The ‘Nimbe Adedipe Library of FUNAAB in collaboration with the Information Training and Outreach Centre for Africa (ITOCA), held a ‘Train-the-trainers’ workshop on The essential electronic agricultural library (TEEAL) and Access to Global Online Research in Agriculture (AGORA) for librarians, academic staff, researchers and students.

    Declaring the programme opened, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Olusola Oyewole, represented by his Deputy (Development), Prof Felix Salako, noted that the goal of the programme was to integrate library electronic resources in education and research institutions, through strategised, institutional training workshops. He added that ITOCA needed to train the trainers, who would in turn, teach others in the various institutions.

     

     

  • Varsity disowns social media advert

    The management of Adekunle Ajasin University in Akungba-Akoko (AAUA), Ondo State, has dissociated itself from a publication on social media,  asking admission seekers to apply for its post-Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

    The Principal Assistant Registrar (Admissions), Mr Tajudeen Salami, said the advertisement was fraudulent. He said: “Our attention has been drawn to an online publication that indicates that the university has advertised its 2015/2016 post-UTME. The information did not emanate from the school but from unscrupulous elements using social media to defraud unsuspecting applicants. We have not advertised any examination because the committee handling the post-UTME has not taken decision on what the cut-off mark would be.

    “It is instructive to state that Adekunle Ajasin University does not advertise on social media. The university advertises on its website and in print and electronic media. We advise the general public to disregard such advert on social media; it did not emanate from the University.”

    He advised applicants and the public to be wary of fraudsters. Salami said the examination would be advertised at appropriate time on the usual media the school uses.

  • How Ogun varsity student died on his last day in school

    How Ogun varsity student died on his last day in school

    THEY came from different families, entered this world by birth at different times and also at different locations but in the course of time, and subtly too, a cruel fate began to bring them together bit by bit with its malevolent hand appearing largely undetected.

    They were all promising future leaders – in education, law, politics, governance, arts, sciences and you name it, yet fate schemed it that they became undergraduate students of the state – owned Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State and in life shared the common identity of being university mates.

    Thirteen of them had taken off at the Ago-Iwoye park in a passenger bus around noon and had hoped to spend the weekend as usuall with their parents and siblings in Lagos.

    That was not the first time they would travel home for the weekend but as the journey progressed along the Lagos – Ore Expressway, little did any of them know that at the Sagamu – Ilssan stretch, the cruel fate that had laid ambush for them at a treacherous slope, showed in a moving truck – a weighty container tipped and fell on their bus.

    Welcome to the story of the Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU) 12 – promising young boys and girls. They never made it to the Lagos destination – their lives were terminated abruptly last June 26, when the container from a moving truck fell on the roof of their bus and crushed them to death.

    Among the dead were the quartet of Damilola Eunice (200 level Political Science); Aribiola Yetunde( 100 level Bio – Chemistry); Adams Suliyat Oluwatobi (100 Accounting); Ibukunola Ashade and then Tunji Dairo(NYSC hopeful, Physics graduate).

    The case of Damilola Eunice was quite touching. Her friend, Miss Shodunke Deborah, who described her as jovial, lively and embodiment of black beauty, said she was full of energy and enthusiasm while embarking on the journey that ended midway on a sad.

    According to Deborah, Damilola was one student who was serious with class work and rarely missed lectures if she was around in Ago – Iwoye.

    Adebiyi Adeola she was full of tears about Tunji Dairo whose case appeared more touching.

    Adeola said Tunji had finished during the 2013/2014 academic seession and had only come to OOU for clearance, while waiting for mobilisation for the one year National Youth Service Scheme.

    According to her, Tunji spent two days in Ago – Iwoye and had ‘signed off’ completely having cleared and left for Lagos along with others in that ill-fated passenger bus not knowing that would be his last day on earth.

    Already, their colleagues who were touched by the reckless manner their lives and future were cut short are asking for N120million compensation from a plastic factory they suspect to own the truck and container that killed the students.

    Last week, the students forced their way into the factory, located few meters away from the scene of the accident and carried placards with the inscriptions: “We Demand Justice for the Lost Souls; ” OOU Mourns, OOU Weeps, OOU Cries,” “A Future Lawyer is Gone!,” “Fresh Graduates Gone!,” “We’ve Lost Our Scientists,” “OOUITES Are Not Chickens.” “ Stop Giving us Phobia,” “Police, FRSC, TRACE Must Be Probed.”

    The Student Union Government’s President, Com. Adegbesan Adenola, told The Nation that  they are demanding immediate payment of N120million naira compensation – N10millon for each of the dead students.

    Adenola warned that should the company fail to pay the said amount to each family of the victims within seven days, they would return to the factory.

    Also last Monday, OOU students, clad in black T – shirts and pairs of black jeans, stormed the scene of the accident in luxury buses to pray for the repose of their colleagues’ souls. For over an hour, they sang dirges for the 12 victims as Muslims and Christians also took turns to pray for the dead.

    While a youth pastor, Tobi Adesanya, from the Redeemed Christian Church of God(RCCG) prayed for the Christians,  Oresanya Adewale 300 level Business Administration (Education) student of OOU, prayed for the Muslims.

    However, the head of the university’s teaching hospital’s Morbid Anatomy and Histopathology Department, Dr Deji Agboola, told The Nation that the families of the affected students had begun collecting the remains of their wards and children as at a week ago, while the last batch of corpses were taken last Tuesday.

    Agboola disclosed that one of the victims of the accident is still lying in the morgue of the teaching hospital because nobody had come to claim it.

    According to Agboola, an associate professor who also doubles as the Chairman of the OOU branch of the Academic Staff Union of Universities(ASUU), the identity of remaining corpse could not be established.