Category Education

Motorcycles

By Auwalu Yusif-Birnin Kudu

Bauchi, April 2, 2020 (NAN) Bauchi State Universal Basic Education Board (BASUBEB), says it has distributed 15 motorcycles to 15 Local Education Authorities (LEAs) to enhance supervision and achieve quality control in schools.

Mohammad Abdullahi, the spokesperson of the Board, made the disclosure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria( NAN)  on Thursday in Bauchi.

Abdullahi said the motorcycles were distributed  to assist education inspectors to closely monitor teaching and learning in schools as well as ensure effective quality control in  schools.

He said that motorcycles would also be provided to the remaining five LEAs, as part of proactive measures to enhance monitoring of schools in the 20 LGAs.

The spokesman noted that the motorcycles were  distributed in collaboration with the World Bank Educational Policy, known as Better Education Service Delivery for All (BESDA).

Abdullahi said the programme had donated thousands of text books to schools in the state, adding that SUBEB also distributed 14, 484 units of furniture in basic and post basic schools under the 2017/18 project.

According to him, the Board in collaboration with the Universal Education Commission (UBEC) expended over N5 billion on construction, renovation and supply of furniture in the past four years in the state.

BKD/ BOLA/RSA

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Edited by Bola Akingbehin/Rabiu Sani Ali

Rape: Education stakeholders laud Kaduna Govt. for closing school

Rape

By Philip Yatai

Kaduna, April 1, 2020 (NAN) Stakeholders supporting educational development in Kaduna State, have commended the state government for shutting down a private school following the arrest of the proprietor for allegedly raping a nine-year-old girl.

The stakeholders, who made the commendation in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kaduna on Wednesday, described the development as “the right step in the right direction.”

NAN reports that Mr Samuel Ejikeme, the proprietor of Liberation College Tirkania, Kaduna, had been arrested for allegedly raping a nine-year old pupil.

The development forced the state government to withdraw the school’s license, closed it down and advised parents and guardians to withdraw their children or wards from the school.

Ms Gloria Bulus, Secretary, Kaduna State Basic Education Accountability Mechanism (KADBEAM), said that the state government action was timely and commendable.

According to her, the rapid action will serve as a strong warning to other school owners that abuse pupils and students placed under their care.

Bulus noted that several other girls were being abused by teachers and other school officials that ought to care and protect them.

She pointed out that the larger percentage of sexual abuse on students, pupils and minus have remained unknown because the victims were not speaking out due to intimidation and fear of stigma.

“Children need to speak out and expose the perpetrators of this ugly act for justice to be served.

“Therefore, the Ministry of Education should strengthen interactions with students and pupils in schools to assist victims to speak out when physically abused or violated by school officials,” she said.

She also stressed the need to strengthen the role of guidance and counselling officers by improving their capacity to be able to secure the confidence of pupils to speak out when abused sexually or physically.

“Not only that, female teachers also need to create a bond with female students to enable the students confide in them if they are sexually molested,” she added.

Similarly, the Executive Director, Hope for Communities and Children Initiative, Mrs Hadiza Umar, said that closing down the school was the perfect thing to do.

Umar noted that the measure would significantly deter caregivers from sexually preying or molesting children that they ought to protect and educate.

“I am very impressed with the swift action of the state government and urge the state to ensure that the suspect was prosecuted and face the wrath of the law if found guilty,” she said.

On his part, Mr Daniels Akpan, Executive Director, African Centre for Educational Development (CLEDA Africa), said that the government action would reassure parents that their children were being cared for in school.

“This is Justice for the little girl and will give pupils and students the needed confidence to speak out.

“It is also a strong warning to other school owners that Kaduna state government does not condon any form of abuse on children,” Akpan said.

He called on the government to continue to ensure safe spaces for young girls and boys to learn without fear of molestation. (NAN)

FDY/ASS/MZA

Edited by Saidu Adamu/Maharazu Ahmed

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Teaching
By Lucy Osuizigbo-Okechukwu

Awka,  April 1, 2020 (NAN) The Anambra State Government on Wednesday said it had started the teaching of eight subjects on radio to help SS-3 students prepare for their Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (SSCE).

The State Commissioner for Basic Education, Prof. Kate Omenugha told News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Awka, that the programme tagged “Anambra Teaching On Air”, would ensure that students were engaged during the school closure.

It would be recalled that public and private primary and secondary schools had been shut down in Anambra from March 23, as a precautionary measure against the spread of Covid-19.

Omenugha said teachers who specialised in core subjects such as Mathematics, English Language, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Economics, Literature-in-English and Financial Accounting, would take the various topics on radio in line with already prepared time table.

She said though the tutorials were targeted at the SS-3 students preparing for their SSCE, but SS-1 and SS-2 students could also benefit from it.

“The on- air teaching programme, which started today, April 1, on ABS radio, is basically for SS-3 students, who are preparing for SSCE but because SS-3 class is usually for revision, those in SS-1 and SS-2 can also benefit.

“To tell the truth, I don’t know how long this sit-at-home directive will last. So, the on-air teaching programme will go on as long as we are at home. The teaching starts from 11.00 a.m to 1.00 p.m everyday.

“We already prepared eight subjects for the programme, but we can still add more as time goes on, ” Omenugha said.

The Commissioner urged parents to ensure their children listened to the programme rather than allow them patronise tutorial centres, to curb the spread of coronavirus. (NAN)

LCO/ORO/AFA

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Edited by Razak Owolabi/Felix Ajide

COVID-19:UNIBEN extends shut down by two weeks

Covid-19

By Ruona Isikeh
Benin, April 1, 2020(NAN) The Management of the University of Benin (UNIBEN) has extended the current shut down of the institution by two weeks due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Dr Benedicta Ehanire, Public Relations Officer of UNIBEN, disclosed this in a statement made available to News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Benin.

“After a careful review of the situation of the country with regards to the COVID-19 pandemic, the institution has extended its shut down by two weeks.

“The new date of resumption of work is now April 16, 2020.

“Please note that staff affected by this directive are to work from home.

“For the avoidance of doubt, all staff on essential services such as healthcare, security, utilities including water and electricity as well as fire service are not affected by this directive but are to continue to perform their invaluable roles during this period,” she said.

She advised the general public to maintain a high level of hygiene, avoid ill persons, practice social distancing and stay at home.(NAN)

IRO/AO/AFA
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Edited by Angela Okisor

Gov. Abdulrazaq appoints Akanbi, as KWASU VC

By Fatima Mohammed-Lawal
Appointment
Ilorin, April 1, 2020(NAN) Gov. Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq of Kwara has approved the appointment of Prof. Mustapha Mohammed-Akanbi as substantive Vice Chancellor of the State University, Malete.
Hajia, Sa’adatu Modibbo the state’s Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Science and Technology, said this in a statement on Wednesday in Ilorin.
Modibbo said that the appointment followed the recommendation of the University Governing Council.
“Gov.AbdulRazaq, has accepted the recommendation of the Governing Council of the Kwara State University, Malete, with regards to the appointment of Vice Chancellor.
“Consequently, on behalf of His Excellency, I hereby announce the immediate appointment of Prof. Mohammed Mustapha Akanbi as the new Vice Chancellor of the State University, Malete.

”I am similarly conveying His Excellency’s approval of the appointment to the Governing Council of the University, on Wednesday, April 1, 2020,” he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that before his appointment Akanbi was a lecturer at the Department of Business Law, Faculty of Law at the University of Ilorin.
His father was late Justice Muhammad Mustapha Akanbi, Pioneer Chairman, Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC). (NAN)
FATY/AO/ABI
Edited by Angela Okisor/Ali Baba-Inuwa

Headmaster wants assistance to complete classroom projects

Assistance

Abdullahi Shugaba

Katsina April 1, 2020 (NAN) The Headmaster of Madarasaatul Islamiyya School, Unguwar Alkali, in Dutsinma Local Government Area of Katsina State, Malam Ibrahim Sani, has called on philanthropists and other well-meaning individuals to donate toward the completion of ongoing classroom projects in the school.

Sani made the appeal in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Katsina on Wednesday.

He explained that the school commenced operation about ten years ago with one classroom and 10 pupils but now had over 1, 000 pupils spread in 12 classes.

He said because of the increasing number of students, the school needed more classrooms to accommodate the pupils.

“We are currently building more classrooms in the school, but we need support and assistance.

“We are therefore appealing to philanthropists and other well-meaning individuals to kindly donate toward the completion of the projects, the headmaster said. (NAN)
AIS/ESAN/AMY

Edited by Abiodun Esan and Abdullahi Yusuf

Accreditation

Bt Adedeji Egbebi

Oye-Ekiti (Ekiti State), March 30, 2020 (NAN) The Federal University, Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), on Monday said that the National Universities Commission (NUC) had given full accreditation to some of the courses forming its academic programmes.

The Deputy Director, Corporate Services of the university, Mr Adeyinka Ademuyiwa, confirmed the development to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Oye-Ekiti.

Ademuyiwa added that the NUC also gave interim accreditation to some others.

He said that the courses given full accreditation by NUC include: Geology, Mass Communication, Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution, Political Science, Banking and Finance and Public Administration.

Other accredited courses which are under the Faculty of Education include: Business Education, Education Agricultural Science, Education Biology, Education Chemistry, Education English and Education Management.

Ademuyiwa also listed some of the courses given interim accreditation for two years to include: Accounting, Business Administration, Education Mathematics, Library and Information Science.

He said, “A letter dated March 19, with reference number: NUC/ES/412/Vol. 12/153 was addressed to the Vice-Chancellor {V-C}, Prof. Kayode Soremekun, by the NUC on the matter.

“The letter signed by NUC’s Director of Accreditation, Dr Maryam Sali, confirmed that programmes examined that include:  Management Sciences, Arts, Education, Science and Social Sciences gained accreditation.

“The university will start admitting post- graduate students into its Masters’ classes in all the accredited academic programmes.’’

He said that this was in addition to courses that had already been accredited which the Post-Graduate School of the institution had already given admissions to students.

Ademuyiwa said that the institution’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Soremekun and his management staff, were delighted with the results of the NUC’s accreditation team.

“The management of the institution promised to work hard to ensure that virtually all the courses of the university are given full accreditation,” Ademuyiwa said.

Ademuyiwa said that the Vice-Chancellor had also assured the students that all facilities and personnel meant for the courses that were given interim accreditation would be upgraded and provided for them to get full accreditation.

The deputy director also advised the students and staff of the institution to embrace hard work and make good use of the facilities provided for them by the institution. (NAN)

DJ/ESAN/PAD

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Edited by Abiodun Esan/Peter Dada

Education

By Philip Yatai

Kaduna, March 29, 2020 (NAN) The African Centre for Educational Development (CLEDA Africa) has urged  Federal and State Governments to adopt proactive measures to enhance deployment of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in education for effective service delivery.

Mr Daniels Akpan, Executive Director of the organisation, made the call in a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), on Sunday in Kaduna.

Akpan, who is also the Co-Chair, African Education Forum,  spoke in reaction to the shutdown of academic activities in the country to curb the spread of Covid-19 pandemic.

He said the development would impact negatively on the pupils, teachers, students and lecturers, pointing out that most schools were at the verge of examinations when they were closed.

The director noted that pupils and students were currently idling at home, following the stay at home order, adding that the trend would  create a major setback in the progress of education in the country.

He added that so far, about 1.5 billion students, representing 87.1 per cent of learners in 165 countries across the world had been affected by the closure of schools.

According to him, while technology is being deployed in developed countries to bridge the gap, learners in Nigeria and most African countries are idling at home.

“Nigeria’s education system has no adequate provisions for the use of technology and other innovations to keep students learning during emergencies and prevent academic activities from coming to a standstill.

“This disturbing situation will have been averted if the utilisation of ICT in education delivery in the country has been massive.

“Therefore, there is the need for the Federal and State governments to begin massive deployment of innovations and technology infrastructure in education delivery system in the country.

“Teachers must also be trained on how to use technology, which is cost efficient in the delivery of instruction to students wherever they are, either at school or home,” he said.

Akpan advised the government to take advantage of the opportunities presented by ICT for distance learning to take place, especially in the face of social distancing.

He said the smart move would mitigate future occurrence of a total shutdown of education activities in the country. (NAN)

FDY/CHOM/RSA

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Edited by Chioma Ugboma/Rabiu Sani Ali

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