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Tag: Adamu Adamu

  • BREAKING: FG orders all schools in Nigeria to reopen

    BREAKING: FG orders all schools in Nigeria to reopen

    The federal government (FG) has ordered all schools in Nigeria to reopen after almost six months of stemming and trying to prevent the spread of the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Adamu Adamu, the Minister of Education disclosed the FG’s order during a press briefing in Abuja, the federal capital territory (FCT).

    He advised all institutions to obey and adhere to the guidelines for the reopening of schools, earlier announced by the presidential task force on COVID-19 (PTFCOVID19).

    The Education Minister said all unity schools should open by October 12, while states and private schools will determine their own modalities of reopening.

    “Having taken that painful but necessary decision, government has not rested on its oars in the areas of consultation with stakeholders, putting together guidelines for reopening of schools and preparations required of school owners to reopen.

    “We have consulted widely with stakeholders in the sector, including the Association of Private School Owners, (APSON), National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS), Provosts of Colleges of Education, Rectors of Polytechnics, Vice Chancellors of Universities, State Governors, our development partners, Honourable Commissioners of Education and relevant international organizations.

    ”Consequently, after due consultation with the Presidential Committee on COVID-19, we have decided that our 104 Unity Colleges should reopen on the 12th of October 12th, 2020.

    “State and Private School owners will work out the modalities for the re-opening of schools under their purview,” he said.

    The Minister, however, urged school owners to ensure social distancing procedures, develop and display at schools and conduct risk assessment with a view to understanding the gaps in the system.

    “I strongly urge school owners to put in place systems that meet the following: safe distancing procedures, develop and display at schools simple context-specific reference protocols on day-to-day actions to be operated in each school.

    ”Conduct risk assessment with a view to understanding the gaps in the system that can increase the risk of transmission and make recommendations for addressing the gaps.

    “Safety and hygiene in all stages and phases of the school reopening process which promote behaviours that reduced spread”

    “Establish a staff/students Committee for regular surveillance ,monitoring and enforcement of COVID 19 guidelines,” he added.

    He warned that schools that failed to adhere to outlined COVID-19 safety protocols, risk closure if there is an outbreak from such institutions.

  • FG’s intervention for tertiary institutions hits over N700bn

    The Federal Government through the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) allocated a total of N727,225,862,128.86 billion worth of investment in critical areas of infrastructure development in the Nigerian tertiary institutions.

    Malam Adamu Adamu, Minister of Education, disclosed this during the Sixth Edition of the Ministerial Press Briefing in Abuja, saying that the intervention was for public universities, polytechnics and colleges of education from 2015 till date.

    Adamu noted that the intervention was specifically for physical infrastructure, project maintenance, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) support, entrepreneurship, library development, special high impact projects, research, academic staff training and development among others.

    “Our focus for today’s briefing is on Federal Government’s intervention in critical areas of tertiary education in the life of the Buhari administration in the last four years.

    “During the period under review, the Federal Government through the instrumentality of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) allocated a total of N727, 225,862,128.86 billion worth of investment in critical areas of infrastructural development in our tertiary institutions.

    “Especially in physical infrastructure, project maintenance, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) support, Entrepreneurship, Library development and special high impact projects, Academic Staff Training and Development, and Research among others.

    According to him, a breakdown of the funding efforts by the Federal Government indicates that in 2015, each public university both Federal and States, was allocated N337 million.

    He said when multiplied by 74 universities that benefited; it gave the total allocation to public universities to N24.93billion for that year.

    “In 2016, each public university was allocated N1,009,410,000 billion multiplied by 74 institutions; it brings the total allocation to public universities to N74,696,340,000 billion for year 2016.

    “In 2017, each public university was allocated N659, 150,000 million multiplied by 74 universities; you have the total allocation to public universities to N48, 777,100,000.00 billion for 2017.

    “In 2018, each public university in the country was allocated N785, 823,700 million multiplied by 74 universities; it gives the total allocation to public universities to N58, 150,953,800.00 billion for year 2018’’.

    The minister explained that the total allocations to public universities during the period under review stand at N206, 562,393,800 billion.

    Similarly, Adamu said that in 2015, 50 Polytechnics were allocated N250, 000,000 million each amounting to N12.5billion (Twelve billion, Five Hundred million naira) only.

    He also said, in 2016, the amount of N691, 632,000 million was allocated to each 54 Polytechnics; amounting to N37, 348,128,000 billion for all in that year.

    “ In 2017, N450, 800,000 million each was allocated to 54 Polytechnics, amounting to N24, 343,200,000 billion.

    “While in 2018 54 Polytechnics got N536, 703,502,000 million each; amounting to N28, 981,989,108 billion’’.

    He said that the total allocation to Polytechnics during the period under review was N103, 173,317,108 billion.

    Adamu, however, noted that states’ universities got a total allocation of N74, 620,416,900 billion.

    “Meanwhile, for the Colleges of Education, the total allocation during the period, stood at N101, 631,304,500 billion.

    He explained that a further breakdown showed that colleges of educations got N12,485,000,000 billion in 2015, N37,348,135,000.00 billion in 2016, N23,743,500,000 billion in 2017 and N28,054,669,500 billion in 2018.

    The minister, therefore, expressed the concern of the government over the lack of accountability in some of the tertiary institutions.

    He reiterated that that the Federal Government would not fold its arms to watch public educational institutions funded from the public purse to flout the laws of public accountability.

    “I want to put every stakeholder in this regard on notice, that in the coming weeks, the Federal Ministry of Education under my watch will roll out visitation panels to all tertiary institutions to deal with this ugly phenomenon,” he said.

     

  • ASUU, ASUP: FG releases N16.8bn to settle outstanding arrears

    ASUU, ASUP: FG releases N16.8bn to settle outstanding arrears

    The Federal Government has released N16.8 billion to settle outstanding salary arrears of staff in the country’s tertiary institutions.

    Malam Adamu Adamu, Minister of Education, who disclosed this during the“Sixth Edition of the Ministerial Press Briefing’’ in Abuja, said the disbursement is ongoing through the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation.

    Adamu said that the government had resolved all issues and await the academic unions to also call off their strike in the coming days, especially ASUU and ASUP.

    Recall that the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) has been on strike since December 12, while the Academic Staff Union of Universities(ASUU) started Nov.4

    According to Adamu, the Federal Government has reached agreement in the following areas: Review of Polytechnic Act; government awaits the transmittal of the amended document by the National Assembly to Mr. President for his assent.

    Others, he said, were revitalisation of polytechnics and colleges of education, renegotiation of the 2010 agreements, saying that government is committed to the revitalisation of facilities in its public tertiary institutions.

    The minister also said that the government had directed the Minister of Finance to source for additional funding to the tune of N30 billion for the purpose, with particular reference to polytechnics and colleges of education.

    “Also for state owned polytechnics; the National Board for Technical Education has been directed to strengthen its regulatory mechanism including developing a new template for accreditation to address observed weaknesses.

    “And to ensure that proprietors of polytechnics including states and private owners meet their obligations to their staff.

    “Again as a demonstration of Government’s commitment to continuous dialogue with the staff unions, the ministry will provide alternative funding for the stalled renegotiations in the polytechnics sub- sector.

    “The National Board for Technical Education and the National Commission for Colleges of Education have also been directed to ensure compliance with the approved schedules of meetings with their respective Unions,’’ he said.

    Similarly, Adamu noted that the government team had reached agreement with ASUU, while hoping that academic activities will also resume in universities’ campuses across the country without further delay.

    He, however, commended the Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU) for calling off its strike to allow the students in colleges of education get back to academic activities.

     

  • Breaking: Buhari reduces UTME, NECO, SSCE forms cost

    Breaking: Buhari reduces UTME, NECO, SSCE forms cost

    President Muhammadu Buhari has approved reduction in the cost of Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) form.

    TheNewsGuru (TNG) reports President Buhari also approved reduction in the cost of National Examinations Council (NECO), Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) and Basic Education Certificate Examination forms.

    Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu made this known while briefing the federal executive council, presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, on Wednesday.

    He said the President directed the Ministry to look into the reduction following significant improvement in revenues being remitted to the treasury by the education agencies.

    The exam agencies are not meant to be revenue generating bodies, they’re only supposed to cover costs/operating expenses.

    The sharp increase in remittances by JAMB, from less than N60m in 2010–2016 to over N15 billion in 2017/18, has shown that the fees being charged could be reduced.

    With effect from January 2019 the cost of JAMB UTME form will drop from N5,000 to N3,500, while NECO will drop from N11,350, to N9,850.

     

  • Only 28 students registered for Common Entrance examination in Zamfara – FG

    Only 28 students registered for Common Entrance examination in Zamfara – FG

    The Ministry of Education has revealed that only 28 students registered for National Common Entrance Examination in Zamfara State.

    Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, said the Federal Government is worried about the low number of candidates seeking admission into its 104 colleges across the country.

    In a statement released by the spokesperson of the Ministry of Education, Mrs. Priscillia Ihuoma, only 28 candidates from Zamfara State registered for the National Common Entrance examination.

    The minister urged state governments, heads of schools and interest groups to persuade school-age children in the areas with low registration to register for the examination.

    Adamu, noted that a directive had been given to leave the portal open for registration until April 13.

    The release read in part, “Ahead of the 2018 National Common Entrance Examination for admission of candidates into the 104 Federal Government colleges on Saturday, April 14, the minister has expressed worry over low registration for the examination so far.

    “According to him, the report of a meeting of major stakeholders in the education sector said candidates registered in 2018 stood at 71,294 as against 80,421 that wrote the examination in 2017.

    “The report further shows three states with the highest number of pupils registered so far are: Lagos with 24,465 candidates, the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, with 7,699 and Rivers State with 4,810 candidates respectively.

    On the other hand, three states with extreme low registration are: Zamfara with only 28 candidates, Kebbi, 50 and Taraba, 95 candidates respectively.”

  • FG to spend N5bn on security for 104 unity schools

    Federal Ministry of Education has set aside N5bn for the provision of “security infrastructure” in the country’s 104 Federal Government Colleges in 2018.

    According to the breakdown in the proposed 2018 Executive Budget obtained by our correspondent, the fund will be used for the installation of Closed-Circuit Television Cameras and the construction of perimeter fencing around the schools.

    Other items to be procured with the fund are solar-powered street lights and solar-powered motorised boreholes.

    The Federal Government also planned to spend N19m on the establishment of language clinics in all the schools, which it said would be a part of the National Language Policy.

    Other expenses include capacity building for librarians in all the schools, which will gulp N6,652,000, as well as the physical assessment of their libraries, which will cost the ministry of education N6m.

    The ministry will also expend N10m on the deployment of counsellors to tackle anti-social behaviour, such as drug-related issues, child labour and violence against children in the six geo-political zones in 2018.

    The government planned to evaluate 500 secondary schools in the six geo-political zones in 2018 and produce a report of the evaluation. Both actions will gulp N81,676,925.

    The breakdown partly reads, “Item ERGP23103147 – Provision of Security infrastructure in 104 colleges: Perimeter fencing, solar street lights, solar powered motorised borehole and CCTV at N5,000,000,000. ItemERGP30103118 – Capacity building for 104 Federal Government Colleges Librarians at N6,652,000.

    “Item ERGP30103122 – Physical assessment of FGCs libraries at N6,000,000. Item ERGP30102876 – Development of National Language Policy, establishing and equipping of Language Clinics in the 104 Unity Colleges at N19,000,000.”

    Other projects in the line-up include the compilation and dissemination of skilled-based pupils textbooks for Classes 1 to 6, Junior Senior Secondary 1 to 3 and teachers’ manuals on nutrition education for schools which would cost over N10m.

  • Just in: Sick Buhari’s minister, Anwukah flown to US for treatment

    Barely six weeks after President Muhammadu Buhari returned from medical treatment in the United Kingdom, his Minister of State for Education, Anthony Anwukah, has also been flown to the US, United States for the same purpose.

    This was disclosed on Tuesday by the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, at a press briefing on the 2017 World Teachers’ Day in Abuja.

    Mr. Adamu, who did not disclose the ailment for which his colleague is hospitalised, urged those at the event to rise for a prayer for the speedy recovery of Mr. Anwukah.

    “Please permit me to ask us to say a minute prayer for the Minister of State who is away in the U.S to receive medical treatment for an illness,” Mr. Adamu said immediately after the introduction of key officials at the briefing.

    According to the minister, Mr. Anwukah needed prayers from Nigerians especially stakeholders in the education sector.

    Mr. Anwukah was said to have attended a Federal Executive Council meeting two weeks ago wearing a cervical collar.