TheNewsGuru

Tag: Education

  • Nigeria’s minister explains how over N6 trillion was spent on education in seven years

    Nigeria’s minister explains how over N6 trillion was spent on education in seven years

    The Nigerian government says it has spent N6.3 trillion to revamp the education sector in the last seven years and has pledged to improve on the implementation of its strategic plans as well as create the necessary environment for the sector to thrive, even as public tertiary institutions have remained closed for more than six months.

    Since February, a disagreement between the Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), has left thousands on students stranded as academic activities remain grounded and several efforts to resolve the crisis has failed to yield positive result.

    Speaking on Thursday at the weekly briefing organised by the Presidential Communications Team, the minister of Education Adamu Adamu, noted that all states in the country is now home to at least one federal university and polytechnic each.

    “The implementation of the sector’s blueprint is on course. In the last seven years we have undertaken massive physical development of infrastructure, ICT development at all levels of our educational system, established new institutions, improved the carrying capacity of our institutions and expanded access to quality education at all levels.

    “This administration has ensured that all States of the Federation now have a federal university and a federal polytechnic, with nine Universities, nine Polytechnics and six Colleges of Education established between 2018 and today.

    “The government of President Muhammadu Buhari has expended a total of N6, 300, 947, 848, 237 on capital and recurrent expenditure in the education sector in the last seven years. N553, 134, 967, 498.50 has gone into the development of infrastructure at basic and secondary school levels,” he said.

    The revised National Policy on Education, encourages public private partnership in the organization and funding of mass literacy in the country and although all tiers of government are expected to participate, the federal government remains the lead investor.

    Commenting on the ongoing strike by University lecturers and other workers, Adamu said all the unions involved had accepted the offer made by government except the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), which insists that its members must be paid for the period of the strike, but government declined based on its ‘no work no pay rule.’

    He expressed hope that within the next one week, other unions currently on strike like the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, (SANNU) Non-Academic Staff Union of Education and Associated Institutions, (NASU) and the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) will resume work.

    However, despite these achievements and mandatory schooling for children up to the age of 15, Nigeria has the highest number of out-of-school children (OOSC) in the world in 2022, at about 18.5 million, according to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO).

    Attendance and enrolment disparities are accentuated along gender, socio-economic and geographic lines. According to the “Global Gender Gap Report 2021” by the World Economic Forum, 69.9 per cent of boys and 58.1 per cent of girls are enrolled in primary school in Nigeria.

    UNICEF estimates that the net attendance rate is 53 per cent in the northern states of the country, with female net attendance at around 47 per cent. The situation in northern Nigeria is driven by a combination of cultural practices, economic barriers and conflict.

    It is estimated that 35 per cent of Nigerian children who attend primary school do not go on to attend secondary school and half of all Nigerian children did not attend secondary school in 2021.

     

  • Malami restates commitment to quality education in Kebbi

    Malami restates commitment to quality education in Kebbi

    The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, has restated his commitment to complementing the efforts of Federal and State Governments in providing higher quality education in Kebbi.
    Malami made this known during a prize-giving day of Rayhaan Model Academy Birnin Kebbi on Saturday.
    He described the establishment of Rayhaan Model Academy as part of his contribution to complement the efforts of the governments in stabilising education in the state.
    “This informs the decision to have a trailblazer model academy, Rayhaan Model Academy Birnin Kebbi.
    He said the school was established out of the aspiration to complement government’s effort in the promotion of quality education for the country.
    Malami expressed optimism that the academy would produce high Calibre of intellectuals in  universities who would join the wider competitive global society.
    “I hope in the nearest future, the students from the academy will  contribute immensely in the fields of engineering, medicine, industries, administration and entrepreneurship, among others,” he said.
    Malami commended the parents and guardians for entrusting the care of their wards in the academy and promised to ensure that their dream had come to fruition.
    The minister also appreciated both teaching and non-teaching staff for their contributions to the development of the academy.
    Earlier, Dr Nasir Idris, the APC governorship candidate, lauded the tremendous contribution of Malami to educational development and service to humanity in the state.
    He said that the name of the minister would be written in gold as a politician per excellence and unique philanthropist.
    Idris said his political journey would not be complete without the minister.
    The Chairman, Board of Directors of the Academy, Malam Isiyaku Abdullahi, disclosed that the academy had graduated 102 students in the event out of 405 students currently in the school.
    “The school has become one of the best in the state within such a short period of operation and the choice of many children and parents in the state,” he said.
    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Alhaji Bashar Illo, the Chief Launcher at the event, donated  N5 million;  Alhaji Garba Illo and his relatives  donated N5 million and Dr Nasiru Idris gave N10 million.
    Others are Khadimiyya For Justice and Development Initiative which donated  a mobile science laboratory with N1 million.
  • World Bank to support Nigeria with $8.5 billion to tackle Education, Agriculture

    World Bank to support Nigeria with $8.5 billion to tackle Education, Agriculture

    The World Bank has shown commitment and promise to support Nigeria with $8.5 billion in order to fund critical areas ranging from agriculture, economy and education and to tackle other pressing needs of the country.

    Shubham Chaudhuri, the World Bank Country Director to Nigeria made this known during a summit organized by its Emergency Coordination Center in Abuja.

    Chaudhur noted that such commitment was the largest ever given to any country in the world.

    Although, he emphasized that it was still infinitesimal compared to the needs of Nigeria, he, however, added that around $2.5 billion to $3 billion of the fund had been channelled towards education.

    “Half of the population of Nigeria itself is less than 17 years old. This means there is a need to invest in human capital development,” he said.

    He added that the future of Nigeria depended on the ability of the young people to go to school, stressing that it was important to make schools safe to ensure that fewer children were out of school.

    He further said it was Nigeria’s call to determine how it would mobilize its financial resources to enable young Nigerians to go to school or whether its scarce resources would be used to subsidize petrol with over N6.5 trillion.

    Nigeria is mobilizing N6.7 trillion for petrol subsidies at the expense of education and health. About 10.1 million children are out of school, according to the education ministry, but a report suggests it is up to 18.5 million.

    Analysts have described Nigeria’s insistence on subsidies as financial indiscipline, noting that it would have adverse consequences on the Nigerian economy.

    For Professor Jonathan Aremu, a former CBN Assistant Director and Senior Lecturer at Covenant University, subsidy distorted the market, making it difficult for products to find their real value.

    “In economics, the subsidy is always bad. Yes, quite a lot of people depend on fuel, which is why they have continued to subsidize petrol, but we don’t know how much is spent on subsidy.”

    He explained that the next government should not just remove subsidies, but also provide incentives that would alleviate the sufferings of Nigerians.

    Professor of Energy Economics at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Uche Nwogwugwu, said the removal of subsidies would be a step in the right direction.

    However, he said removing the petrol subsidy at the moment would cause untold hardship and social unrest for Nigerians, suggesting an alternative route Nigeria could take.

    “It’s completely true that the burden is weighing and will continue to weigh on the economy. Some discrete facts are here to help save the country.

    “The PIA has made NNPC a limited liability company that can seek profit. This is a good base for solving the subsidy. It is acknowledged that the nation has been subsidizing consumption and now she wants to channel to production. Expanding the market locus to include neighboring countries of Cameroon, Ghana, Niger, Mali, and Sudan where it is sold for about N300- N400 equivalent per liter will recoup all monies and also bring profit.

    “It will also completely eradicate the activities of smugglers. Under Africa’s free trade charter, NNPC can sell to neighboring countries while giving the nation a breathing gap to solve the domestic disequilibria,” he suggested, noting that this could enable the country to fix the subsidy imbroglio.

  • Education: JAMB fixes make-up exam for August 6

    Education: JAMB fixes make-up exam for August 6

    Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has fixed August 6 for mop-up exams to allow those who missed the examinations due to technical issues to take it.

    The report says that about 1,969 candidates missed the 2022 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examinations and Direct Entry Examinations written in April and May 2022.

    The affected persons missed the examination over issues such as finger-print peculiarities; technical problems in some centres and Biometric Verification Matriculation failure, according to the data collated from the website of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board by our correspondent on Sunday.

    Findings also show that some candidates’ results were cancelled as a result of exam malpractices in some centres across the country.

    Meanwhile, JAMB  did not spell out the number of affected candidates in that category.

    All the candidates who missed their examination and those whose results were cancelled in the 10 centres have, however, been slated to take part in a mop-up examination scheduled for August 6.

    Jamb noted that the decision was arrived at after a thorough investigation was carried out.

    It said, “It should be noted that, as is the custom with the Board after every Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, the various reports from its officials in the field and video footage of the examination are reviewed by its team of experts, to detect activities subversive of the examination process.

    “It is after all the reports have been collated and considered that the management would take critical decisions as to the necessity or otherwise of a mop-up examination for which category of candidates.

    “After a thorough analysis of the conduct of the 2022 UTME in 10 centres spread across five states of the federation, where examination malpractice was established to have taken place, it became necessary to cancel the results of all the candidates who sat the examination in the 10 centres.

    “The Board also took cognisance of the fact that some innocent candidates, unfortunately, sat their examination at these centres. Consequently, all candidates who sat the UTME in the centres listed below have been rescheduled for the August 6, 2022, Mop-up UTME.

    “It should be noted that candidates who, for whatever reasons, were absent at those centres are not eligible for the mop-up examination.”

    The board listed the affected centres as Benjyn International Academy, Amaorji-Ukwu, Obingwa Abia State; Abia Edward and Mercy Nwokocha CBT ICT Services, Abia State; Abia Freedom World Academy; Abia National Comprehensive Secondary School; St. Anthony Comprehensive Secondary School, Abia; Anambra Obidon Systematic Computers, Anambra; Urban ICT Centre, Anambra state; Holy Ghost International School, Delta State; Yomnet Academy, Edo State; and Seylek City College, Lagos State.

    The board listed other categories of candidates eligible for its make-up examination as, “Other categories of candidates for rescheduled for the August 6, 2022, Mop-up UTME are: 142 candidates who could not take the UTME due to finger-print peculiarities; 28 candidates who could not take the examination due to technical problems in some centres; and   1,799 candidates with BVM failure who were recaptured at the centres.

    “The board affirms its zero tolerance for examination malpractice and would do all within its powers to combat it. In the same vein, it reiterates its avowed commitment to the conduct of credible matriculation examinations into all tertiary institutions in the country while ensuring the sanctity of its examination process towards sustaining the integrity that the society has come to associate with the board.”

  • Nigeria needs to expand revenue sources for education – Okowa

    Nigeria needs to expand revenue sources for education – Okowa

    Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta says the country should expand the frontiers of its revenue generation to mitigate the funding challenges inhibiting educational development.

    Okowa said this after inspecting facilities at the Faculties of Engineering and Environmental Sciences, Owa-Alero Campus, University of Delta, Agbor, on Monday.

    He said the nation needed to invest more funds in the infrastructure, human resource and equipment of the education sector to ensure the availability of full internet services in every university.

    According to him, it is important to fund the educational system but unfortunately the nation’s economy is challenged.

    “If you look at the national budget and most of the state budgets, you will find out that the Federal and State Governments are actually struggling.

    “When you have so many competing forces to deal with in an annual budget, you try to put little funds across.

    “Because, in the first instance, you have to ensure that you pay salaries and if at the end you have little left, then it is a major problem.

    “Whenever I study the Federal Government budget, l feel very worried about the huge challenge we have as a nation.

    “This is because you find out that every single kobo that is going into infrastructure development or capital development is actually borrowed,’’ he said.

    The governor said there was huge problem when all resource that was available outside borrowing went into recurrent expenditure.

    “And that is why if you study the budget in full at the federal level in the individual sector such as education and health; there are very huge funds available for recurrent expenditure because of payment of salaries.

    “At the end, you only have between 10 to 15 or maximum 20 per cent for capital development; this in itself is a very huge problem,’’ Okowa explained.

    He further said there was the need for the nation to find a way to prioritise by looking at the sectors that should be given greater attention.

    “I think it requires a lot of work and a lot of prioritisation to deal with the sectors that are most important.

    “All sectors are important but some sectors are definitely more important than others.

    “So, it requires a genuine analysis of what we are doing at the moment and then have a rethink to be able to take us to where we ought to be,” he said.

    The governor said that work at the faculties had progressed, adding that it should progress a little faster.

    He added that the faculties had been accredited by the National University Commission and that lectures had since started in the campus.

  • We’ll not participate in any further talk with FG – ASUU

    We’ll not participate in any further talk with FG – ASUU

    The Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, has said it would not participate in any further talk with the federal government.

     

    ASUU explained that it had since rounded off a negotiation with the government concerning its demands.

    We have nothing to negotiate with the government

     

    It would be recalled that the federal government reconstituted a 7-member committee to renegotiate the 2009 demands of ASUU.

     

    Reacting to the development, the President of ASUU, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, said ASUU was waiting for the government to implement its demands so that lecturers go return to the classroom.

     

    “We don’t know what they (federal government) are talking about, we have nothing to negotiate with the government. As far as we are concerned, we have concluded negotiation with the government,” he said.

     

    Recall that the federal government had earlier announced the reconstitution of a team to renegotiate the 2009 agreement with ASUU.

     

    Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu, who reconstituted the renegotiation team in Abuja, explained that the action was to “speedily bring to a conclusion, all outstanding issues in the 2009 agreement to achieve the desired industrial peace on our campuses.”

     

    The chairman and members of the reconstituted 2009 FGN/University-Based Unions Agreements Re-negotiation Team has Prof. Emeritus Nimi Briggs-(Pro-Chancellor, Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu-Alike Ikwo), as chairman; Lawrence Patrick Ngbale-(Pro-Chancellor, Federal University, Wukari, as member representing North East and Prof. Funmi Togunu-Bickersteth-(Pro-Chancellor, Federal University, Birnin Kebbi as a member, representing South West.

     

    Other members are Sen. Chris Adighije- (Pro-Chancellor, Federal University. Lokoja as a member, representing southeast; Prof. Olu Obafemi -(Pro-Chancellor, Federal University of Technology, Minna, member, representing North-Central; Prof. Zubairu Iliyasu-(Pro-Chancellor, Kano State University of Science & Technology as a member, representing North West and Barr. Matthew Seiyefa, (Pro-Chancellor, Niger Delta University, Wilberforce Island as a member, representing South-South.

     

    The Federal Ministry of Education, in a statement to this effect, through its Director of Press, Bem Goong, said,” The team will be inaugurated by the Minister on Monday, the 7th of March, 2022 at the Minister’s Conference room, headquarters of the Federal Ministry of Education, Abuja by noon.

     

    “All advisers and observers in the Federal Government/University-based Unions 2009 agreements Re-negotiation Team are expected to attend the inauguration,” the statement said.

  • Pro-Chancellors ask ASUU to shelve strike

    Pro-Chancellors ask ASUU to shelve strike

    The Chairman, Committee of Pro-Chancellors of State-owned Universities in Nigeria, Mallam Yusuf Alli, SAN has urged the Academic Staff Union of Universities to shelve the ongoing strike by the union.

    Alli made the plea in an interview with our correspondent in Abuja

    According to the PUNCH ASUU on Monday, February 14, declared a total and comprehensive four-week strike over the failure of the Federal Government to honor the lingering demands of the union.

    The strike was declared at a press conference addressed by the President of ASUU, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke. Osodeke explained that the union tried to avoid the strike but the Federal Government is unresponsive to the union’s demands.

    The union stated that the demands of the lecturers’ union have barely changed since the signing of the ASUU/FG 2009 agreement.

    According to the union, these demands include the sustainability of the university autonomy, which the introduction of the Integrated Personnel Payroll Information System for the payment of its emoluments violates. The union seeks its replacement with its own University Transparency and Accountability Solution.

    Other demands include the endorsement of the renegotiated 2009 ASUU-FGN agreement, which it said was concluded in May 2021; release of the reports of visitation panels to federal universities, and distortions in salary payment challenges.

    https://punchng.com/shelve-warning-strike-pro-chancellors-tells-asuu/

    ASUU had also demanded adequate funding for the revitalisation of public universities, earned academic allowance, improved funding of state universities, and promotion arrears.

    Speaking to our correspondent in Abuja, Ali explained that a strike at this point may lead to a collapse in the nation’s education sector.

    “When two elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers, the people who are at the receiving end of these agreements are the children of the poor who have nowhere to go. Most of the people involved in the signing of the agreements have their children in schools where there are no strikes.

    “We should know that Universities in Nigeria now are facing many challenges. We have the problem of shortage of lecturers, school facilities are not upgraded among others, a strike now may lead to the collapse of the education system. We plead with ASUU to please shelve the warning strike. We are also calling on the Federal Government to please reach out to settle so that all scores can be settled.”

  • WASSCE Set To Hold In May/June 2022

    WASSCE Set To Hold In May/June 2022

    The West African Examinations Council has said there is plan to ensure the 2022 West African Senior School Certificate Examination holds in May/June.

    It also revealed that registration deadline for the examination had been extended to February 25, 2022.

    Head of the National Office, WAEC, Mr Patrick Areghan, said these on Monday while announcing the results of the 2021 second series WASSCE for private candidates.

    He explained that the interest of all other member countries would be put into consideration, adding that lack of National Identification Number would not be a factor to deprive any candidate from registering.

    “Non-possession of NIN will not deprive any candidate from writing the examination and no registration will be rejected because of lack of NIN,” he said.

    He said it was necessary to extend the deadline for registration in order to accommodate both private and public schools who had yet to register or meet up with registration conditions.

    While giving the examination’s statistics, Areghan said, “A total of 52,973 candidates registered for the examination. Of the number that registered, 51,444 candidates sat the examination.

    “The conduct of the examination took place from Friday, November 12, 2021 to Wednesday, December 22, 2021.

    “The analysis of the statistics of the performance of candidates shows that out of the 51,444 candidates that sat the examination, 32,637 candidates, representing 63.44 % obtained credit and above in a minimum of any five subjects (with or without English Language and/or Mathematics).

    “25,008 candidates representing 48.61 % obtained credits and above in a minimum of five subjects, including English Language and Mathematics.”

    He revealed that those who obtained credit and above in a minimum of five subjects, including English Language and Mathematics, were 35.99% and 39.82%, respectively, saying there was an encouraging 8.79% improvement in performance.

    Areghan also said the results of 3,968 candidates, representing 7.71% of the total number of candidates that participated in the examination, were being withheld in connection with various reported cases of examination malpractices

  • WAEC releases 2021 GCE results

    WAEC releases 2021 GCE results

    The second series edition of the West African Senior School Certificate Examination, WASSCE, for private candidates, otherwise known as the General Certificate Examination, has been released.

    A total of 48.61 percent of the total number of candidates that took part in the examination secured credits in five subjects including English Language and Mathematics.

    This was disclosed on Monday by the head of Nigeria’s office of WAEC, Patrick Areghan.

    According to him, the examination was written from November 12, 2021, to Wednesday, December 22, 2021 by a total of 51,444 candidates out of 52, 973 registered candidates.

    He said: “25,008 candidates representing 48.61 per cent obtained credits and above in a minimum of five (5) subjects, including English Language and Mathematics, of this number, 12, 272 were male candidates, while 12,736 were female candidates.”

    He added that there is an encouraging 8.79 per cent improvement in performance in the last examination.

    Meanwhile, Mr Areghan said the non-availability of the National Identification Number (NIN) will not stop candidates from sitting for the May/June 2021 examination.

    Giving a further breakdown of the results, the HNO said among the total number of candidates were 131 with varying degrees of special needs. He said their results have also been processed and are being released along with those of other candidates.

    He said out of the total number of candidates that sat the examination, 49,584 candidates, representing 96.38 percent, have their results fully processed and released while 1,860 candidates, representing 3.62 percent, have a few of their subjects still being processed due to “some errors on the part of the candidates.”

    He, however, said efforts are being made to release their results.

  • Why we are raising N25bn appeal fund for education in Yobe – Lawan

    Why we are raising N25bn appeal fund for education in Yobe – Lawan

    The President of Senate, Ahmad Lawan on Thursday explained the rationale behind the N25 billion education appeal fund organised by the Yobe State Government.

    Lawal, who is an indigene of the state, spoke at the Yobe Education Fund Raising held in Abuja.

    He said that the idea for the fund raising was to reposition the education sector of the state.

    The lawmaker also said that the move would avail the children of Yobe, particularly the indigent ones, the opportunity to go to school and become useful to themselves and the society at large.

    Lawan said the educational situation in Yobe was good until the insurgents struck and caused an incalculable damage.

    “In the Northeastern state before the former Borno State and presently Yobe State, we received support from government for our education.

    “I didn’t have to pay anything to be in primary school. Infact, I was given something. My parents were encouraged to send me to school.

    “In secondary school, we were given everything. Our uniforms free. Our books free. Feeding and everything free. That was when the resources were available to really accommodate those necessities.

    “The population has increased, of pupils and students, and the resources are dwindling. Now we have to look for our friends, our well wishers to come to our aid.

    “Asking for help is part of the work. We recognise that we need to, first of all at home, task ourselves and collect something before we go outside of the state.”

    The president of the Senate, who noted that education was an important sector, added that Yobe cannot run away from talking to her friends.

    “I didn’t come from a rich or wealthy family and many of us here have come from families that are simply there, not wealthy enough.

    “But because our states, at that time, intervened to give us the support that we needed to go to school, stay in school, by the Grace of God, we are reaping the benefits.

    ” And that is what we want to achieve by raising N25 billion and actually the N25 billion is not going to solve all the problems but definitely it will reposition our education sector better.”

    The lawmaker, who commended Gov. Mai Mala Buni of Yobe for initiating the idea, assured the donors that the donations would be “very prudently applied and responsibly utilised.”

    In attendance were; the Federal Capital Territory Minister, Malam Muhammad Bello, Gov. Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto, Gov. Yahaya Bello of Kogi, Gov. Umara Zulum of Borno, Gov. Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi and others.