TheNewsGuru

Tag: Teachers

  • [UPDATED] Kaduna school attack: Bandits spare pupils, kidnap teachers instead

    [UPDATED] Kaduna school attack: Bandits spare pupils, kidnap teachers instead

    The Kaduna State Government said only three teachers from the Rema Primary School, Magajin Gari Ward 2, of Birnin Gwari Local Government Area, Kaduna State were kidnapped Monday morning has called following the attack by armed bandits at school.

    In Press briefing on Monday, Commissioner of Internal Security and home affairs, Samuel Aruwan told journalist that the State Government has compiled and analyzed all the security reports and can confirm that there was indeed an invasion by gunmen but only three teachers, namely; Rabiu Salisu, Umar Hassan, and Bala Adamu have been kidnapped.

    “Pupils who had just arrived the school to begin the day’s activities, took to their heels in the course of the commotion, as the bandits invaded the premises on motorcycles. This led to two pupils going missing, identified as Ahmad Halilu and Kabiru Yahaya.” Aruwan said.

    “However, we are happy to inform you that the two missing pupils have been found. We can also confirm that no single pupil was kidnapped from the school. Other than the three teachers previously mentioned, no staff or pupil of the school is missing following the attack.” He added

    Recall that TheNewsGuru.com, TNG had earlier reported on Monday morning that the gunmen stormed the school around 8:50am on Monday 15th March 2021 attempting to kidnap the students who scamper for safety.

    Security reports according to the commissioner have also revealed that the bandits rustled several cattle and went away with five motorcycles and other valuables.

  • Just in: Gunmen kidnap teachers, students in Edo

    Just in: Gunmen kidnap teachers, students in Edo

    An unspecified number of teachers and students of the National Institute of Construction Technology, Uromi, Edo State, have been reportedly kidnapped by gunmen.

    It was gathered that the gunmen stormed the institute on Wednesday night and abducted the victims.

    The development has heightened tension among residents in the locality.

    As at the time of filing this report, parents of the kidnapped victims have reportedly stormed the school premises.

    When contacted on the phone, the newly appointed spokesman of the State Police Command, SP. Bello Kontongs confirmed the report.

    He however did not give much details.

  • Safeguard education: Implement the safe schools declaration – Ozioma Onyenweaku

    Safeguard education: Implement the safe schools declaration – Ozioma Onyenweaku

    By Ozioma Onyenweaku

    The Safe Schools Declaration is an international commitment that advocates support for protection of students, teachers and schools during armed conflict.

    The Safe Schools Declaration emerged from The Third International Conference on Safe Schools hosted by the government of Spain with the support of governments of Argentina and Norway held in Oslo Norway in May 2015.

    It aims at strengthening the global resolve to end attacks on students, teachers and schools by armed conflicts. By 2019, 100 Countries had signed and ratified the Declaration. Nigeria is one. As at February 18, 2021, 107 countries have endorsed the declaration.

    It was on 20th March 2019 that the President of Nigeria ratified the Safe Schools Declaration. By signing the Declaration, Nigeria made a public declaration that attacks on schools has become unacceptable to the country. And by ratifying the said Declaration, Nigeria has declared that it is bound to keep all the principles of the declaration, and ensure to put in place a national policy to guide the implementation of the Declaration nationwide to protect children from attacks in schools and ensure their education continues without hindrance at all times.

    This recent attack at the Government Science College in Kagara in Niger State of Nigeria has shown that as the insecurity in the country persists, schools and school children have remain the huge targets by these armed bandits and terrorists.

    There has been a crying need for this kind of commitment from government to safeguard education given the incessant attacks on schools and the abduction of school children in Nigeria. The Safe Schools Declaration recognizes attacks on education to include violence against educational facilities, and abduction of students and educational personnel.

    It was in 2014 that we woke up to the news that about 276 girls were abducted from their school in Chibok. About hundred of the girls were released in a Prisoner Swap deal between the abductors and the government. In this deal, five Boko Haram Commanders were released in exchange for the hundred young innocent girls. Till date the rest of the Chibok girls are still not rescued.

    In February 2014 dozens of students were reported murdered at Federal Government College, Buni Yadi in Yobe State.

    Four years after the abduction of the Chibok girls, and precisely in February 2018, about 110 school girls, ages of 11 & 19, were kidnapped from Government Girls Science & Technical College, Dapchi in Yobe State. Two of the girls were found dead; while 104 were freed after the payment of ransom.

    Some other schools in Nigeria have suffered similar attacks in Lagos State, Ogun State, Zamfara State, and others.

    With the ratification of the Safe Schools Declaration by Nigeria, living up to its obligation under the Safe School Declaration would have propelled very proactive actions towards keeping the schools safe. No!; yet again on Friday December 11 2020 school boys from Government Secondary School in Kankara Katsina State were abducted. And also on 17th February 2021 in an attack on Government Science College, Kagara, Niger State, over 40 people comprising of school children, teachers and other staff and family members were abducted.

    More educational facilities are being threatened by the bandits and Boko Haram, and schools have been closed thereby depriving hundreds of thousands of Nigerian children their right to education. For fear for their lives many students and teachers in certain areas shy away from schools.

    This recent attack at the Government Science College in Kagara in Niger State of Nigeria has shown that as the insecurity in the country persists, schools and school children have remain the huge targets by these armed bandits and terrorists.

    By ratifying the Declaration, Nigeria agrees with the Safe School Declaration’s position as stated in its preamble:

    “Recognizing the right to education and the role of education in promoting understanding, tolerance and friendship among all nations, determined progressively to strengthen in practice the protection of civillains in armed conflict, and of children and youth in particular; committed to working together towards safe schools for all …”; and agrees among other things to:

    1. Use the guidelines and bring them into domestic policy and operational frameworks as far as possible and appropriate
    2. Investigate allegations of violations of applicable national and international law, and duly prosecute perpetrators
    3. Seek the ensure the continuation of education during armed conflict, support the re-establishment of educational facilities and where in a position to do so, provide and facilitate international cooperation and assistance to programs working to prevent or respond to attacks on education, including for the implementation of this Declaration…

    May the recent abduction of our school children awaken in our leaders the greater sense of responsibility to do the needful towards the implementation of the Safe School Declaration; to do their utmost to ensure safety at schools at all times.

    Our schools must be kept safe so we do not kill education.

  • JUST IN: Niger Governor denies release of abducted Kagara students, teachers

    JUST IN: Niger Governor denies release of abducted Kagara students, teachers

    Niger State Governor Abubakar Sani-Bello has dispelled rumour that 27 students and three teachers abducted on Wednesday morning at Government Science College, Kagara have been released.

    He said the government was in last stage of negotiations with the bandits, promising the victims would be released soon.

    Details shortly…

  • BREAKING: FEC approves new retirement age for teachers

    BREAKING: FEC approves new retirement age for teachers

    The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved a bill extending the retirement age for teachers in the country from 60 years to 65 years.

    The FEC, during its first meeting of the year 2021, presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari, on Wednesday, approved the bill; Harmonized Retirement Age for Teachers Bill, 2021, to be sent to the National Assembly for its consideration and possible approval.

    The bill also seeks to give legal backing to new measures by the current administration to enhance the teaching profession in the country.

    If approved by the lawmakers, the retirement age of teachers will move from 60 years to 65 while the years of service will also move from 35 to 40.

    Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, who disclosed this to correspondents at the end of the council meeting, said some highlights of the bill include the introduction of bursary award, special rural posting allowances and other measures to attract the best brains to the profession.

  • Delta cancels transfer of 4,500 teachers as schools resume on Monday

    Delta cancels transfer of 4,500 teachers as schools resume on Monday

    Delta State Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education has cancelled the recent transfer of over 4,500 secondary school teachers across the state by the Post Primary Education Board (PPEB).

    The Commissioner in charge of the ministry, Mr. Patrick Ukah, in a statement in Asaba on Sunday explained the reason for the cancellation, stressing that it was prompted by the increasing rate of Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) infections across the country.

    “With the increasing rate of COVID-19 infections across the country, which have already affected the adjusted academic calendar, transferring teacher at this time will lead to further loss of academic hours as the affected teachers will need time to adjust and settle down in their new schools,” he stated.

    He, therefore, directed the PPEB to cancel the posting immediately and called on the affected teachers to remain in their duty posts as students return back to school for second term academic activities on Monday.

    Mr. Ukah assured that the state government is working round the clock to put necessary measures in place to curtail the spread of the disease in the state, especially among pupils, students and teachers.

  • Only qualified teachers will be allowed in classrooms from 2021 – FG

    Only qualified teachers will be allowed in classrooms from 2021 – FG

    Beginning from next year, only qualified teachers will be allowed in the classrooms, the Federal Government has said.

    The government said the decision to regulate the teaching profession is to improve the quality of teaching and learning in Nigerian schools.

    It also stated that only persons with a minimum of Second Class Upper (2/1), would be engaged as teachers in government schools.

    The National Council on Education had set December 31, 2019, as the deadline for all teachers in the country to register and be certified by the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN).

    But the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic which led to the closure of schools for months nationwide meant the government couldn’t enforce the regulation.

    Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, Sonny Echonu stated this after monitoring the Professional Qualifying Examination (PQE), organised by the TRCN on Saturday in Abuja.

    17, 602 teachers from across 34 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), sat for the examination.

    Teachers from Ekiti and Jigawa didn’t participate because they didn’t meet up with the 100 teachers benchmark for registration.

    Addressing reporters, Echono said a national implementation committee would be inaugurated in the coming weeks to ensure the federal government’s agenda on teachers registration and revitalisation was achieved, especially, the entry qualification for teachers in schools.

    He said: “With effect from next year, we will not admit or engage people as teachers if they don’t meet a particular threshold. We are now limiting entry to only the best.

    “You must have a first-class or 2:1 as a minimum and if you have qualification in other subjects that is not in education, we will arrange for a conversion programme to be administered by NTI, TRCN and any university that has faculties of education or this programme because you also have to learn ways of communicating and managing students.

    “We are migrating teachers who are not qualified or do not have the requisite qualifications, competency, not licensed or registered to seamless out of our classrooms to make way for qualified personnel because we want to achieve learning and teaching and learning occurs in our schools.”

    Echono urged teachers who are yet to sit for the examinations to do so, adding that the government through the TRCN, would continue to conduct the examinations for teachers.

    Registrar/Chief Executive Officer TRCN, Prof Josiah Ajiboye who disclosed that Nigerians in the diaspora have begun to sit for the examinations via online platforms without necessarily travelling back to Nigeria, noted that their certificates would be sent across even as the Council would write to the Teaching Council of countries where Nigerians were seeking for or engaged in their education system as teachers.

    “There are Nigerians in the diaspora who before they can get any teaching position must show evidence they are professional teachers and that they are registered with their teaching regulatory authority before they left the country.

    “To provide that evidence you need to write our exams because we cannot issue you the letter of professional standing without sitting for the TRCN examination and so we have placed the examination online for Nigerians in the diaspora and the response has been very huge. We have Nigerians cutting across countries of the world now writing the examinations,” he stated.

    Ajiboye attributed the low number of candidates sitting for this month’s PQE to the COVID-19 pandemic.

    He added that the next PQE would take place between February and March next year.

    “We have promised Nigerians we will have the examination minimum of twice in a year; that is why we have to go ahead. We have begun registration for the next diet which is going to come up around February/ March next year and the figure we are getting is rising.”

    Excited on the nomination of Olasunkanmi Opeifa as the first Nigerian to make it to the 10 top finalists for the Global Teacher Prize, he urged Nigerians to drum massive support to enable Opeifa to win the prize.

    “We are highly enthused that a Nigerian made it for the first time. He needs our support and we want him to win that prize because he is doing very well,” the registrar added.

  • Buhari’s new salary scheme for teachers is burden on 36 states – Wike

    Buhari’s new salary scheme for teachers is burden on 36 states – Wike

    Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike is not at ease with the incentives announced for teachers by President Muhammadu Buhari during anniversary of the World Teachers’ Day on October 5.

    He accused the Federal Government of imposing fresh financial burdens on states and creating crisis for the nation’s educational system through the announcement of incentives for teachers, including a new salary scheme.

    But the governor admitted that the teachers welfare was ripe for a review going by the key roles they play in the society.

    According to the governor, the new salary scale and the incentives were announced by the President without interfacing with states that have for long been pushing for a new revenue formula.

    He, however, admitted in a statement by his Information Commissioner Paulinus Nsirim, that there was a need for a review of teachers’ welfare in view of their critical roles.

    “The Federal Government has not been willing to come up with a new revenue formula. Instead, it is imposing a new financial burden on the states without consulting them. While it is good to give teachers a new salary scale, it is also important not to politicise such a sensitive issue,” the statement quoted Wike as saying.

    According to it, the governor spoke when the board of the College of Medical Sciences of the state’s university visited him at Government House, Port Harcourt.

    Wike promised that his administration would provide basic infrastructure to make the college one of the best in the country.

    He said that government would ensure that students admitted into the college enjoyed uninterrupted academic activities.

    Wike added: “The students will not be stagnated because the school will be made fully functional with both infrastructure and learning equipment. We are setting up the basic foundation for you to build on. The Medical College is my dream and I will provide everything required to make sure it is fully functional.

    “It is very expensive to run a medical college but we are not deterred. We shall build the hostels as requested as soon as we get the designs. We are making ashes to ashes mortuary to be available for the training of pathologists. The Dental and Maxilo-Facial Hospital will also be part of the college.

    “The Mother and Child Hospital is the best health facility now. It will not be run like the regular government hospital. It will be privately managed but will be available to students for their training.”

    Wike noted that the call for university autonomy should also include how to generate funds internally to administer the institutions.

    He said that university managements would not be asking government for assistance all the time if they managed their internally generated revenue properly.

    Pro-chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of the Rivers State University, Justice Iche Ndu, thanked the governor for his support to the institution.

    He noted that with the approval by the governor, the College of Medical Sciences employed qualified staff to provide training for students.

    Justice Ndu said: “I commend you for solving the problems of staffing. We now have 14 professors, three Readers, 30 senior lecturers, 106 lecturers and 74 technicians.”

    The institution’s Vice Chancellor, Prof Nlerum Okogbule, said the recent academic rating ranked varsity the sixth in the country.

  • Secondary school teachers pull out of NUT

    Some Secondary School teachers in Kwara say they are pulling out of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) due to the difference in their aspirations.

    The teachers, under the aegis of Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools (ASUSS), also hinged their action on the basis of different employers.

    Mallam Jimoh Daudu, the chairman of ASUSS made this revelation at a lecture organised to mark the 2020 World Teachers Day on Monday in Ilorin.

    Daudu said that their membership of the NUT was “a marriage of inconvenience’’, hence the need to split out to better agitate and make the demand for their peculiar challenges.

    “ASUSS belongs to the state government while NUT belongs to Local Government Councils and Federal Government.

    “So, it is a marriage of inconvenience.

    “If there is a problem within the state setting and you have somebody that is leading you, not working with the state, then automatically the state government will turn it down.

    “But when we have somebody working within us and he is a state worker, whatever he says will be the right thing.

    “The employers are different.

    “NUT members are predominantly employed by local government councils and the federal government while states pay teachers of secondary schools.

    “Since the employers are difference, the aspirations will also differ.

    “If there is a problem, NUT cannot shoulder our problem.

    “For instance, some teachers were sent out of their job by the state government during the Bukola Saraki administration for spending eight years on a step.

    “But this did not affect teachers in primary schools because they were never employed by the state,’’ Daudu said.

    The ASUSS leader said that with their struggle, the state government was forced to include secondary school teacher on the list of those who could proceed to Grade Level 17 before retirement.

    These teachers, he said retired on Grade Level 15 before the intervention of ASUSS.

    “That is why we say we are to be on a parallel line with them.

    “Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) was with NUT before they left, College of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU) was with them before they left them.

    “The same thing was the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnic (ASUP).

    “It is the right time for us to leave also.’’

    In his remark, Mr Ezekiel Adegoke, the Acting Chairman of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) in the state, to which the ASUSS is affiliated, urged the state government to accede to the demand of the labour union on the implementation of the N30,000 new minimum wage.

    This, he said is to avert the impending strike action proposed by workers in the state as it would be an ill wind that does not benefit the two parties.

    Adegoke, however, commended the state government for appointing teachers as education commissioner for and the Teaching Service Commission chairman.

    According to him, these appointments are round pegs in round holes, which is a plus for teachers in the state.

    Delivering a lecture, Dr Abdullahi Olokoba, Provost, Kwara College of Arabic and Islamic Legal Studies, charged the ASUSS leaders to show the quality of good leadership in championing their course.

    Olokoba urged leadership to employ Kenneth Kauda of Zambia political styles to achieve its struggles.

    Kauda, he said led his people from obnoxious apartheid policy of the minority whites without resorting to violence despite all forms of persecution.

  • NUT reacts as Buhari approves new salary structure for teachers

    NUT reacts as Buhari approves new salary structure for teachers

    The Chairman, Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Lagos State Branch, Mr Adedoyin Adesina on Monday, commended President Muhammadu Buhari’s approval of new salary structure for teachers nationwide.

    Buhari, in his message to mark this year’s World Teachers’ Day in Lagos, directed the immediate review of teachers’ wages nationwide for improved service delivery in the sector.

    President Buhari also used the occasion to announce the increase of teachers’ retirement age from 35 years to 40 years.

    Represented by the Minister of Education, Mr Adamu Adamu, Buhari ordered the Minister to facilitate the implementation of the new teachers’ salary scheme, saying that the gesture was to encourage teachers to deliver better services to their pupils and students.

    The Lagos State NUT chairman, Adesina, expressed delight with the development, saying it would boost teachers morale and ensure efficient service delivery.

    Adesina told the NAN in Lagos that he was proud of the President’s directive.

    “This is a major change in the face of our education; the decision by Mr President would go a long way in making teachers do credibly well and effectively turn out good results.

    “It is a welcome development because when teachers spend more years in their work they age with grace and become more experienced to give their very best.

    “Indeed, the decision would change the face of teaching in Nigeria, because teachers have in the past not been catered for by past administrations,’’ Adesina said.

    Earlier, Adesina had called on the Lagos State Government to employ more teachers to fill vacuum created by retired teachers in public schools.

    Speaking at the celebration of 2020 World Teacher’s Day in Lagos on Monday, Adesina said that the union recommended that the state government should employ new teachers on subjects basis.

    He acknowledged that the government had employed some teachers in both the secondary and primary schools earlier this year but “the number is still short of expectation’’.

    “Many teachers have retired this year and the vacuum has to be filled in the various subjects,’’ he said.

    Adesina also spoke on the need for additional classrooms to space students and prevent the over-crowded situation.

    “This is the ideal, to implement the UNESCO’s standard of one teacher to 25 learners in a classroom.

    “Low-cost buildings can be built as an emergency across the state,’’ he said.

    The union leader remarked that teachers were the central figures and players in educational development.

    “UNESCO recommends 26 per cent budget provision for education but no federal, state or local government has ever met this recommendation.

    “The resultant effect is the poor standard in education.

    “Therefore, we have to re-image and re-invent this situation,’’ he said.

    Adesina commended Gov. Babjide Sanwo-Olu on the proactive and pragmatic measures put in place to stem the spread of the novel coronavirus pandemic.

    “Our visionary and the highly ingenious governor had long before the ravaging COVID-19 pandemic introduced digital training and learning into our primary school education.

    “We gave our utmost support for that innovative idea by encouraging our teachers, who successfully drive such the idealistic and imaginative concept.