Education
RSG Spends N20m On Purchase Of New Curriculum
The Rivers State Government spent about N20 million for the purchase of the new nine-year Basic Education Curriculum (BEC).
Executive Secretary of the National Education Research and Development Council (NERDC), Prof. Godswill Obioma, disclosed this at the unveilment of a three-day workshop for the domestication of the curriculum in Port Harcourt last week.
Prof. Obioma while calling on other states to shun illegal replication of the cur riculum, advised other states to emulate the example of Rivers State by purchasing some copies of the scheme.
Meanwhile, the Rivers State Commissioner for Education, Dame Alice Lawrence Nemi, has restated the state resolve to enforce the implementation of the new curriculum as it has taken delivery of several copies of the new scheme.
Dame nemi stated that the purchasing of the new curriculum is a practical demonstration of government resolve to raise the quality of education, following the outcome of deliberations at the Education Retreat in Calabar last year.
She added that the curriculum includes the inculcation of the right type of values and attitudes for the survival of individual and the Nigerian society.
The Rivers State Education Commissioner assured all stakeholders in the education sector of the determination to set a new and laudable standard in all schools in the state.
Dame Nemi reiterated that the ministry would commence the distribution of the new curriculum in all schools to ensure its judicious use, as teachers and pupils would be properly guided.
In his address, President of the Nigeria Academy of Education, Prof. Otonti Nduka, charged all participants of the workshop to jettison unwholesome attitude that would jeopardise the effective implementation of the new scheme.
He remarked, excellence must be adhered to in order to identify and inculcate the core objectives of the curriculum at all levels of the educational system”.
The Acting Vice Chancellor of Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Port Harcourt, Prof. Okechuku Onuchuku, emphasised the need for students to go beyond academic achievements during the university’s 43rd Convocation ceremony.
The theme, “The University Culture In Practice, The IAUE Experience,” highlights the importance of embracing cherished traditions and intellectual values that define great universities.
Prof. Onuchuku encouraged the new graduates to work hard and persevere, noting that their convocation marks a new beginning in their careers and personal lives. He emphasised that they must prove themselves worthy of the certificates and prizes they have received.
According to him, out of 2,887 first-degree graduands, four made First Class, 403 secured Second Class Upper, 2,030 got Second Class Lower, and 450 graduated with Third Class. Additionally, 1,492 postgraduate students graduated, including 306 PhD holders.
The Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas (Rtd), praised the university’s commitment to academic excellence and institutional maturity. He commended the Acting Vice Chancellor for achieving full accreditation for 47 academic programmes and implementing the NUC’s Core Curriculum Minimum Academic Standards.
The administrator urged the new graduates to uphold the positive values instilled in them by the university and strive for continuous knowledge and improvement.
By: King Onunwor
The Niger Delta Students Union Government, Rivers State Chapter (NIDSUG), has suspended its planned protest against the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) state office in Port Harcourt. The suspension followed an intervention by the state Commissioner of Police, CP Olugbenga Adepoju.
The students had planned to protest on Thursday, citing alleged neglect by the NDDC, particularly in welfare and capacity-building programmes for students from the state. However, after the police intervention, the students agreed to participate in a roundtable discussion with the commission to address their concerns.
NIDSUG leader, Comrade Loveday Njoku, expressed dissatisfaction with the commission’s alleged exclusion of students from benefiting from its programmes. He presented a seven-point demand, including the reintroduction of scholarships for undergraduate and postgraduate students. Njoku emphasised that education is crucial for community development and urged the commission to invest in the future leaders of the state.
The students warned that if their demands are not met, they will resume the protest and occupy the state commission office until their demands are addressed. Despite previous attempts to reach out to the commission’s management team, the students claimed their efforts were unsuccessful.
By: Akujobi Amadi
As part of efforts to improve the welfare and overall quality of education for students in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, the Sole Administrator, Sir (Dr.) Clifford Ndu Walter DSSRS, FCAI, JP, paid an unscheduled visit to Universal Primary School, Rumukwurusi.
During the visit, Sir Walter expressed deep concern over the deplorable state of the school and its surrounding environment. He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to the development of the education sector, stressing its critical role in nation-building.
“I have visited the primary school in Ogbogoro, and now I’m here at the Universal Primary School, Rumukwurusi. I am not satisfied with what I’ve seen,” he stated, indicating that more surprise visits to schools would follow.
To address the issues, the Sole Administrator directed the Council Engineer to commence process for rehabilitation of the school.
The visit was part of a broader initiative aimed at conducting on-the-spot assessments of educational facilities to determine the level of intervention required by the local government council.
Dr. Walter also assured the teachers of his unwavering commitment to revamp the school and improve the learning environment for both staff and students.