Education
Model Schools: Head Teachers Laud Rivers Initiative
The Association of Primary School Headteachers of Nigeria (AOPSHON) has described the Rivers State educational system as world-class which other states of the federation are silently emulating.
The Chairman of the Association, Rivers State Chapter, Comrade Tennyson Amadi, stated this in an address at the 10th Annual National Workshop for Headteachers and Teachers in Port Harcourt, Wednesday.
Comrade Amadi, who described school building renovation in Rivers State as a taboo, said that it is total pulling down of old and dilapidated buildings and erecting a world-class edifice with state-of-the-arts facilities that cannot be compared with any primary school in Nigeria.
He recalled that in 2008, the Governor of Rivers State, Rt Hon Chibuike Amaechi, enlivened the lives of primary school teachers by taking over the payment of all salaries and allowances from the local government councils.
The Chairman of AOPSHON acknowledged that the training and retraining of about 3000 teachers in Rivers State has improved the teaching and managerial skills of teachers.
He expressed optimism that primary school teachers would attain the status of Permanent Secretary since they also possess Bachelors, Masters and Doctorate Degrees.
He explained that “Rivers 2011 with its theme: “Basic Education: Place in the National Transformation Agenda – The Head Teachers Challenges,” was very apt because most of the teachers are yet to comprehend which direction Nigerian educational system is heading to in transformation agenda of the present administration.
He maintained that the theme also became necessary concerning the roles the Head teachers have to play in the current dispensation especially where they are faced with so much challenges ranging from unstable school cumculum, non-engagement of head teachers in policy formulation and massive politicisation of education which the end product is mass failure at the upper level of our educational system, as well as the use of ICT.
His words: “We have chosen to practise teaching at the lowest rungs of service to humanity, the lowest of education profession, the sorriest in incentive and motivational encouragements, yet the most noble of all the professions world over”.
He, therefore, appealed to the government to release the domesticated curriculum for use in primary schools as well as reconstitution of local government education authorities to properly manage schools as provided in the edict establishing UBEB.
The AOPSHON chairman, who is also the Head teacher of State Primary School, Rumueme, said the challenge encountered last September was the influx of pupils from private schools from that area.
He disclosed to our correspondent that he recorded population of about 1000 pupils while the facilities available were meant for 300 only, stressing that the rest were asked to leave.
He, therefore, urged the government to put up storey buildings to utilise the available spaces since good things must attract more people.
Another challenge he maintained, was the reformation of the children since some of them come from poor background. He recalled a situation where some pupils come to school even at 9.00am when first lesson might have been taught.
He advised government to evolve a policy where children would be picked up while loitering during school periods, keep them somewhere while their parents / guardians would be meant to pay fines or be prosecuted, because according to him, “It is child abuse”.
He emphasised that provision of car loans to head teachers would also ease their mobility stressing that government should have confidence in the head teachers by giving imprest grants and duty post allowances for minor expenses instead of running to the ministry for every little maintenance.
“To the head teachers and workshop participants, he said, it is pertinent to know that our challenges and added responsibilities which gave supervisory role over our teachers and the academic performance of our pupils lie squarely on our ability to manage both human and material resources at our disposal.
“The teaching profession is our treasure and heritage that we need to guard jealously from crumbling. We must show the way with our wealth of experience,” he emphasised.
Mr Amadi enjoined the headteachers to guide their teachers aright urging them to strive for high ethical standard and good work ethics.
Eunice Choko-Kayode
Education
Hardwork, Unwavering Focus Key To Success -VC
Vice Chancellor of Rivers State University, Nkpolu-Oroworukwo, Port Harcourt, Prof. Nlerum Okogbule, has tasked newly admitted undergraduates to be hardworking and be more focused to their academic works as this, among others is key to success.
Prof. Okugbule also warned students to desist from joining secret cults, and engaging in examination malpractices, among other vices.
The Vice Chancellor stated this in his address at the 42nd matriculation ceremony of the university for the 2023/2024 academic session, held at the convocation arena in Port Harcourt, last Wednesday.
According to Prof. Okogbule, a total of 9,035 were formally admitted into the university.
“Today, a total of 9,035 candidates, who have satisfied the minimum requirements for admission into various programmes of the university are being formally admitted as students.”
The breakdown of the new students and their faculties is as follows: Faculty of Agriculture – 360 students ; Basic Medical Sciences – 1,085; Communication and Media Studies – 1,061; Education – 606; Engineering – 1,271; and Environmental Sciences – 268.
Others are: Humanities – 755; Law – 250; Management Sciences – 816; Science – 1,814 and Social Sciences – 479 respectively.
The Vice Chancellor added, “You are therefore expected to take your studies seriously and do not waste your valuable time on unproductive ventures or activities.
“Let me inform you that this university has zero tolerance for all forms of anti-social activities, such as membership of secret cult groups, examination malpractices or what is now known as ‘sorting.’
“The penalty for involvement in any of these activities is rustication from the university, and I do not waste time in doing this once a student is found culpable.”
Okogbule, however disclosed that RSU Students’ Affairs Directorate has a list of ‘registered and acceptable clubs’ the students can belong to in the university to assist them in extra-curricular activities on campus.
He advised, “In order to encourage academic excellence, the university has a policy of declaring as University Scholars those who attain a Cumulative Grade Point Average of 5.00 at the end of every academic session.
“The university will be responsible for the school fees of such students provided their CGPA does not fall below 4.50. In addition, such students, upon graduation, will be given preference when employment opportunities are available.
“The expo I will give you in this regard is that it is easier to make the 5.00 CGPA in 100 level of any programme. So the best time to strive to achieve this feat is now.”
He pointed out that RSU, among others, has become top choice higher institutions in the country for many students, following the infrastructural development and the non-disruption of academic activities in the institution for several years, saying, “Freshers should count themselves lucky to have been admitted there.”
While commending parents and guardians whose children are matriculating for their vision and sacrifices, Prof. Okogbule urged them to monitor their wards activities while on campus.
Education
Rector Gifts Best Students N400,000 As Edo Poly Matriculates 9,150
The Federal Polytechnic, Ede, Osun State last Friday matriculated 9,150 new students into various courses of study offered at both National Diploma (ND) and Higher National Diploma (HND) levels.
This was as the Rector of the institution, Engr. Dr. Man Yahaya Sani gave the sum of N200,000 cash gift each to two National Diploma students with the highest Cumulative Grade Point Average.
The students are; Waliu Babatunde Bamidele from the department of Library and Information Science and Babatunde Joshua Ifeoluwa, a student of Mechanical Engineering, both with a CGPA of 3.98.
Sanni in his address, said the management is committed to providing an all-round education in a conducive, friendly teaching and learning environment.
The Rector noted that only 59.5% of candidates who signified interest to study in the Polytechnic were eventually admitted.
He added that the polytechnic had secured 18 new programmes at both the National Diploma (ND) and Higher National Diploma (HND) levels, taking its total to 64 programmes.
The Rector admonished the new intake to emulate the recipients of the cash gift and avoid bad companies that can lead them to violate the rules and regulations of the institution and jeopardise their admission.
“My dear matriculating students, I want to congratulate and welcome you all for finally making it here despite the tedious and rigorous processes that you passed through. You indeed struggled to scale the hurdles of Senior School Certificate Examinations (SSCE), the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examinations (UTME) and of course our own Post-Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (POST-UTME) Screening before gaining admission to this prestigious Polytechnic.
“I must not fail to tell you loud and clear that the Polytechnic has zero tolerance for cultism and other sundry anti-social vices i.e. riot, looting, arson, disobedience, examination malpractices, drug abuse, drunkenness, cheating, disrespect for constituted authorities, indecent dressing etc.
Education
Bill To Increase UBEC Funding Passes Second Reading
A bill for the amendment of the Universal Basic Education Commission, UBEC Act to increase its funding from the consolidated revenue from 2 per cent to 4 per cent has passed the second reading in the House of Representatives.
The Chairman of House Committee on Basic Education and Services, Bako Useni, stated this during the committee oversight function at the Digital Resource Centre, built by UBEC, in Abuja, Nigeria.
The centre was built for the training of teachers on digital education in Nigeria.
Bako said the 10th Assembly saw the need to increase financial resources to the basic education sub-sector for set objectives to be further met, hence, the amendment bill sponsored by Muktar Shagaya to increase revenue accruing to UBEC from 2 per cent to 4 per cent.
“The amended bill, which passed the second reading on Wednesday, when concluded, will make UBEC stronger.
“Since UBEC was established in 2004, to date, a lot has been achieved. However, the House felt that if UBEC is motivated with more funding, it will go a long way in achieving more of what it has achieved.
It was on this basis that one of us, Honourable Mukhtar Shagaya, proposed an amendment to the UBEC Act to increase funding to UBEC from 2 per cent to 4 per cent from the Consolidated Revenue Fund,” he said.
used to reshape those in the senior and management cadres of the basic education sub-sector.
The National Coordinator of the Digital Resource Centre, Professor Bashir Galandanci, said the Digital Resource Centre is part of the effort of the commission to transform the agency into a digital era.
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