Education
RSG Set To Enforce Private Schools Registration
From Left: The Registrar, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Mr Jacob Agboola, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Adeniyi Gbadegesin, Pro-chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council, Prof. Wale Omole, Deputy Vice Chancellor, Prof. Timothy Adebayo, Representative of the Chancellor, University of Wisconsin-Stout, Usa, Prof. Mark Fenton and other guests, during the convocation ceremony in Ogbomosh.
Rivers State Government
has said that it will no longer condone situations in which private, primary and secondary schools in the state are either not set-up, or operate in defiance to rules and guidelines governing their operations.
Making this known recently during a meeting with proprietors of private, primary and secondary schools in the state, the commissioner of Education, Professor Kaniye Ebeku, said such situations will no longer be tolerated and that measures will be put in place to check the trend.
“The establishment of private schools in the state is governed by statutory laws, namely, Education (Private schools) law, 1987 (as amended), which came into effect on July 7th, 1987, as well as Regulations and Guidelines made by the ministry of Education yet it has been found that there are more unapproved than approved private schools operating in the state. This is an archetypal failure by past administrations to enforce the relevant laws.
“Under my watch, this situation cannot be allowed to continue. I have the will and determination to insist that the laws must be obeyed to the later and will put all necessary measures in place and take all necessary steps to ensure compliance”, the commissioner said.
Some of the issues warranting this action, Professor Ebeku explained, is the widespread noncompliance with rules and regulations governing the establishment and operation of schools.
According to him, while many private schools are guided by extant laws, rules and regulations, “some approved schools are run down and should not continue to operate.
“In some of the schools, I found teachers who are not qualified to teach, or are over-burdened with works. More over, I found that some schools pay peanuts to their teachers as monthly salary, and in some schools, teachers are owed for several months while the proprietors are having fun.
“It is also disturbing to find that school fees and charges by private schools are not regulated. The result is that primary and secondary education are over-priced and beyond the reach of some people who seek access to education in such schools”, he said.
Consequently, Ebeku continued, in order for the state to achieve set goals under the stewardship of Governor Nyesom Wike, the government will address all key areas in which private schools are found wanting.
He noted that if such measures “drive away some proprietors from school business, it should be accepted as the price to pay in order to achieve good quality education.”
President of the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS), Hon. Victor Green, assured that his members will comply with the directive of the commissioner to abide by laws, rules and regulations governing the operation of schools.
He thanked the commissioner for convening the meeting, which, he said, was over due.
Sogbeba Dokubo
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.