Education
RSUBEB Warns Against Illegal Fees Collection
The authorities of Rivers State Universal Basic Education Board(RSUBEB), have warned headmasters/mistresses of public schools in the state not to collect any payment from pupils intending to be enlisted in the forthcoming Primary Six Common Entrance Examination.
To this end, the board urged members of the public, especially parents and guardians, to be guided that the Rivers State Government does not charge any fee or fees for Common Entrance and School Placement Tests into public secondary schools in Rivers State.
A statement signed by the Executive Chairman of the board, Ven Fyneface Akah, and made available to journalists in Port Harcourt over the weekend said the advice had become necessary in view of reports from parents and members of the public that some Head Teachers of Schools and Zonal Directors of Education had fixed fees ostensibly for Common Entrance and School Placement Tests into public secondary schools in the State.
According to the statement, ” Rivers State UBE Board would like to stress that Common Entrance Examinations or Secondary School Placement Tests are no longer conducted by the Rivers State Ministry of Education, therefore all such evaluation tests carried out by school heads are invalid and of no effect.
“Accordingly, members of the public are requested to join the Rivers State Government to prevent corruption in the education sector by reporting cases of school heads charging fees under any guise.”
The statement however called on parents, Guardians and general public to ultilise the dedicated whatsApp platform and lines already been created by the board where such reports may be lodged with the Legal Unit at the Board Headquarters or the Local Government Education Authority.
”Furthermore, telephone calls, text or WhatsApp messages may be sent to any of the following telephone numbers: 08033104485; 08099809515; 08033424038; 08033104959; 08036691320; and 09061796070,” the statement said.
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.