Education
RSG To Prepare Students For 2013 UTME E-Testing
The Rivers State Government has expressed its readiness to ensure that students in the state are prepared for the 2013 Computer Based Testing (CBT) of the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) for next year’s Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
The commissioner for Education, Dame Alice Lawrence-Nemi stated this while briefing newsmen in her office in Port Harcourt last week.
Dame Lawrence-Nemi said the state had already trained the teachers in various ICT skills, adding that the teachers are now well equipped to guide the students for the CBT in 2013.
The commissioner noted that Rivers State was poised to become the new ICT hub in the country because of the facilities provided by the government in various primary, secondary and tertiary institutions.
She disclosed that the Rivers State University of Science and Technology (RSUST) was leading the way in ICT in the country emphasising that Rivers State ICT Centre which was donated by Zenith Bank would be fully utilised during the training period.
According to her, ICT Centre is open to the general public and it offers courses like computer appreciation and internet core computer certification (ICCO).
The centre, she noted, offers free training to the public which is in line with the free education policy of the present administration reaffirming the ministry’s readiness to create awareness for the CBT for the 2013 UTME across the state.
“The ministry will reach out to all schools especially the government owned schools. Through such awareness, the students especially the ones in rural areas will be fully informed about the e-testing”, she maintained.
She said emphasis would be placed on the students in the rural areas adding that Rivers State has already braced up for an ICT driven economy and e-learning.
She said the state government had introduced e-library in our model primary schools and in most of the secondary schools.
“The world is now a global village because of the improvement in technology which is the major reason the state is preparing the students to embrace ICT” she said she revealed the economic Potentials of ICT and stated that the sector would reduce the high level of unemployment rate in the country should Nigeria embrace an ICT-driven economy.
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.