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UNIPORT Protest: Students Hopeful Of Fees Reduction

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About a week after the
protest by students of the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT) on the hike in school fees, the students have expressed optimism that the school authorities would listen to their plea and reduce the fees.
A cross section of the students who spoke to The Tide shortly after the protest said that the protest was meant to seek for consideration on the part of the institution’s authority in order for them to continue in their educational pursuits.
A final year student of the department of Mechanical Engineering, Sabbath Akanyiyere said “though the school authority did not respond for now, I believe that before the school will resume properly and payments begin, something will be done. Our efforts so for cannot be cut short, we must continue and the school by God’s grace will help us”.
Claude Amadi of the faculty of Humanities said “the percentage of the increase is high. It’s about 40 percent from the former fees we paid though depending on the faculty and department. But then, we are asking that the school management should consider the times we are in and be careful of low it increases the fees”.
Another student of the School of Medicine, Dappa Horold said “this protest cannot be for nothing. What the students did was normal and I believe it will yield something positive. The times we are in are hard and with such increases, some of us whose wards and parents are only struggling to get to school may not be able to continue. And so I pray the school authority would tramper justice with mercy and hear the plea of the students”.
A post graduate student of the department of Environmental Sciences who also condemned the hike in fees said such hikes in the fees of most Nigerian higher institutions have contributed to the high level of uneducated youths in the society.
“Universities, even the public ones are discouraging youths to go to school and this is also contributing to the Youth violence we are experiencing. For the ones already in school, two to five percent increase can be adjusted to but anything beyond that would be too much and can send some them packing from school. I wish the school authority will reconsider its stance”, he stated.
It would be recalled that students of Uniport last Monday embarked on a peaceful protest over the hike in school fees.
The Public Relations Officer of the institution, Mr. Williams Wodi, in an interview said however that the school was not in session describing the protesters as touts who were being hired to disrupt the activities of the institution.
The Tide also gathered that the students’ representatives, the Students Union Government (SUG) and other bodies, on hearing of the plans to increase the fees met with the school’s management prior to fee day of protest. They however, never gave a feedback of the dialogue to the students which necessitated the protest.

 

Cross section of pupils of Abec Nursery and Primary School at the 2014 Unity Day celebration held at the school compound  in Port Harcourt, last weekend.

Cross section of pupils of Abec Nursery and Primary School at the 2014 Unity Day celebration held at the school compound in Port Harcourt, last weekend.

Lady Godknows Ogbulu

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Education

School Resumption:Rivers begins monitoring of compliance  to academics standards

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As Secondary and primary schools  in Rivers state ,including public and private owned  resumes for the first term 2025/2026 academic session  today after a one month vacation at the end of the third term  2024/2025 academic session .,the state ministry of education said quality assurance supervisors will resume school visitations and monitoring immediately.
The state ministry of Education disclosed this in a statement signed by the permanent secretary ,
Dr. (Mrs.) Ndidi Chikanele Utchay and made available to the tide ,the statement stated that staffs of department of quality assurance services (SEQAS)  in the ministry and it’s agencies will commence  immediate  routein assessment visitations to all schools in the state, to ensure Compliance with Established Educational Standards .
The statement reads thus:
“This is to notify all public and private schools operating in Rivers State that the State Education Quality Assurance Services (SEQAS) will commence follow-through and routine assessments immediately, upon resumption of the 2025/2026 academic session. These assessments are designed to:
 Ensure Compliance with Established Educational Standards.”
“Evaluate the Quality of Teaching and Learning,
Review Curriculum Implementation and Teaching Methods,
Assess Infrastructure and Learning Environment, and
Promote Students Welfare and Overall School Improvement.”
“Consequently, all Public and Private Schools are by this announcement advised to make all necessary preparations and ensure full compliance with regulatory requirements. “
The statement also said applications for School approvals and upgrades should be submitted directly to the office of the Permanent Secretary, as negotiations with individuals and agents will no longer be tolerated.
“The  state Ministry of Education appreciates your continuous co-operation and commitments to sustaining high educational standards in our dear State.”the statement stated.
By: Akujobi Amadi
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Education

University of Port Harcourt elevates five professor’s on communication and public relations

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The  Governing Council of University of port Harcourt in Rivers state has appointed
 five new Professors of Communication and Media Studies of the institution.
This was contained in a Facebook handle of  the public relations officer of the university,Dr Sammy Kpenu  disclosed that those elevated to the ranks  of professor include erudite and world-class Prof. Ntiense James Usua , promoted to  professor of Broadcasting,
Prof. Faustina Ginikanwa Nwachukwu – Strategic Communication and Advertising, and
Prof. Benedict Obiora Agbo – Public Relations and Advertising.
Others are,Prof. Sunny C.J. Mbazie , Public Relations and Advertising, while
Prof. Clement Afamefuna Asadu ,was appointed  professor of Behaviour and Social Change Communication, of the Faculty of Communication and Media Studies, University of Port Harcourt.
By: Akujobi Amadi
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Education

Our academic activities are AI driven – VC ….declares I’ntl Conf on education 

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The Vice Chancellor of Rivers State University, Prof. Isaac Zeb-Obipi, has declared that all activities in the University are AI-driven, stressing  the need to prepare the future workforce through Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Education as a pathway to achieving sustainable development.
He  made this remark while declaring open the 4th Annual International Conference of the Department of Science Education, held from Wednesday,at the Faculty of Education Auditorium.
The vice chancellor commended the department for choosing a theme that aligns with his vision for the University and expressed optimism that the conference would produce a communiqué with clear strategies for the future.
Also speaking,the Head of Department, Science Education, Dr. Dorathy Ekineh,  stated that the convergence of STEM Education, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Sustainable Development is crucial in shaping the next generation of leaders, innovators, and problem solvers.
According to her, the conference provides an opportunity to explore, discuss, and collaborate on strategies to equip the workforce with the skills required to face the challenges and seize the opportunities of the future.
Earlier In his welcome address, the Dean of the Faculty of Education, Prof. Isaac N. Dokubo, described the conference as timely, noting that the world is rapidly embracing AI in all sectors.
He explained that the primary aim of the conference is to examine how AI and STEM Education can prepare tomorrow’s workforce to compete effectively with their counterparts globally.
 Delivering the keynote address, the Dean, Faculty of Education, University of Port Harcourt, Prof. Cheta Williams, stated that the workforce of the future will thrive at the intersection of STEM, Artificial Intelligence, and sustainability.
“If we align our education systems, innovations, and ethical compass, we will not just prepare for the future, we will shape it,” he stated .
He averred that the workforce of tomorrow is already being built today in classrooms, universities, innovation hubs, and government boardrooms,adding that the future is not something to wait for, but something to design and build together.
Also presenting a paper titled “STEM Education and Sustainable Development for a Resilient Future”, Prof. Keziah A. Achuonye from the Faculty of Education, Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, highlighted the vital role of STEM in driving resilience and sustainable growth.
By: Akujobi Amadi
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