Education
Why RIVCAS Opts For Soft Engineering Fields – Rector
In spite of the develop
ments recorded by the Rivers State College of Arts and Science (RIVCAS) in academics, the institution has focused more on soft Engineering fields in the services. Such fields include Computer Engineering and Building Technology.
Rector of the Institution, Dr Hillary Wordu, who stated this recently in an exclusive interview in his office, said the reason, among others has to do with finance.
Consequently, he said rather than extending its focus to such fields as Marine Engineering and Mechanical Engineering, which are also in high demand but capital intensive, the school opts for less capital intensive areas.
What we have as our area of value might be different from what we have identified as our target are of problem, where we can focus our attention may some how be different from where actually we are going. This is because, it sometimes depends on finance.
“For instance, the programmes we are running, if we classify and study them, you will see that they are in soft Engineering. Such programme, as Electrical/Electronics Engineering, computer Engineering and Building Technology.
“We have not ventured into such areas as Marine Engineering and Mechanical Engineering that have to do with equipment, laboratories and materials you can use to update instruction.
“So, we are actually running away from those areas, despite the demand in the industry. It’s like running the institution like a private one where you run away from capital intensive programmes”, he said.
The result, he explained is that while the school is “not deviating from the aspirations of polytechnic education, we are not embracing it and fighting the areas that we know will have very high demand.
“We have deficiencies , some of them are becoming so traditional that you need a lot of things before you can put them in order”, he said.
Dr Wordu, whose tenure as Rector was recently extended noted however, that in spite of this challenge, he sees his retention as a recognition of hard work of staff
Sogbeba Dokubo
Cross section of matric students during 2014/2015 matriculation of RSUST at the Convocation Arena recently.
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.