Education
RIVCAS Rusticates 35 Students
The Rivers State Col
lege of Arts and Science (RIVCAS) yesterday matriculated a total of 3,052 students in 2014/2015 academic session into 24 Departments at the school’s 24th matriculation ceremony, which took place in the school’s Conference Hall.
Of the number, Business Administration recorded the highest number of intakes with 385 students, followed by Law, which had 350 students, while the Institute of Continuing Education had 320 students.
Science and Laboratory Technology came 4th with 265 students, Public Administration had 200 students and Mass Communication, 186 students.
Other Departments are: Accountancy (154), Computer Science (141); Office Technology and Management (108), Electrical/Electronics Engineering Technology (106) Interim Joint Matriculation Board Examination (100), and Computer Engineering Technology (94).
It also includes Marketing (92), Higher National Diploma (87), Cambridge University A/Level GCE (66), Agricultural Technology (54), Banking and Finance (52), Remedial (49), Architectural Technology (45), Surveying and Geo-Informatics and Building Technology (40 each), Library and Information Science (33), and statistics (26).
In his speech, the Rector of the College, Dr Hillary Wordu, noted that the 2015 admissions constitutes a 27 per cent increase from the 2014 admissions, which was a total of 2,407 students.
According to him, the improvement is not only in quantity but as well as in quality of students.
While charging the new students to take their studies and counsels in the school serious, he informed the students that the college “has strict rules guiding examinations, the breach of which is visited with portentous consequences.”
He buttressed this by also informing the students that “just three weeks ago, 35 students were rusticated and two expelled for various degrees of examination malpractices.”
Explaining the types of examination malpractices indulged in by the students, in a post matriculation exclusive interview, the school’s Registrar, Dame Geogenia O. Benwoke, said it includes what she called “the normal examination malpractice by students.
She told The Tide that, “we found them with what they call micro chips, papers, and they were also found having consultations with their fellow students in the examination hall.”
The Registrar, however, commended the Rivers State Government for providing necessary amenities to enhance academic success in the institution.
Sogbeba Dokubo & Taneh Beemene
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.