Education
SSCE/NECO: RSG Distributes Science Equipment To Schools …Warns Principals Against Misuse
Ahead of the full commencement of the 2017 Senior Secondary School Certificate (SSSCE) and National Examination Council (NEC0), the Rivers State Government has distributed science equipment to a total of 238 public schools in the state.
Making the distribution to principals present at the State Secretariat, Commissioner for Education, Prof Kaniye Ebeku said the items included consumable chemicals, reagents and science equipments for the conduct of the 2017 SSCE and NECO examination.”
In addition to this, the commissioner said, the state Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike had also subsidised the registration of students for the examination in public schools.
“You will also recall that His Excellency, the Governor, has further graciously released a lot of money to serve as subsidy.
“Specially, N200,000 have been released per school for the registration of students in public schools for the examinations.
Today, we are here to distribute the science equipment and also to hand over the subsidy of N200,000 per principal,” he said.
The implication of this, the commissioner explained, is that “parents have been relieved of a lot of financial burden regarding the examination, their wards and children are going to write shortly.
This also means that no principal is allowed to charge any extra money outside the official WAEC and NECO charges as approved and published by the relevant examination bodies,” he said.
He used the opportunity to urge the affected principals of the 238 pubic schools to adhere strictly to these directives, noting that any defaulter would be sanctioned appropriately.
“Let me warn the principals clearly. When you receive these goods, ensure that they are carefully conveyed to your schools, make sure they do not get missing on the way, make sure they are used properly for the purposes they had been acquired,” he warned.
While acknowledging that there could be defaulting principals, Prof. Ebeku stated unequivocally that “when we find them we will punish them adequately.”
In his response, the principal of Birabi Memorial Grammar School, Bori, Mr Mathew Lebadeya expressed appreciation over the development and lauded the Rivers State government for alleviating the economic burden of parents whose children are writing the SSCE by subsidising the registration fee of students in public schools.
“I think in the history of Rivers State, this is the first time we are experiencing this (equipment and N200,000 per school). We believe all the principals will utilise the equipment very well,” he said.
Stories by Sogbeba Dokubo
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.