Here are the headlines as they were published in the dailies.

The Nation

Minister pledges to complete 17-year-old abandoned National Library building

Minister of Education Prof. Tahir Mamman has pledged that the 17-year-old abandoned National Library would be completed and inaugurated by President Bola Tinubu administration.

The minister made the pledge during a tour of the edifice in company of the National Librarian, Prof. Chinwe Anunobi, and some senior directors of the Federal Ministry of Education.

The contract of the library, which lies fallow on Plot 35, Cadastral Business District, in the Federal Capital Territory, was awarded to Reynolds Construction Company in 2006 under the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, for N8.9 billion with an initial completion period of four years.

Guardian.

Weaning Nigerian students off drug abuse

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), alcohol, tobacco and illicit drug use are major global risk factors for disability and premature loss of life. Their burden on school children is accompanied by significant academic, medical, social and economic costs, reports IYABO LAWAL.

Everything appeared surreal – like a brash scene in a Nollywood movie. Beautiful 15-year-old Desola Jenkins stood up in the middle of the classroom as the Biology teacher discussed the theory of evolution with the students. Ecstatic, the frail-looking girl jumped with athletic agility on her desk with a riveting thud that startled her classmates. Then, she pulled up her uniform. Read more https://guardian.ng/features/weaning-nigerian-students-off-drug-abuse/

UK schools seek alternative spaces amid fears concrete crisis could affect 1,000

One estates manager says children could have to be taught in temporary buildings for as long as a decade to come

Teachers are scrambling to find temporary accommodation in libraries, marquees and Portakabins after at least 156 schools in England were identified as having potentially dangerous aerated concrete, and engineers prepared for a weekend checking more schools at risk of sudden collapse.

With an estimated 24 schools already facing temporary closure and the government telling more than 100 to close at least some affected areas, the schools minister, Nick Gibb, said numbers were likely to increase. Read more https://www.theguardian.com/education/2023/sep/01/uk-schools-seek-alternative-spaces-amid-fears-concrete-crisis-could-affect-1000

‘It’s alarming’: school forced to close over crumble-risk concrete

Willowbrook Mead primary academy on the outskirts of Leicester was a hive of activity on Friday morning as staff moved tables, chairs and bookcases from brick buildings into a nearby portable building.

But the activity is not the usual hustle and bustle of a new academic year. Just two days into the new term, Willowbrook Mead has been forced to close its doors to students while safety works are carried out. Read more https://www.theguardian.com/education/2023/sep/01/alarming-school-forced-to-close-over-crumble-risk-concrete

Tribune

Unilorin bans graduating students from engaging in signing-out activities

The management of the University of Ilorin (Unilorin) has placed a ban on signing out activities for final year students of the institution.This was contained in a press release signed by both the President of Unilorin Student’s Union, Faji Tobiloba and the Public Relations Officer, Balogun Abdullahi Abiodun. Read more https://tribuneonlineng.com/unilorin-bans-graduating-students-from-engaging-in-signing-out-activities/

Punch

‘School owners must embrace quality teaching’

The Deeper Life High School, Lagos Campus, Mowe-Ibafo, Ogun State, has told school owners to courageously maintain quality standards.

Speaking at a media parley on Monday, DLHS Administrator, Mr Emmanuel Eze, explained that adhering to educational standards would help any school to offer quality education to learners, adding that a culture of honesty, and shunning malpractice should be prioritised too. Read more https://punchng.com/school-owners-must-embrace-quality-teaching/?amp

UNICEF enlists celebrities as children’s rights advocates

The United Nations Children’s Fund has enlisted Cobhams, WAJE, Kate Henshaw, and Ali Nuhu as UNICEF Champions for a period of 12 months.

The UNICEF Representative in Nigeria, Ms. Cristian Munduate, said the collaboration symbolised a bridge between the commitment to child rights and the power of art and storytelling. Read more https://punchng.com/unicef-enlists-celebrities-as-childrens-rights-advocates/?amp

TRCN tasks teachers on self-development, technology

Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria has tasked teachers across the country to embark on self-development and technology in order to remain relevant in the emerging global technology.

This was part of the recommendations by the registration council at the end of a two-day online conference of registered teachers in Nigeria held between August 30 to 31, 2023, with the theme, ‘Promoting community of practice among Nigerian teachers for effective service delivery.’ Read more https://punchng.com/trcn-tasks-teachers-on-self-development-technology/?amp

Babcock advises on talent discovery school

A former lecturer in the Department of Accounting and current bursar of Babcock University, Dr Folorunso Akande, has called on the government to set up a fully funded special school that can identify talents and drive the development of the country.

Akande bemoaned the rise in youth migration for greener pastures, which he believed was causing a brain drain in the education sector. Read more https://punchng.com/babcock-advises-on-talent-discovery-school/?amp

Bank plans N180m loans for schools

Fidelity Bank Plc has said through its bespoke product known as the Fidelity Edu Loan, administrators of registered private primary, secondary, and tertiary institutions in Nigeria can access loans of up to N180m.

A statement by the bank quoted Divisional Head, Product Development, Fidelity Bank Plc, Osita Ede, saying, “At Fidelity Bank, we recognise the pivotal role quality education plays in the development of any nation and this informed our introduction of the Fidelity Edu Loan. Read more https://punchng.com/bank-plans-n180m-loans-for-schools/?amp

Old boys plan N250m rehabilitation of alma mater

The Methodist High School Ibadan Old Boys Association has said it will refurbish its alma mater, Methodist High School Ibadan with a sum of N250m.

A statement by National President, Dr Lekan Abioye, said the fund would be used to provide a school van to convey students from and to the school, to build and equip a standard Science Laboratory, build a state-of-the-art indoor/outdoor facility for various sporting games, revisit the boarding school system by renovating any of the existing structures which can be used to test run between twenty to thirty students at a go. Read more https://punchng.com/old-boys-plan-n250m-rehabilitation-of-alma-mater/?amp

Stakeholders urge govts to sanitise education ministries

The Total School Support Seminar and Exhibition has called for the restructuring and revamping of the education ministries across the country.

Chief Executive Officer, Edumark Consult Limited and convener of TOSSE, Mrs Yinka Ogunde, said this on Thursday at the 15th edition of TOSSE held at the 10 Degree Event Centre, Oregun, Lagos.She explained that if a delibera Read more https://punchng.com/stakeholders-urge-govts-to-sanitise-education-ministries/?amp

independent

Number of pupils in classes of 31 or more soared over past decade, analysis finds

The number of pupils learning in class sizes of 31 or more has surged over the past decade in England, new analysis from Labour suggests.

The party said the figure has risen from one in 10 secondary school students in 2010 to almost one in seven. Read more https://www.independent.co.uk/news/education/education-news/pupils-class-sizes-jump-labour-b1815114.html