Education News Update for Thursday 23rd November 2023

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

Guardian

A webinar addressing the global urgency to address teacher shortages

According to UNESCO estimates, an additional 24.4 million primary school teachers and nearly 44 million secondary school teachers are needed to achieve the goal of universal basic education by 2030.

Sub-Saharan Africa, which has the most overcrowded classrooms in the world, is also the region where teachers have the heaviest workload. Teacher shortages are also the most glaring: 90% of secondary schools suffer from severe staffing shortages. Adding to this issue is the attractiveness of the teaching profession, which exacerbates teacher shortages and contributes to the learning crisis. Read more:https://guardian.ng/opinion/a-webinar-addressing-the-global-urgency-to-address-teacher-shortages/

Actor, others for concert showcasing talents of public school pupils

Nollywood actor-turned-lawmaker, Desmond Elliot, is among dignitaries expected to watch some 85 secondary school pupils showcase their talent at the Next Hero concert holding on Saturday at the J.F. Ade Ajayi Main Auditorium, University of Lagos (UNILAG). Read more: https://guardian.ng/features/education/actor-others-for-concert-showcasing-talents-of-public-school-pupils/

Registrar decries high tuition in faith-based varsities

Registrar, Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University, Makurdi, Dr John Ujo David, has decried the commercialisation of education in the country.

David, in his convocation lecture at the 11th and 12th convocation ceremonies of Wesley University, Ondo, lamented that missionary schools are giving way to commercialised and miracle centres in the country.

In his lecture titled: ‘Early church fathers as panacea for sustainable development in Nigeria,’ David condemned the fees being charged by many faith-based tertiary institution, describing it as “outrageous.” Read more: https://guardian.ng/features/education/registrar-decries-high-tuition-in-faith-based-varsities/

Firm inaugurates tax clubs in Lagos secondary schools

A firm, DKK Nigeria in partnership with Lagos Internal Revenue Service (LIRS) has inaugurated tax clubs in Lagos secondary schools.

The initiative is aimed at imparting comprehensive tax knowledge in young children right from school.

The initiative, named ‘Tax Trybe’ is driven by the goal of nurturing a profound understanding of taxation among young students, shaping them into future tax ambassadors.

Acknowledging the potential perception of taxation as a complex subject, the firm assured of plans to introduce innovative and engaging approaches to make learning both enjoyable and comprehensible. Read more: https://guardian.ng/features/education/firm-inaugurates-tax-clubs-in-lagos-secondary-schools/

Rector laments college’s inability to access TETFund

Rector of the Federal College of Dental Technology, Enugu, Prof. John Emaimo, has lamented the school’s inability to access tertiary education fund (TETFUND), saying it is a major setback to the realisation of its mandate.

Briefing reporters in Enugu on the 2023 combined convocation of the college, Emaimo said federal institutions should automatically qualify to access the fund but lamented that the reverse has been the case.

“We, therefore, call on all appropriate authorities and lovers of education who desire the kind of revolution that we are currently spearheading to bridge existing gaps in the areas of manpower development, health and education sectors to come to our aid. Individuals and philanthropists are also called upon to support our quest for exclusive manpower development,” he said. Read more: https://guardian.ng/features/education/rector-laments-colleges-inability-to-access-tetfund/

At ARUA confab, scholars strategise on future of higher education

Scholars drawn from across research institutions in sub-Saharan Africa recently converged on the University of Lagos (UNILAG) to deliberate on the future of higher education.

The three-day event themed: ‘Re-imagining the future of higher education in Africa, was the fourth international biennial conference of African Research Universities Alliance (ARUA), comprising 17 universities from 10 African countries, and aimed at providing a platform for research collaborations among tertiary institutions.

Vice Chancellor, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda, Prof Barnabas Nawangwe, disclosed that more researchers are needed in Africa to help combat poverty and other challenges. Read more: https://guardian.ng/features/education/at-arua-confab-scholars-strategise-on-future-of-higher-education/

Tribune

Baze University’s best student tasks youths on nation building

Mr Chibuzo Okereke, best graduating Master’s student in the Department of Public Administration, School of PostGraduate Studies, Baze University, Abuja, has tasked youths on best efforts for the development of the country.

Okereke who scored a cumulative grade of 4.95 out of 5.0 to emerge the best of 26 Master’s students in the department, made the call in an interview with newsmen in Abuja.

Okereke, who is a legislative advocate and founder of Project Hope Alive, spoke on the sidelines of a ceremony organised in his honour after the Baze University 10th Convocation in Abuja. Read more: https://tribuneonlineng.com/baze-universitys-best-student-tasks-youths-on-nation-building/

Kwara governor rewards winners of presidential debate

Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq of Kwara State at the weekend hosted the six public school students who won the presidential debate competition in Abuja, rewarding each of them with One million naira cash gift and state scholarship for their undergraduate studies in any discipline.

The governor called the students the pride of the government and people of Kwara State, commending them for their impressive outing and thanking their parents and teachers as well as the leadership of the Kwara State Universal Basic Education Board (KWSUBEB) for its roles in the feat.

Kwara recently won the 63rd edition of the presidential debate in Abuja for the second time in a row, asserting its leadership in the competition, which involves participants from all the states of the federation. Read more: https://tribuneonlineng.com/kwara-governor-rewards-winners-of-presidential-debate/

HETAN makes case for more students enrollment in Home Economics

THE Home Economics Teachers Association of Nigerian (HETAN), Abuja Chapter, has advocated more students making deliberate choices of studying Home Economics, as one of their key subjects in school.

She said this is necessary because of the inherent skills and training it offers to students, with the capacity to make them self-reliant and financially independent upon graduation.

Speaking at the post-conference meeting in Abuja, the president of HETAN, Abuja chapter, Mrs Rifkatu Lami Yisa, called on parents and authorities, particularly secondary schools as well as agencies regulating the education sector, to encourage the enrollment of students into Home Economics subject, as a means of empowering youths for the future. Read more: https://tribuneonlineng.com/hetan-makes-case-for-more-students-enrollment-in-home-economics/

Operational plans for basic education is important — UNICEF

The need for a good operational plan for basic education has been reiterated.

The education consultant of the United Nation International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) in Adamawa State, Mr Joel Jutum, disclosed this at the inauguration of the State’s Education Sector Operational Plans (SESOP) and Local Education Sector Operational Plans (LESOP) in all formal and non formal schools in the state.

The state’s Commissioner of Education and Human Capital Development, Dr Umar Pella, while inaugurating the operational plans sponsored by UNICEF said the plans would enable the government and stakeholders to identify the areas of needs to develop the sector. Read more: https://tribuneonlineng.com/operational-plans-for-basic-education-is-important-unicef/

Legit

288 Graduating Students of UNN Bag First Class Honours

The University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) has produced 288 first class graduates in its 51st convocation ceremony The Vice-Chancellor of UNN, Prof Charles Igwe, said the institution will graduate 12,962 students Professor Igwe disclosed that four prominent Nigerians will be awarded honourary doctorate degrees Read more: https://www.legit.ng/education/1565048-288-graduating-students-unn-bag-class-honours/

Katsina Governor Pays N977m NECO Fees for 48,385 Candidates

Governor Dikko Umaru Radda of Katsina state has allocated N977 million to cover the 2023 National Examination Council (NECO) fees for 48,385 candidates in the state The announcement was made in a statement released by the Katsina state government on November 22 The governor’s decision may enhance educational enrollment in Katsina, addressing its status as one of the less developed states in education in Nigeria. Read more: https://www.legit.ng/education/1564997-katsina-governor-pays-n977m-neco-fees-48000-candidates/

Education Stakeholder Reacts as Tinubu Says No More Strike in Nigerian Universities

An education expert, Adesegun Ogungbayi, has said the situation whereby lecturers will abandon the students in the class, embark on strike and come back to claim salaries is “absurd”

Speaking in an interview with Legit.ng, Ogungbayi said industrial strikes by academic and non-academic staff unions are one of the causes of examination malpractices, social vices, and corruption

Ogungbayi stated that he would be glad to see President Bola Ahmed Tinubu “establish an uncommon synergy with university unions to ensure that strike actions die naturally” Read more: https://www.legit.ng/education/1565091-stakeholder-reacts-tinubu-strike-nigerian-universities/

“Move in With Family”: Austria Invites Nigerians to Apply For Fully-Funded Scholarship

There is a new opportunity for Nigerians to move and study in Austria on a full-funded scholarship

The Institute of Science and Technology Austria(ISTA) is inviting Nigerians and other international students to come over for their PhD programme

Interested applicants must have a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree to be eligible for the 2024 call for PhD students Read more: https://www.legit.ng/education/1565066-move-family-austria-invites-nigerians-apply-fully-funded-scholarship/

Vanguard

We‘ve roadmap to tackle challenges in education sector – Tinubu

President Bola Tinubu has said his administration has a roadmap for tackling the challenges confronting the education sector, and that the roadmap will help shape the future of education in the country.

He stated this on Thursday in his speech delivered at the 35th convocation ceremony of the Yaba College of Technology, Yabatech, Lagos.
Tinubu, whose speech as the Visitor to the College was delivered on his behalf by the Director of Legal Services, Federal Ministry of Education, Mrs Ezonebi Azorbo, listed some of the challenges to include accessibility, equity, funding, teachers’ capacity building among others. Read more: https://www.vanguardngr.com/2023/11/weve-roadmap-to-tackle-challenges-in-education-sector-tinubu/

Wike warns against encroachment on school lands

Federal Capital Territory FCT Minister, Ezenwo Nyesom Wike has warned residents against encroaching on school lands, saying the development would not be tolerated under his administration.

The minister gave the warning on Thursday following an on-the-spot assessment of the teaching and learning condition at the LEA Primary School, Bagusa, a village in the Dei Dei community of the Abuja Municipal Area Council AMAC.

The walless school established by the past administration had about 200 pupils and 16 desks, spread across six different classes, including a creche. Read more: https://www.vanguardngr.com/2023/11/wike-warns-against-encroachment-on-school-lands/

Daily Post

Unemployment drives Nigerian graduates into ‘class suicide’

If the report by the National Bureau of Statistics, NBS, that Nigeria’s unemployment figure had dropped from 33.3 to 4.1 percent is anything to go by, then the army of the unemployed youths, particularly the tertiary education graduates, should have drastically reduced.

But, the reality on ground is that hundreds of thousands of Nigerian graduates still don’t have jobs to do. From north to south and east to west, the story remains the same.

There is no job for scores of graduates being churned out every year from the nation’s universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education. Many even have masters’ degrees that were acquired walking a tightrope with the belief that once they have their second degrees, they would have brighter chances of getting good jobs. Read more: https://dailypost.ng/2023/11/23/unemployment-drives-nigerian-graduates-into-class-suicide/

Increase budgetary allocation for education – NTI tells FG

The National Teachers Institute (NTI), Kaduna, has asked for an increase in the federal government’s budgetary allocation for education.

This was disclosed in a statement issued on Thursday following the conclusion of a three-day conference held at the NTI headquarters in Kaduna.

The theme of the conference was “Re-directing the Focus of Education Stakeholders Towards Modern Process of Producing Competent, Dedicated and Professional Teachers in Nigeria”. Read more: https://dailypost.ng/2023/11/23/increase-budgetary-allocation-for-education-nti-tells-fg/