Here are the education headlines as they where published in the dailies today. 

NAIRA METRICS

Cross River state announces shortage of 20,000 teachers in public schools

Cross River State, in the South-South region of Nigeria, has announced it has a deficit of 20,000 teachers in its public school system.

The Education Commissioner in Cross River, Sen. Stephen Odey announced this during a press briefing in Calabar, where he revealed that the administration under Sen. Bassey Otu has initiated extensive teacher hiring to fill this void.

15 universities announce staff layoffs, course closures due to reduced overseas enrollment

At least 15 universities in the United Kingdom have publicly announced staff layoffs and course closures, prompted by a significant decline in overseas postgraduate student enrollments this past January, according to University World News.

In the United Kingdom, at least 15 universities have publicly announced staff layoffs and course closures, which was prompted by a significant decline in overseas postgraduate student enrollments this past January.

UN announces tuition-free masters’ programs for refugees in Nigeria, others

The United Nations Refugee Agency has announced a fully funded master’s degree scholarship for refugees in Nigeria through its “Project UNICORE 2024” program involving Italian universities.

The scholarship seeks to increase higher education opportunities for refugees currently residing in Kenya, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe, in Italy.

DAILY POST

I’ll resign if found collecting money from school principals – Senator Odey

Commissioner for Education in Cross River State, Stephen Odey has vowed to resign from his office any day he is found to have demanded or collected money from any school principal in the state.

He has also vowed to sack principals found indulging in extortion of innocent students and pupils.

12-year-old child opens fire on primary school pupils in Finland

A 12-year-old pupil opened fire Tuesday at a primary school in Vantaa outside the Finnish capital, Helsinki.

Preliminary reports from the police disclosed that three persons were wounded, and the attacker was in custody.

NAIJA NEWS

One Dead, Two Injured As 12-Year-Old Opens Fire In Finnish School

Tragedy struck in Finland as a 12-year-old child opened fire at a school, causing one death and two injuries.

The incident occurred in the early hours of Tuesday at Viertola school in Vantaa, a suburb of the capital Helsinki.

PEOPLE’S GAZETTE

20,000 Teachers’ Vacancy: Cross River scrambles to employ 6,000

The commissioner for education, Stephen Odey, says a minimum of 20,000 teachers is required to address the shortage of teaching staff in public schools in Cross River.

The commissioner, who disclosed this during a press briefing in Calabar on Tuesday, said Governor Bassey Otu-led administration had embarked on massive employment of teachers to bridge the gap.He noted that owing to the paucity of funds, the employment would be carried out in phases

National common entrance examination to hold April 20: NECO

The National Examination Council (NECO) says it is ready for the 2024 National Common Entrance Examination (NCEE), which is slated for April 20, and urges parents of candidates to maintain decorum during the examination.

Azeez Sani, the acting spokesman for NCEE, disclosed this in an interview in Lagos on Tuesday.Mr Sani said the NCEE, organised by NECO for final year primary school pupils, will create openings for admission into JSS1 in Federal Unity Colleges across the country.

TRIBUNE

Taking break from music for education wasn’t difficult decision — Duncan Mighty

Duncan Mighty, a renowned Nigerian musician, reveals that his decision to take a break from music in pursuit of education was not a difficult one.

In a candid interview with 3Music TV in Accra, Ghana, Duncan Mighty shared that he already holds a Master of Science degree in Acoustics from Freiburg University, Germany.

NEWS DAIRY

FG has so far enrolled 2m out-of-school “Almajiri” children in basic education, says minister

The Federal Government has enrolled two million out-of-school “Almajiri” children in basic and Arabic literacy programmes.

Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman , made this known at the Citizens and Stakeholders Engagement on Nigerian Education Sector Ministerial Deliverables in Abuja on Tuesday.

NAN reports that President Bola Tinubu, on assumption of office organised a Cabinet Retreat for the Ministers, Permanent Secretaries and top government officials to prepare and sensitise them on the workings and processes of his administration.

PUNCH

2,889 education students received N75,000 bursary awards – Minister

 total of 2,889 students studying education-related courses in Nigerian higher institutions have benefited from the N75,000 bursary awards, data given by the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, during the first quarterly meeting of the Federal Ministry of Education has revealed.

The ministry had in 2022 invited applications from qualified students studying Education courses in universities and colleges of education.

During the commemoration of World Teachers Day in 2021, the Federal Government said students undergoing degree programmes in Education in public universities will get a N75,000 stipend per semester, while their counterparts undergoing the Nigeria Certificate in Education will get N50,000 per semester.

THE CABLE

JAMB uncovers 1,665 fake A-level results during DE registration

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) says it uncovered at least 1,665 fake A-level results during the 2023 Direct Entry (DE) registration exercise. A-levels are an advanced post-secondary education, the results from which are often used to secure admission into universities.

They allow students to specialise in specific subjects, which can be required for the pursuit of particular disciplines or career paths.

Some nationally recognised bodies that run A-level programmes and award certificates to prospective university admission seekers in Nigeria include the Joint Universities Preliminary Examinations Board (JUPEB) and the Interim Joint Matriculation Board (IJMB).