JAMB HAS BROUGHT REMARKABLE ACHIEVEMENTS TO THE EDUCATION SECTOR – EDUCATION MINISTER
I am impressed by the performance of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board(JAMB) in the discharge of its core mandate and its catalogue of unprecedented achievements, the Hon. Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu, has commended the Management of the Board for its excellent track records in service delivery. The Minister gave this assessment at the just concluded 66th National Council on Education (NEC) meeting in Abuja.
“You will agree with me that JAMB has brought a welcome sense of relief to candidates and the general public alike with its remarkable achievements in recent times especially in terms of inclusiveness in its operational processes, sanitising the conduct of its examinations, implementation of the Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS), the Integrated Brochure and Syllabus System (IBASS) and the National A ‘Level Databank, among others,” he said.
In what amounted to an assessment of his stewardship and charting a future course of action for the Education Ministry, Malam Adamu called for the splitting of the Federal Ministry of Education into two: Federal Ministry of Basic Education and Federal Ministry of Higher Education respectively. He also submitted that a special arrangement to promote vocational, e n t r e p r e n e u r i a l a n d t e c h n i c a l
education to effectively address the challenges facing the Nigerian youths
should be fashioned out. Speaking further, Malam Adamu said, “I have made recommendations to the President that there should be two Ministries of Education, Ministry of Basic Education and Ministry of Higher Education, and if that is not feasible, then, at least two Ministers of State one for Basic Education, and the other for Higher Education.”
“I also hope whoever is heading the next government will have the good sense to create the Ministry of Skills and Entrepreneurship and if such will not be possible, there should be three Ministers of State in the Federal Ministry of Education.” On security and safety in educational institutions, the Minister charged NEC and other critical stakeholders to redouble its efforts at strengthening the security architecture of the nation’s educational institutions. “Also, I want to tell State Governments that they are not doing enough on school safety. I know it is a general problem but State Governments should start doing what the Federal Ministry of Education is doing,” he said.
Commenting on the issue of out-of school children, Mallam Adamu called on all States of the Federation to be alive to their responsibilities by providing a safe and secure learning environment for both students and teachers. He stated that, on its part, the Federal Ministry of Education is not relenting in its efforts to take these
children off the streets.
PAPERLESS REGIME WOULD ENHANCE EFFICIENCY – OLOYEDE
The registration of joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, said the Board would be going paperless in its communications with institutions, regulatory agencies in the education sector such as the National Universities Commission (NUC), National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE), N a t i o n a l B o a r d f o r Te c h n i c a l Education(NBTE) and other critical stakeholders, to achieve real-time and a m o r e e f f e c t i v e i n f o r m a t i o n dissemination system. He said the paperless regime being championed by the Board would enhance efficiency, deliver prompt services and eliminate all incidence of records mutilation or distortion.
Prof. Oloyede announced the Board’s plans to go completely paperless from January, 2023, to media representatives at a press conference held in Lagos on Sunday, 6th November, 2022. To achieve this, the Registrar disclosed that the Board has upgraded its Integrated Brochure and Syllabus System (IBASS) to also serve as a communication platform so as to interface with critical stakeholders in a more efficient and faster manner. This platform, he stated, is in addition to one for Basic Education, and the other for Higher Education.” “I also hope whoever is heading the next government will have the good sense to create the Ministry of Skills and Entrepreneurship and if such will not be possible, there should be three Ministers of State in the Federal Ministry of Education.” On security and safety in educational institutions, the Minister charged NEC and other critical stakeholders to redouble its efforts at strengthening the security architecture of the nation’s educational institutions.
ESCHEW MEDIOCRITY IN EDUCATION: MIKE OZEKHOME URGES STAKEHOLDERS
legal luminary, Chief Mike AOzekhome (SAN), has called on all stakeholders in the education sector to eschew mediocrity in its entirety if the nation’s education sector is to move forward. Chief Ozekhome made the call recently while delivering a lecture entitled, “A Place of Education in a Crisis-Ridden Nigeria” at the 12th Foundation Anniversary and 10th Convocation Lecture of Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti. Earlier, while introducing the guest lecturer, the Vice-Chancellor of the institution, Prof. Elisabeta Smaranda Olarinde , described Chief Mi ke Ozekhome, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (FCIArb), and a holder of the prestigious national honours of the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR), as a renowned pro-democratic campaigner. While delivering the lecture, the legal luminary maintained that, qualitative education is still achievable in Nigeria, stressing that, no nation can attain noticeable development without quality education.
He also stated that, before the crisis in the education sector started forty years ago, teachers were well trained and remunerated; schools were built with adequate facilities, cultism never existed in our institutions and ASUU strikes were almost non-existent. Continuing, he said the fortunes of the education system plummeted during the regime of Gen. Ibrahim Babangida when the brightest and the best brains fled abroad for greener pastures. He described Nigeria as currently occupying an abysmally low position in world economics and politics. He decried the parlous state of the education sector as becoming more pronounced and worrisome adding that anyone, who is acting unconcerned is living on another planet. Further in his presentation, Chief Ozekhome stated that teaching could be through formal or informal education noting that learning needed not necessarily be formal because our forefathers had their education through folklores, values and knowledge of their environment and general way of life. He emphasized that education is what remains after one has forgotten what was learnt formally in school. Chief Ozekhome identified some of the challenges militating against education in Nigeria as kidnapping, armed banditry, farmers/herdsmen clashes, examination malpractice, impersonation, high failure rate in O’level examinations, abandoned educational projects, inadequate cl ass rooms, irrelevant learning curriculum, mo r a l d e c a d e n c e , inadequate teachers’ remunerations, constantly breaching of agreement reached with educators by successive governments, lack of motivation and role models to shape the lives of future generations. Proffering solutions to the identified educational problems, Chief Ozekhome suggested that Government should ensure its direct interventions go beyond finances alone as it should also extend to the psychological as well.
He also emphasized the promotion of digital transferable skills of learning, enforcement of existing laws that positively affect learning, periodic review of teaching curricula, opening up of new vistas for re-enrolment of out-of-school children, provision of adequate remunerations for teaching and nonteaching personnel, ensuring that admissions to schools are based on merit as against other biased consideration , eliminating rampant strikes by university lecturers, among others. The founder of the University, Aare Afe Babalola, in his remarks on the occasion, thanked the guests and added that the problems bedeviling the education sector cut across all other sectors in the country.
He, therefore, stressed the need for all hands to be on deck to ensure the realization of the suggested solutions by the guest lecturer. Other dignitaries at the event included the Hon. Minister of Education, Mal. Adamu Adamu, represented by the Vice Chancellor, Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA); Prof. Adenike Temidayo Oladiji, the Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof. Ish-aq Oloyede, represented by Mr. Gani Olabisi Abd’rahim and Prof. Peter Okebukola.
JAMB TREATS FME TO A FRIENDLY FOOTBALL MATCH
As part of the weekend activities marking the10th Anniversary of its founding, the Association of the Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN), JAMB Unit, has organized a friendly soccer match between its gallant soccer team and that of the Federal Ministry of Education, Abuja.
The football match, as contained in a statement made available to JAM Bulletin by the Board’s ASCSN Unit Chairman, Comrade Ebenezer Ayelabola, will be held at the Nigeria Law School’s football pitch, Bwari, Abuja, on Wednesday, 9th November, 2022, by 4:00pm.
The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, and the Registrar, JAMB, are some of the dignitaries expected to grace the event.
EDUCATION AND MORAL DEVELOPMENT: BEDROCK OF A GREATER FUTURE – GOVERNOR ABDULRAZAQ
In line with his core belief in the I immense capacity of education to impart national values and foster national development, the Kwara State Governor, M r. Abdul Rahman AbdulRazaq, has stated that sound education and character development could play a major role, not only in terms of personal attainment and national development but also in the sustenance of hope and better future for the country. The Governor made this known in his goodwill message delivered at the 28th Convocation Ceremony of the Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin, Kwara State.
In his message , the Governor admonished the graduands to make the best use of the good education they had received from the Polytechnic while charging them to be courageous, hardworking and be of good character so as to effectively tackle the challenges that lie ahead.
Highlighting his administration achievements in the education sector, the Governor, who was represented by his Deputy, Mr. Kayode Alabi, said that accreditation of courses and staff welfare top the list of priorities of his administration. He also disclosed that he had also embarked on various massive infrastructural projects and upgrades across basic, secondary and tertiary educational institutions in the State. For emphasis, he noted the gigantic Kwara Polytechnic Auditorium, which according to him, was recently completed after almost two decades of neglect by his predecessors.
In his remarks, the Rector, Kwara State Polytechnic , Dr. Abdul Jimoh Mohammed, expressed appreciation to the State Governor for his support in many critical areas noting that the Polytechnic has continued to wax stronger since the inception of the administration. Furthermore, he stressed that the institution has maintained regular academic calendar, increased the number of its accredited programmes, as well as operated on a relatively low school fees, among other notable achievements. At the event was the Director, National Headquarters Annex (NHA), Ilorin, Alh. Jibril Kolawole, who was represented by Mrs. Sherifat O. Balogun and Mr. Hassan Lawal.
ABIA CBT CENTRES TO ENTER INTO TECHNICAL PARTNERSHIP
To further ensure that facilities at all accredited CBT centres in Abia State are technically sound for the conduct of the UTME, the Abia State Coordinator, Mr. Johnson Adebiyi, on Thursday, 27th October, 2022, met with all CBT Centre Proprietors and their Technical Personnel in the State at St. Anthony Comprehensive Secondary School, Aba. In his welcome address, Mr. Adebiyi, thanked the Proprietor of the host centre, Elder G.E. Agbai, for hosting the meeting. He said the meeting was organised to discuss modalities for instituting technical partnership among CBT centres so as to address underperforming areas in the Key Performance Indicators Dashboard for accredited CBT centres adding that such technical partnership initiative is within the ambit of the operational guidelines of the Board.
According to him, the initiative will enable CBT centres to synergise to achieve results none of the centres could accomplish easily or cost effectively on its own. He explained further that such a partnership would provide the added benefit of sharing expertise and resources towards finding a lasting solution to technical glitches issues usually experienced during the UTME. Mr. Adebiyi stressed that the remarkable achievements recorded by the Abia State Office in its operational processes made it imperative and worthwhile for CBT c entre s to enter into technical partnership noting that cross-fertilisation of ideas among centres is the way to go especially if they are to effectively address identified gaps in their operations.
The State Coordinator decried the glaring underperforming areas in the KPI Dashboard for CBT centres in the State as elicited through the quarterly review of their operational activities, which the intended synergy was meant to address. He also reminded the centres of the need to abide strictly with the rules of engagement of the Board and urged them to be fair and transparent in their dealings with the Board and candidates. One of such ways, he said, is to display the list of service and portal charges of the Board at strategic places within their facilities. In his vote of thanks, the host, Elder Agbai, on behalf of his colleagues, expressed appreciation to the State Coordinator for his sensitisation drive promising to leverage on the technical partnership initiative to deliver optimal service delivery going forward.
NATAP-M AWARDS: JAMB COMMISSIONS DIGITALIZED EQUIPMENT, VEHICLES AT FEDERAL UNIVERSITY, LAFIA
The management and staff of the Federal University, Lafia , Nasarawa State, were in festive mood on Thursday, 3rd November, 2022, when the Joint Admissions and M a t r i c u l a t i o n B o a r d , ( J A M B ) commissioned various capital projects on its campus in Lafia. The projects, which included Digitalized Archives for the Human Resources and Academic Affairs Divisions of the University and two operational vehicles were commissioned by the Registrar, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, who was represented by the Ag. Director, Lafia Zonal Office, Mr. Chidebe Achunine.
The projects were executed with the proceeds of the National Tertiary Admissions Performance Merit (NATAPM) Awards recently won by the University as the most improved institution in gender balance. The NATAP-M Awards was introduced by the Board in 2018 to encourage tertiary institutions in Nigeria to be more committed to policy guidelines on admissions. Three academic years down the line, the Board had doled out millions of naira to deserving higher institutions after undergoing rigorous eligibility assessment protocols. At the 2020 Edition, which was held at the International Conference Centre (ICC), Abuja, on 21st July, 2022, the university had carted away the grand prize of seventy-five million naira (₦75,000,000.00) in the gender balance category.
At the commissioning ceremony, the Vice-Chancellor of the institution, Prof. Shehu Abdur-rahman, expressed appreciation to JAMB for instituting the Award. In his words, “We really appreciate JAMB for introducing the NATAP-M Awards and we are determined to win more of it especially in other categories in the future.” The Registrar commended the institution for utilizing the prize money judiciously adding that the Board only provided the fund and was not involved in the award of contracts for the commissioned projects.
JAMB DISTRIBUTES READING TEXTS TO PUBLIC SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN ZAMFARA
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), in line with its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative, has donated a total of one thousand, four hundred and thirty-six copies of reading texts to public secondary schools in Zamfara State. Handing the reading texts to the representative of the State Chairman of the All Nigeria Confederation of Principal of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS), Zamfara State, Hajia Hafsat Musa Mayana, who is also the Principal, Government Girls Arabic Secondary School, Gusau, the Registrar, who was represented by the Zamfara State Coordinator, Mr. Sani Dabo, stated that JAMB has taken the initiative to boost the reading culture in all the Federal and State Secondary Schools in the State through the gesture.
He added that the move would also aid the students to hone their communication skills. The ANCOPSS Chairperson, who was represented by the Principal, Sambo Secondary School, Gusau, on behalf of members of the Association, expressed appreciation to the Registrar, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, for the gesture while using the opportunity to felicitate with him on his recent conferment with national honours.
2023 UTME: NHA, ILORIN, HOLDS STAKEHOLDERS’ MEETING
Ahead of the 2023 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), the Director, National Headquarters Annex (NHA), Ilorin, Alhaji Aliyu Jibril, has met with critical stakeholders involved in the conduct of UTME in the State.
The meeting, which was held at Socrates CBT Centre, Ilorin, on Wednesday, 26th October, 2022, had in attendance CBT Centre Administrators, Chief Technical Advisor, Technical Officers and other stakeholders. In his remarks, the Director said the sole aim of convening the meeting was to acquaint the CBT Centre Owners with the new rules of engagement and Advisories from the Board. Alh. Jubril expressed appreciation to the centre owners for their cooperation and support in past years and urged them to keep the flag flying even as he called for better preparations ahead of the 2023 UTME.
He also suggested increased collaboration among the CBT centres in the State to realise the mission and vision of the Board. The Chief Technical Advisor, Kwara State, Prof. Omenogo Mejabi, in her speech, said the major problem encountered in the State in the 2022 UTME was power supply issues, which according to her, had been adequately addressed by the renewed drive to enforce the installation of either an inverter or UPS as a backup as well as the installation of only laptops by new CBT centres to ensure seamless conduct of the examination.
The Zonal Technical Officer, in his contributions, highlighted the new innovations and expectations of the Board from the CBT centre owners.