Reopening: Oyo reviews academic calendar

By Wale Oyewale

*Seyi Makonde, Governor, Oyo State

In conformity with the agreement reached by the Federal Government and the West African Examination Council on the commencement of the 2020 West African School Certificate Examination, the Oyo State Government has announced an adjustment to its school reopening.

This indication was given in a statement made available to journalists, on Friday, signed by the Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Olasunkanmi Olaleye.

The statement indicated that lessons would continue for Senior Secondary School 3 class till the commencement of the examination. 

The West African Secondary School Certificate Examination is August 17.

The statement added that “Students would go on Sallah break on Wednesday, July 29 and would be back in school on Monday August 3, while Junior Secondary School 3 and Primary 6 classes were asked to proceed on holiday as earlier scheduled and resume for their examinations on the 10th and 20th of August respectively.”

It urged stakeholders in the education sector in the state the new academic schedules was approved by the State Executive Council on July 21.

“On behalf of His Excellency, Governor Seyi Makinde, I wish to appreciate all stakeholders in the education sector for your unalloyed support and hardwork during the preparation for the resumption of academic activities in our schools.

“Your dedication to work, love for our students and personal involvement in the training and observance of COVID-19 protocols in the bid to contain Coronavirus infection among our school children is unparalleled. COVID-19 is real and unabating at the moment. We shall, however, defeat the virus with science, diligence and courage.

“I cannot but must appreciate our teachers that took part in the revision exercise given to our students in terminal classes, that is SS3, JSS3 and Primary 6. I pray that all our efforts at recording success in all examinations by our students will not be in vain.”

COVID-19: Parents, Caleb varsity at loggerheads over fees

By Iyabo Lawal

*Gateway to Caleb University Campus

As the coronavirus pandemic rages, aggrieved parents and the management of Caleb University, Imota, are at loggerheads over fees being charged by the school. The parents described the fees as outrageous.

Already, over 100 of the parents have written several complaint letters to the management to draw their attention to the irregularities going on in the school.

A parent to a 100-level Accounting student at the university, Olaoluwa Ogundemi, said the school mandated parents to make full payment for the session, even when the institution moved from physical to e-learning as a result of the pandemic. Ogundemi said the matter has been on since March when the Federal Government directed schools to shut down in the wake of the pandemic.

This issue started in March. Some of us live abroad and we have been trying to get a hold of the school after they said they would start online lectures. Not only did they charge full school fees, they allegedly charged for services not provided such as accommodation, internet, library, hospital and others,” he said.

In a letter sent to the institution by some concerned parents, issues around the welfare of students and rights of the parents were highlighted.

In the letter signed by 121 parents and made available to reporters, they raised concerns over demand for payment of full tuition during the COVID-19 pandemic; payment for hostel accommodation and other services that were not provided as a result of COVID-19; commencement of learning through an ‘ineffective and abysmal online learning portal’ without due consideration of internet network connectivity, bandwidth capacity, and more importantly, the cost of data for already financially subdued parents.”

Other issues raised were migration of students to the online platform without conversations with parents and guardians; the university making decisions on a “parent forum,” which comprises less than seven per cent of the university and charging parents and guardians N20, 000 per session for a forum which 90 per cent of them are not part of.

Ogundemi said when he contacted the vice chancellor on the issues and how parents could be added to the parents’ forum on WhatsApp, the school claimed the group was full.

“If the school has over 4,000 students and its claiming that the group is full with just about seven per cent population of parents, part of which are staff who have children there, then the action calls for concern,” Ogundemi stated.

Another parent, Femi Ojikutu, said the school failed to carry them along on decisions made about the students and allegedly imposed decisions made by a few on the larger body.

Mr Ojikutu alleged that the school has no official channel of communicating developments directly to parents, but rather through the students.

Emmanuel Aderemi, a parent of a 200-level student at the university, alleged that the school denied students access to the online learning platform except they pay upfront.

Aderemi said this was without consideration to the economic hardship many parents are experiencing as a result of COVID-19. When contacted, the university spokesperson, Elvis Otobo, claimed in a statement that the institution had successfully conducted academic training and other regular activities on the university’s online platform, with student’s enrolment on the e-learning platform moving from eight per cent on April 20 to almost 100 per cent by the beginning of July 2020.

The statement read in part, “Caleb University emerged one of the selected institutions to commence e-learning without interrupting its academic calendar. The institution early in the semester granted all students at undergraduate and post-graduate levels as well as lecturers, free access to various e-library resources to enhance research, learning, and teaching experience and capacity.

“Numerous other social, political, and spiritual activities are also going on virtually. The Student Representatives Council (SRC) elections are ongoing, with students currently campaigning to solicit for votes into various positions. Activities will culminate in manifesto presentation and the inauguration of the new executive virtually.”

The statement also said the university, in a bid to keep up with godly character, started an “optional online prayer meeting,” which holds once a month.

On his part, the solicitor for Caleb University, Femi Falana, reminded that Nigerian universities accept tuition and other fees at the commencement of the session, such that even when schools are closed, no refund is made.

Falana said there is a recognised parent body in the university through which all complaints could be lodged to the school, adding that the school would not recognise any other parents’ body.

If you don’t like people on that (parent) platform, you throw them out democratically. They said they briefed a lawyer who wrote to the school. We replied the lawyer that he cannot act for parents whose identities are not disclosed.

“If these parents are genuine and they want to defend their children, it is something they should take up,” he said. When asked about the challenges posed by the limit to the number of parents that can be admitted on the parents’ forum, Mr Falana said every school has rules and regulations guiding it.

“Again the way it is done, if they want an all-comers forum, such that every parent must be there, no problem, but if the body is run in a representative capacity, you are now asking for a change that we want every parent to be on the forum, I can’t see the school opposing that.

“But for now, there is a channel of communication. If you don’t like the forum, then tell the school that the forum is not representing you. If you love your children, you should be ready to stand by them,” Falana added.

Commissioner Worried Over Poor ICT Compliance by Nigerian Teachers

By Ibukunoluwa Oluwadamilade

*Prof. Kate Omenugha

Prof. Kate Omenugha, Anambra Commissioner for Basic Education, on Friday said the government was worried by the poor Information and Communication Technology (ICT) compliance level of teachers in the state.

Omenugha said this while addressing the media on the E-Conference on Education being organised to prepare stakeholders for the emerging challenges in post–COVID-19 education.

She said about 4,000 participants were expected at the conference with the theme: ”Facing the New Normal: Post-COVID-19 Education in Anambra state.”

Omenugha regretted that most teachers in Anambra did not have internet enabled gadgets like computer, tablet or Android phones needed for ICT.

According to her, the state is working hard to upgrade Information and Communication Technology knowledge of teachers to position them for post-COVID-19 teaching and learning era.

”The online meeting is the first in the series of activities geared towards preparing education stakeholders for the emerging challenges in post COVID-19 education.

”I understand that majority of the teachers in the state do not have android phone and lack ICT knowledge, I wonder how they can effectively cope in the present education delivery.

“They do not have the android phone not because they don’t have the money to buy but because they do not see it as a priority.

“The conference would be used to create the consciousness and understanding among teachers as well as make them to appreciate the importance of android phone and ICT knowledge.

“Any teacher who is not ICT compliant today will not be able to fit into the present education,” she said.

Omenugha said the conference was designed to equip students and teachers ahead of the schools resumption.

She said that it was also designed to stimulate innovative skills among teachers and boost the education sector.

Omenugha said every teacher needed self-development to move forward in the profession and ICT, which was the only way for them to develop, especially during post COVID-19 era.

Mrs Chinwe Nweke, Managing Director, Integral Development Konsult (IDK), an ICT company and partner to Anambra government, said the conference would be streamed live on social media, Facebook, Twitter, Zoom and YouTube among others.

Nweke urged teachers, parents and students to hook-up to the conference.

She said it was time for teachers to start thinking globally and acting locally, adding that government was being proactive by coming up with innovations to upgrade education system to ICT based.

Mrs Sally Mbanefo, Commissioner for Tertiary Education and Science Education, was also present at the event.

WASSCE: Ogun Issues New Directives to School Teachers

By Don Silas

*Ronke Soyombo

The Ogun State government has directed all secondary school teachers in the state to resume on Monday, August 3 ahead of the West African Senior Secondary Schools Examination (WASSCE) scheduled for August 17.

The Special Adviser to the Governor on Primary and Secondary Education, Mrs Ronke Soyombo, gave this directive in Abeokuta on Friday.

Soyombo quoted Gov. Dapo Abiodun as saying that the aim was to enable the teachers to work with their principals in preparation for students’ resumption on August 4.

Abiodun said the directive was for teachers in public and private schools to enable them to assist in the distribution of materials provided by the state government for the examinations.

He said all guidelines stipulated by the government for the students’ resumption were to be followed strictly by all school administrators.

He enjoined all stakeholders to cooperate with the state government to ensure a safe return to schools.

“The Ogun state government wishes to inform the general public that all Senior Secondary School Three students both in public and private schools will resume school on August 4 in readiness for intensive revision classes ahead of their WASSCE.

“The revision exercise is being put in place to cover the academic gaps and lapses for students that could not follow the virtual classes tagged Ogundigiclass put in place by the state government while they were at home.

“The concerned students are to resume their individual schools on Tuesday, August 4,” he said.

DAILY POST recalls that this is coming after the Federal Government had approved the reopening of secondary schools across the country.

COVID-19 fallouts: Time to take quality of teachers serious —Ajiboye, TRCN boss

By Adesina Wahab

*Prof. Josiah Ajiboye

THE Registrar, Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria, TRCN, Prof. Josiah Ajiboye, has said with the new normal the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic is imposing on education globally, it has become expedient to take the quality of teachers to mould our future leaders serious. Ajiboye who stated this in a chat with Vanguard, said the new normal meant that a professional teacher must be well grounded and should know his onions, to be able to fit into the system.

He added that it was in the light of this that the TRCN was stepping up its activities to rid the system of quacks and assist those who want to be trained and certificated as professional teachers. He said: “In the light of this, the Governing Council on Friday approved that our Professional Qualifying Examination should hold from July 23-25 despite the challenges of the time.

The exam will hold in 48 CBT centres across the country. About 44, 000 candidates are to sit for the examination. Candidates have been batched to avoid crowd. They are to come to the exam venue at the precise time allocated to them. Each candidate will receive an sms to know the time of his/her examination. “Arrangements have been made to provide infra-red thermometers in all CBT centres. Also candidates are to wear their face masks and observe all other COVID-19 compliance requirements.” The exam is just one hour.

The government is conscious of the need to have competent and qualified teachers man our schools. This is even more important now that we are having a new normal with regards to education. While we are stepping up our activities to allow as many people as possible take our exam, we call on those teaching now but who have not been licensed by the TRCN to key in now.”

“When schools resume, we are going to continue our monitoring and assessment of teachers across the country. Education is too vital a sector to be left in the hands of quacks,” he said.

SOURCE: Vanguard

Lagos Opens Boarding Houses as Schools Resume Next Week

• Schools to be cleared by Quality Assurance Office

By Kofoworola Belo-osagie

*Folashade Adefisayo

The Lagos State Ministry of Education has approved for its boarding schools to receive SS3 pupils resuming next Monday.

In a statement announcing the resumption of schools for SS3 and Technical College 3 students, the Education Commissioner, Mrs. Folasade Adefisayo said day and boarding students would be expected back in school August 3 for revision ahead of the West African School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) starting August 17.

“Only SS3 and Technical Study Three (TEC3) students are permitted to resume at day and boarding Schools on August 3 for revision classes and examinations,” she said.

Lagos State runs 16 model colleges and upgraded secondary schools that have boarding houses.

Private schools are also to resume for SS3 students only.

As schools resume, the Office of Education Quality Assurance (OEQA) would commence an assessment to clear them fit to be opened.

Director-General, OEQA, Mrs. Abiola Seriki-Ayeni said at a press briefing in Alausa on Wednesday that all schools have been directed to fill self-assessments forms based on resumption guidelines, which Quality Assurance would evaluate before visiting the schools.  She said schools that pass the assessment would then have their status changed from ‘Open’ to ‘Cleared’.

“The Lagos Sate Government, Office of Education Quality Assurance (OEQA) is realizing guideliens for the safe reopening of schools and learning facilities to safeguard learners, teacerhs, workers and parents during this time.  And to realise the objective, the OEQA evaluators will be visiting private schools across the six education districts to ensure compliance.

Few of what to expect include: thorough fumigation of all school environment including classrooms, chairs and desks, provision of running water with soap, provision of hand sanitizer, wearing of facemask, avoiding close contact with anyone showing symptoms of respiratory illness, and maintaining social distance,” she said.

Mrs. Seriki-Ayeni also said schools would be required to show their blended learning and distance learning plans in case in-person class resumption is interrupted again.

When asked what would befall schools that do not comply with filling the assessment, the DG said they would be closed down.  However, she said pupils in terminal classes would still write their examinations.

“Schools that refuse to fill the assessment forms will be shut down.  But children will sit for WAEC.  The schools will be punished separately,” she said.

Nevertheless, while schools make effort to ensure learning continues, she said the state would also launch programmes to cater to all learners depending on their access to technology.

Schools’ Reopening: Will ASUU Resume?

By Abbas Datti

*Adamu Adamu, Minister of Education

Without adequate preventive measures, provision of safety facilities that will protect children from contracting coronavirus, it may not be totally safe for children to resume in their respective schools.

I share the same opinion with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) in this regard.

With listing of all conditions and guidelines for schools’ resumption, government must do all it can to ensure proper compliance with all the precautions and guidelines.

On the other hand, it is also interesting to note that when the government announced its decision to reopen schools exclusively for basic and secondary students, the announcement offered university and tertiary education students as well a glimmer hope for resumption of teaching and learning activities.

But in a bewildering contrast, hope for resumption of academic activities at the tertiary education level has been destroyed by ASUU’s declaration that they’ll not resume even if federal government insists on reopening of schools.

This implies that resumption might eventually be ASUU’s weapon to further put pressure on government to meet its demands. It suggests that government should expect no concession from the ASUU.

This must have created a general feeling of resentment on the part of the students. Let me confess that I whereas I believe in government’s responsibility to do all what it can to resolve this issue, recent ASUU’s position can only weaken the government’s determination to end the strike.

As it is, both ASUU and the government lack synergy, clear and explicit commitments to end this strike. Worse still, both sides have refused to even continue with talks that might give hope about resolution.

When will the minister of education, the labour minister reconvene another meeting with ASUU for continued discussions and further deliberations?

If we can continue with all our activities with restrictive measures against the devastating scourge of Covid-19 in place, why can’t we summon a meeting to continue the deliberations? Obviously, this failure has continued to generate considerable frustration and concern.

Though I believe and also admit that government has made enough concessions by releasing the salaries of those who refused to be captured into IPPIS, but I believe also that with sincere and responsible commitments from the labour minister, education minister, and the AGF, a definite solution will eventually be achieved.

I must admit the fact that ASUU had always maintained bitter and messy relationships with successive governments, but to be blunt, I felt totally disappointed with ASUU’s flat refusal to give room for further reconciliatory discussions.

With the Committee of Vice-chancellors of Private Universities (CVPU) struggling to be given approval to open their institutions for them to keep pace with their respective academic calendars, I wonder what ASUU hopes to gain from this strike?

If this request is granted as requested by the Committee of Vice-Chancellors of Private Universities from the National Universities Commission, (NUC,) what do you expect to hear from students of public universities?

What else do you say when only children of the poor are the ones writhing in anguish over ASUU’s persistent strike?

Does it not sound strange for ASUU to be touting itself as body championing the cause of good university education for public university students?

With this declaration coming on the heels of government’s preparation to reopen schools, many must have felt disappointed with ASUU’s uncompromising statement.

Moreover, the most pressing issue is whether the defiant ASUU will give room for further negotiations.

• Abbas Datti writes from Kano.

Varsity Union Advocates More Allocation to Education

The National Welfare Officer of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Dr. Stella-Maris Okey has lamented over the poor state of infrastructure across Nigerian universities.

She said it had defeated the philosophy of education in Nigeria which was meant to be qualitative, comprehensive, functional and relevant to the needs of the society.

Presenting a paper titled “Poor infrastructure in Universities: A validation of ASUU struggles” during a virtual workshop organised by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) of the Federal University of Technology, Minna branch, the Don said lack of infrastructure had hampered the ability of universities to train graduates to meet the demands of the Nigerian society and the world at large.

“History has it that Nigeria was a country that produced world-class higher education graduates that competed with their counterparts around the world. Hard work was their watch word. But, today the story is different. That is why it is history,” the doyenne of Educational Management enthused.

Okey praised ASUU for being at the forefront of demanding for proper funding and revitalization of public universities, especially in terms of providing adequate infrastructure to aid effective academic exercise.

She noted that funding was the heart of education since it touches on various aspects of planning, facilities, equipment and recruitment of competent teachers.

Nigeria to Spend N64bn on Varsity Fence

By Friday Olokor

THE Federal Government has begun the construction of the 27.3-kilometre perimeter fence for the University of Maiduguri to check incessant attacks by Boko Haram terrorists.

The project, which is valued at N64bn, is to stop the terrorists who have been penetrating the North-East part of the institution’s campus.

Chairman, Academic Staff Union of Universities in UNIMAID, Dr Dani Mamman, who stated these in an interview with The PUNCH, said only the western and southern parts of UNIMAID campus were initially fenced.

He said, “The UNIMAID perimeter fence is still being constructed. The Federal Government approved N64 bn for the construction of 27.3-kilometre perimeter fence for UNIMAID. That place is very porous.

“The ASUU UNIMAID wrote to the Minister of Education through the ASUU president after an explosion during which we lost a professor and seven other staff.”

Lagos to improve diction of public pupils

By Samson Folarin

*Babajide Sanwo-Olu

The Lagos State Government has promised to support public speaking and diction tasks in public schools to boost the confidence of pupils in the state.

The state Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, spoke at the handover of 10,000 units of Spelling Bee dictionaries to be distributed in public schools across the state.

The donation was made by the New Era Foundation – organiser of the Spelling Bee competition.

According to Sanwo-Olu, the competition, which holds yearly for secondary school pupils, has left lasting legacy and footprints on education in the state.

He explained that the competition, since inception in 2000, promoted access to quality learning and offered secondary school pupils from humble backgrounds opportunity to be on the same pedestal with their mates from rich homes.

The governor said the English language competition had also transformed lives through the changes it brought to public speaking and vocabulary spelling.

He commended the wife of a former governor of the state and the brains behind the competition, Mrs Oluremi Tinubu, describing her as a “caring mother”.

Sanwo-Olu said, “The donation is simple but historic. This is another demonstration of Senator Tinubu’s love for our children and education system. We will see the footprints of this intervention both in primary and secondary schools, because English learning is a strong tool that can define what students become in future.”

Mrs Tinubu urged the government to focus on education to prevent the COVID-19 pandemic from eroding the progress the state had recorded since 1999.

 “The dictionary contains all words used in the Spelling Bee competition from its inception to date. It is our hope that it will help improve vocabularies and dictions of the public school children,” she added.