HammerTimes News Online

Tag: Education

  • To raise teachers enrollment, we must elevate their emoluments—Expert

     

    An Education Expert, Mr Smith Bam has called for an increment in the renumeration/compensation of teachers in other to raise their enrollment in the country

    Bam was speaking at a One-Day Capacity Building Workshop for Education Correspondent Association of Nigeria (ECAN) in Abuja on Friday.

    The theme of the workshop is tagged: “A Practical Approach to Education:Challenges of Low Students Enrollment in Tertiary Institutions in Nigeria”.

    This is as he also called for an autonomy in the teaching profession to raise teachers enrollment in the country.

    He expressed displeasure over the treatment of teachers who received peanut as monthly renumeration saying that it is a ‘ponzi scheme’ for teachers who received N100,000 and less a month.

    “The teaching profession is a pitiable profession. When students don’t find role models in their teachers because of their status, then enrollment will be low.

    “We must elevate the compensation of teachers to be at par with that if a doctor and engineer because enrollment is the bye product of a sensitive society.

    “If we don’t increase the teachers enrollment and yardsticks for being a teacher, it will aggravate exams malpractices.

    “The TRCN is doing greatly to increase the parameters for teachers but this will not yield any result if teachers are not adequate motivated.

    “In Finland, you must have master’s degree before you can be allowed to teach. So we must emulate this and this will not be possible if we don’t treat teachers right,” he said.

    Bam also noted that teachers who were custodian of knowledge despise reading saying that this narrative must be changed to revive the profession.

    In the same vein, the Public Affairs Advisor, Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Dr Fabian Benjamin said the could must go back to the old age where teachers were giving their respect and dues.

    Benjamin said that in the past teachers were regarded as managers of the society because the profession was booming.

    “In 2021, the total admission was 494,000 and out of it only 30,000 were admitted to read education programmes which represented 6.77 per cent of the admission.

    “In 2022, out of the 469,000 admissions, 35,466 were admitted into COE representing 7.5 per cent.

    “In 2023, out of the 472,200 admissions, 11,735 were admitted into COE representing 2.49 per cent,” he said.

    He explained that lack of incentives, lack of professionalism, lack of good condition of service, prescription of minimum qualification for tertiary education among others were problems causing low enrollment in NCE awarding institutions.

    He recommended that Colleges of Education (COE) must be renamed advanced teachers college or institute of teaching and teachers education.

    Also, the Registrar/Chief Executive Officer of Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN), Prof. Josiah Ajiboye, commended the journalists for helping to reshape the educational space over the year.

    Ajiboye, who was represented by the council’s Head of Media, Mr Anthony Odu, promised to sustain the collaboration for the upward movement of education activities in the country.

    “This is the fifth edition of this training and it has been successful over the years.

    “All we have done together before now and after now will give us reasons to strengthen us for upward movement of the education activities,”he said.

    Meanwhile, the Chairman of ECAN, Mr Chuks Ukwuata, said that teaching profession is bedevilled by so many challenges, hence the need for journalists to be acquainted with mandates of the various agencies in the sector to help tackle some of the challenges.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the workshop was sponsored by the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN).(NAN)

  • To raise teachers enrollment, we must elevate their emoluments—Expert

     

    An Education Expert, Mr Smith Bam has called for an increment in the renumeration/compensation of teachers in other to raise their enrollment in the country

    Bam was speaking at a One-Day Capacity Building Workshop for Education Correspondent Association of Nigeria (ECAN) in Abuja on Friday.

    The theme of the workshop is tagged: “A Practical Approach to Education:Challenges of Low Students Enrollment in Tertiary Institutions in Nigeria”.

    This is as he also called for an autonomy in the teaching profession to raise teachers enrollment in the country.

    He expressed displeasure over the treatment of teachers who received peanut as monthly renumeration saying that it is a ‘ponzi scheme’ for teachers who received N100,000 and less a month.

    “The teaching profession is a pitiable profession. When students don’t find role models in their teachers because of their status, then enrollment will be low.

    “We must elevate the compensation of teachers to be at par with that if a doctor and engineer because enrollment is the bye product of a sensitive society.

    “If we don’t increase the teachers enrollment and yardsticks for being a teacher, it will aggravate exams malpractices.

    “The TRCN is doing greatly to increase the parameters for teachers but this will not yield any result if teachers are not adequate motivated.

    “In Finland, you must have master’s degree before you can be allowed to teach. So we must emulate this and this will not be possible if we don’t treat teachers right,” he said.

    Bam also noted that teachers who were custodian of knowledge despise reading saying that this narrative must be changed to revive the profession.

    In the same vein, the Public Affairs Advisor, Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Dr Fabian Benjamin said the could must go back to the old age where teachers were giving their respect and dues.

    Benjamin said that in the past teachers were regarded as managers of the society because the profession was booming.

    “In 2021, the total admission was 494,000 and out of it only 30,000 were admitted to read education programmes which represented 6.77 per cent of the admission.

    “In 2022, out of the 469,000 admissions, 35,466 were admitted into COE representing 7.5 per cent.

    “In 2023, out of the 472,200 admissions, 11,735 were admitted into COE representing 2.49 per cent,” he said.

    He explained that lack of incentives, lack of professionalism, lack of good condition of service, prescription of minimum qualification for tertiary education among others were problems causing low enrollment in NCE awarding institutions.

    He recommended that Colleges of Education (COE) must be renamed advanced teachers college or institute of teaching and teachers education.

    Also, the Registrar/Chief Executive Officer of Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN), Prof. Josiah Ajiboye, commended the journalists for helping to reshape the educational space over the year.

    Ajiboye, who was represented by the council’s Head of Media, Mr Anthony Odu, promised to sustain the collaboration for the upward movement of education activities in the country.

    “This is the fifth edition of this training and it has been successful over the years.

    “All we have done together before now and after now will give us reasons to strengthen us for upward movement of the education activities,”he said.

    Meanwhile, the Chairman of ECAN, Mr Chuks Ukwuata, said that teaching profession is bedevilled by so many challenges, hence the need for journalists to be acquainted with mandates of the various agencies in the sector to help tackle some of the challenges.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the workshop was sponsored by the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN).(NAN)

  • FG to mop-up 10.2m out-of school children in 4 years

     

    The Federal Government on Tuesday, pledged its readiness to mop-up the 10.2 million out-of-school children from the streets to classrooms by 2027.

    The Minister of State for Education, Dr Yusuf Sununu, disclosed this when he paid an official visit to the newly inaugurated headquarters of the National Commission for Almajiri and Out-of-School Children (NCAOOSC) in Abuja.

    Sununu said that in spite of conflicting data on the number of out-of-school children, the Federal Government would see to it that the number was reduced to the barest minimum.

    According to him, reducing the number will enable us as a country to a have better literacy rate and the citizens can contribute meaningfully to the growth of the country.

    “Data has been our challenge in this country but we have a working data ranging from 10.2 million to 20 million out-of-school children.

    “Whichever one, though we also have constraints of challenge as regards financial resources but the work plan of the commission itself is huge.

    “We will base our data on the Universal Basic Education Commission’s (UBEC) data of 10.2 million.

    “We intend that in the next four years, we will be able to mop-up 2.5 million children back to school, each year.

    “And also hoping that in the next four years, we should be able to take all the out-of- school children in the country or 50 per cent of the 20 million data,’’ he said.

    The minister added that in reducing the number, stakeholders must work through a multifaceted and multi-dimensional approach to make history.

    “ We have fast tracked our infrastructural development in many states and have also increased the number of classrooms to accommodate the number.

    “We are also going to launch a radio station to assist the commission on periodic lessons.

    “The issues of human resources for education have also been addressed as President Bola Tinubu has approved the establishment of more colleges of education to increase the number of teachers.,’’ he added.

    Sununu noted that the ministry would be introducing incentives for students who desired to pursue education programmes in the colleges of education and universities.

    He added that no almajiri school would be shut down but that a census would be taken to develop guidelines for reviewing curriculum in almajiri schools.

    “We are going to make the almajiri schools better for the students and the teachers. We are going to integrate basic education into the schools to make it functional as a formal education setting,’’ he said.

    He, therefore, warned that the ministry would not tolerate anyone that would want to serve as a bottleneck to the commission’s attainment of its mandate.

    Meanwhile, the Executive Secretary of NCAOOSC, Dr Sha’aban Sharada said the commission would stick to its mandate of reversing the ugly trend of out-of-school children as well as transforming the almajiri education in the country.

    Sharada assured to live above board in ensuring effective delivery of statutory mandate of the commission.

    He urged stakeholders, religious, traditional and community leaders as well as civil society organisations to forge partnerships and develop comprehensive strategies to tackle the menace of out-of-school children.

    He, therefore, commended former president Muhammadu Buhari for accenting the bill for the establishment of the commission and President Tinubu for the political will in ensuring the take-off of the commission. (NAN)

  • FG to mop-up 10.2m out-of school children in 4 years

     

    The Federal Government on Tuesday, pledged its readiness to mop-up the 10.2 million out-of-school children from the streets to classrooms by 2027.

    The Minister of State for Education, Dr Yusuf Sununu, disclosed this when he paid an official visit to the newly inaugurated headquarters of the National Commission for Almajiri and Out-of-School Children (NCAOOSC) in Abuja.

    Sununu said that in spite of conflicting data on the number of out-of-school children, the Federal Government would see to it that the number was reduced to the barest minimum.

    According to him, reducing the number will enable us as a country to a have better literacy rate and the citizens can contribute meaningfully to the growth of the country.

    “Data has been our challenge in this country but we have a working data ranging from 10.2 million to 20 million out-of-school children.

    “Whichever one, though we also have constraints of challenge as regards financial resources but the work plan of the commission itself is huge.

    “We will base our data on the Universal Basic Education Commission’s (UBEC) data of 10.2 million.

    “We intend that in the next four years, we will be able to mop-up 2.5 million children back to school, each year.

    “And also hoping that in the next four years, we should be able to take all the out-of- school children in the country or 50 per cent of the 20 million data,’’ he said.

    The minister added that in reducing the number, stakeholders must work through a multifaceted and multi-dimensional approach to make history.

    “ We have fast tracked our infrastructural development in many states and have also increased the number of classrooms to accommodate the number.

    “We are also going to launch a radio station to assist the commission on periodic lessons.

    “The issues of human resources for education have also been addressed as President Bola Tinubu has approved the establishment of more colleges of education to increase the number of teachers.,’’ he added.

    Sununu noted that the ministry would be introducing incentives for students who desired to pursue education programmes in the colleges of education and universities.

    He added that no almajiri school would be shut down but that a census would be taken to develop guidelines for reviewing curriculum in almajiri schools.

    “We are going to make the almajiri schools better for the students and the teachers. We are going to integrate basic education into the schools to make it functional as a formal education setting,’’ he said.

    He, therefore, warned that the ministry would not tolerate anyone that would want to serve as a bottleneck to the commission’s attainment of its mandate.

    Meanwhile, the Executive Secretary of NCAOOSC, Dr Sha’aban Sharada said the commission would stick to its mandate of reversing the ugly trend of out-of-school children as well as transforming the almajiri education in the country.

    Sharada assured to live above board in ensuring effective delivery of statutory mandate of the commission.

    He urged stakeholders, religious, traditional and community leaders as well as civil society organisations to forge partnerships and develop comprehensive strategies to tackle the menace of out-of-school children.

    He, therefore, commended former president Muhammadu Buhari for accenting the bill for the establishment of the commission and President Tinubu for the political will in ensuring the take-off of the commission. (NAN)

  • Insecurity: Gov. Radda seeks TETFund’s support for tertiary institutions in Katsina

     

    Gov. Dikko Radda of Katsina State on Monday requested the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) to complement the government’s efforts in tackling security challenges facing tertiary institutions in the state.

    Radda made the request when he led the Katsina state delegation on a working visit to TETFund in Abuja.

    The governor said that a lot of students had been kidnapped hence the need for the support to enable the state provide adequate infrastructure for students to learn.

    According to him, I have gone round tertiary institutions in Katsina state and I have seen the kind of interventions in the institutions as well as the building of capabilities of our lecturers.

    “We need to appreciate the Federal Government for these interventions. What could our institutions be without you?

    “The states are struggling; the country is struggling in terms of economic hardship, depreciation of naira, high food stuffs, effect on removal of subsidy.

    “The northern parts are struggling with insecurity. The resources we receive will not be adequate to address the challenges in the state. So, TETFund is a place we can come to for support.

    “We are having security threat and a lot of students have been kidnapped, so we need security in our institutions to make students learn in a conducive environment,’’ he said.

    The governor explained that the interventions would provide for the needed infrastructure for the safety of the students.

    According to him, the state is in the process of converting its ICT institution to a university of technology.

    Responding, the Executive Secretary, TETFund, Sonny Echono said that insecurity was a national issue affecting not only education but sectors of the economy.

    He promised that the necessary infrastructure would be put in place to address security challenges facing tertiary institutions in the state.

    According to him, TETFund has prioritised all the trouble spots with measures in place to address the issues.

    “Giving the expansion in tertiary institutions in recent times, I am aware we are in the process of getting University of Transportation into the mainstream of our interventions.

    “We have seven to eight institutions in the state benefiting from TETFund. Katsina is in the eyes of problems of insecurity.

    “We have already priortised Katsina in our security intervention because President Bola Tinubu is determined that in times of crisis, education must not stop.

    “The President has said that we must bring those out of school back to school, expand existing programmes and more significantly is expanding access in leveraging technology and providing for indigent students,’’ he said.

    Echono added that skills programmes must be expanded to cover the skills gap while pledging that massive plans had been put on ground to take children off the street.

    He said that the fund had commenced its intervention line for the year, saying beneficiary institutions across the country had benefitted between N1.1 billion and N1.9 billion in its intervention line.

    He advised the state Commissioner for Education to laiase with the fund in order to enlist the institutions to benefit in its interventions. (NAN)

  • Insecurity: Gov. Radda seeks TETFund’s support for tertiary institutions in Katsina

     

    Gov. Dikko Radda of Katsina State on Monday requested the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) to complement the government’s efforts in tackling security challenges facing tertiary institutions in the state.

    Radda made the request when he led the Katsina state delegation on a working visit to TETFund in Abuja.

    The governor said that a lot of students had been kidnapped hence the need for the support to enable the state provide adequate infrastructure for students to learn.

    According to him, I have gone round tertiary institutions in Katsina state and I have seen the kind of interventions in the institutions as well as the building of capabilities of our lecturers.

    “We need to appreciate the Federal Government for these interventions. What could our institutions be without you?

    “The states are struggling; the country is struggling in terms of economic hardship, depreciation of naira, high food stuffs, effect on removal of subsidy.

    “The northern parts are struggling with insecurity. The resources we receive will not be adequate to address the challenges in the state. So, TETFund is a place we can come to for support.

    “We are having security threat and a lot of students have been kidnapped, so we need security in our institutions to make students learn in a conducive environment,’’ he said.

    The governor explained that the interventions would provide for the needed infrastructure for the safety of the students.

    According to him, the state is in the process of converting its ICT institution to a university of technology.

    Responding, the Executive Secretary, TETFund, Sonny Echono said that insecurity was a national issue affecting not only education but sectors of the economy.

    He promised that the necessary infrastructure would be put in place to address security challenges facing tertiary institutions in the state.

    According to him, TETFund has prioritised all the trouble spots with measures in place to address the issues.

    “Giving the expansion in tertiary institutions in recent times, I am aware we are in the process of getting University of Transportation into the mainstream of our interventions.

    “We have seven to eight institutions in the state benefiting from TETFund. Katsina is in the eyes of problems of insecurity.

    “We have already priortised Katsina in our security intervention because President Bola Tinubu is determined that in times of crisis, education must not stop.

    “The President has said that we must bring those out of school back to school, expand existing programmes and more significantly is expanding access in leveraging technology and providing for indigent students,’’ he said.

    Echono added that skills programmes must be expanded to cover the skills gap while pledging that massive plans had been put on ground to take children off the street.

    He said that the fund had commenced its intervention line for the year, saying beneficiary institutions across the country had benefitted between N1.1 billion and N1.9 billion in its intervention line.

    He advised the state Commissioner for Education to laiase with the fund in order to enlist the institutions to benefit in its interventions. (NAN)

  • Out-of-School Children: World Bank charges govts to invest in education as FG launches commission

     

    The Representative of World Bank, Dilip Parajuli has pleaded with the federal and state governments to please put in more money for the investment of basic education to help tackle the menace of out of school children in the country.

    Parajuli, who stated this during the official launch of the newly established National Commission for Almajiri and Out of school Children Education office in Abuja on Friday, said putting in money is critical going forward for the next 10 to 20 years.

    He said: “We plead to the states to please use the money efficiently, transparently in an accountable manner, that’s also important.”

    While noting that out of 52 million children, 40 million of them cannot read at age of 10 and this is reflecting the latest learning crisis, he said, “We are very proud to supporting 17 focus states in the north and a result of that we supported five million Almajiri kids to get opportunity for formal education but that results have to be sustained going forward.”

    Speaking at the event Minister of Education, Prof Tahir Mamman said it is time for action and implementation as the talking time is over.

    “It is our plan that by the end of the year or along the way, the mileages will be obvious and clear to the direction we are heading and it is not only this commission who is involved in the handling of out of school children, there are three other commissions that has some responsibilities and what we want to do is some coordination to ensure that there is no wastages and high waste bureaucracy,” he said.

    “Like I always said, we plan too long and we talk too long with very little results in critical areas particularly in the areas of education and more so is at the area of basic education, so this is the time for us to face squarely and forcefully this monster which is causing problems everywhere,” he said.

     

    Earlier, the Executive Secretary of the commission, Dr Sha’aban Ibrahim said the commission is dedicated for action on the reduction of the high number of out of school children and the integration of Quranic and Sangaya education

    “With the opening of this headquarters, we stand as a symbol of hope, a beacon of opportunity for millions who have been denied their right to access to education. President Tinubu Renewed hope to return 10 million out of school children back to school by 2027 is a challenge we did not only accept, but embraced with dogged determination,” he said.

    He however said, the road ahead may be long, but the destination is clear in Nigeria where every child regardless of circumstance has the chance to learn to grow and to contribute to Nations progress.

  • Out-of-School Children: World Bank charges govts to invest in education as FG launches commission

     

    The Representative of World Bank, Dilip Parajuli has pleaded with the federal and state governments to please put in more money for the investment of basic education to help tackle the menace of out of school children in the country.

    Parajuli, who stated this during the official launch of the newly established National Commission for Almajiri and Out of school Children Education office in Abuja on Friday, said putting in money is critical going forward for the next 10 to 20 years.

    He said: “We plead to the states to please use the money efficiently, transparently in an accountable manner, that’s also important.”

    While noting that out of 52 million children, 40 million of them cannot read at age of 10 and this is reflecting the latest learning crisis, he said, “We are very proud to supporting 17 focus states in the north and a result of that we supported five million Almajiri kids to get opportunity for formal education but that results have to be sustained going forward.”

    Speaking at the event Minister of Education, Prof Tahir Mamman said it is time for action and implementation as the talking time is over.

    “It is our plan that by the end of the year or along the way, the mileages will be obvious and clear to the direction we are heading and it is not only this commission who is involved in the handling of out of school children, there are three other commissions that has some responsibilities and what we want to do is some coordination to ensure that there is no wastages and high waste bureaucracy,” he said.

    “Like I always said, we plan too long and we talk too long with very little results in critical areas particularly in the areas of education and more so is at the area of basic education, so this is the time for us to face squarely and forcefully this monster which is causing problems everywhere,” he said.

     

    Earlier, the Executive Secretary of the commission, Dr Sha’aban Ibrahim said the commission is dedicated for action on the reduction of the high number of out of school children and the integration of Quranic and Sangaya education

    “With the opening of this headquarters, we stand as a symbol of hope, a beacon of opportunity for millions who have been denied their right to access to education. President Tinubu Renewed hope to return 10 million out of school children back to school by 2027 is a challenge we did not only accept, but embraced with dogged determination,” he said.

    He however said, the road ahead may be long, but the destination is clear in Nigeria where every child regardless of circumstance has the chance to learn to grow and to contribute to Nations progress.

  • INEC suspends elections in Kano, others over abduction of officials, electoral violence

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has halted the in-progress re-run elections in 20 polling units across Enugu, Akwa-Ibom, and Kano States.

    INEC said this was due to disruptions by political thugs and abduction of election officials.

    The commission disclosed this in a statement by Sam Olumekun, National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, on Saturday in Abuja.

    The affected constituencies according to Mr Olumekun include Ikono/Ini Federal Constituency, Akwa Ibom; Enugu South 1 State Constituency, Enugu State; and Kunchi/Tsanyawa State Constituency, Kano State.

    Olumekun said that elections in two polling units: Village Hall, EdemUrua 003 in Ini LGA and Village Hall Mbiabong Ikot Udo 003 in Ikono LGA, where all election materials were carted away by hoodlums, have been suspended.

    In Enugu South 1 State Constituency, Enugu State l, Mr Olumekun also announced the suspension of elections in all eight polling units where the original results sheets were not available for inspection by voters before the commencement of polls.

    For Kunchi/Tsanyawa State Constituency, Kano State, he said that the commission also suspended elections in all 10 polling units in Kunchi LGA due to invasion, vandalisation and disruption by thugs.

    According to him, the decision of the commission aligns with the provisions of Section 24(3) of the Electoral Act, 2022.

    “Further, necessary measures for the affected constituencies will be announced after the commission’s meeting on Monday.

    “INEC invites the security agencies to investigate the incidents, while the commission commits to thoroughly interrogating any breaches involving its officials,” Olumekun said.

    The commission had earlier said it was monitoring and investigating reported cases of disruption in the ongoing re-run and by-elections in the three states.

  • INEC suspends elections in Kano, others over abduction of officials, electoral violence

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has halted the in-progress re-run elections in 20 polling units across Enugu, Akwa-Ibom, and Kano States.

    INEC said this was due to disruptions by political thugs and abduction of election officials.

    The commission disclosed this in a statement by Sam Olumekun, National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, on Saturday in Abuja.

    The affected constituencies according to Mr Olumekun include Ikono/Ini Federal Constituency, Akwa Ibom; Enugu South 1 State Constituency, Enugu State; and Kunchi/Tsanyawa State Constituency, Kano State.

    Olumekun said that elections in two polling units: Village Hall, EdemUrua 003 in Ini LGA and Village Hall Mbiabong Ikot Udo 003 in Ikono LGA, where all election materials were carted away by hoodlums, have been suspended.

    In Enugu South 1 State Constituency, Enugu State l, Mr Olumekun also announced the suspension of elections in all eight polling units where the original results sheets were not available for inspection by voters before the commencement of polls.

    For Kunchi/Tsanyawa State Constituency, Kano State, he said that the commission also suspended elections in all 10 polling units in Kunchi LGA due to invasion, vandalisation and disruption by thugs.

    According to him, the decision of the commission aligns with the provisions of Section 24(3) of the Electoral Act, 2022.

    “Further, necessary measures for the affected constituencies will be announced after the commission’s meeting on Monday.

    “INEC invites the security agencies to investigate the incidents, while the commission commits to thoroughly interrogating any breaches involving its officials,” Olumekun said.

    The commission had earlier said it was monitoring and investigating reported cases of disruption in the ongoing re-run and by-elections in the three states.