Teenager Irahoze Diello is quietly confident about today’s maths test. Even without books, shoes, a safe place to study or a morning meal, he has worked hard to prepare for this moment. He just hopes the rain will hold off long enough for him to complete it.
“When it rains everything gets wet,” says Irahoze, 14, who fled Burundi and now studies beneath the trees in Tanzania’s Nduta refugee camp. “When it’s windy, the branches fall and when the sun is strong it’s too hot. Sometimes we have to stop classes.”
He is one of about 200 refugee children who attend Furaha Primary School, where a lack of funding means classes are held in the open air. Benches and blackboards are dotted among the trees, creating makeshift classrooms. For every three boys who attend, there is just one girl, and with little food to eat at home many pupils struggle to concentrate.
Source : http://www.unhcr.org/news/stories/2018/1/5a37ac6d4/refugee-children-battle-education-tanzania.html
Teachers’ union joins criticism of Toby Young appointment
Representatives of nearly half a million teachers and lecturers have written to the education secretary, Justine Greening, expressing concern over her decision to appoint Toby Young – whom they accuse of sexist and homophobic behaviour – to a high-profile government position.
The move by the National Education Union will add to the pressure on Greening over her decision to place Young, a journalist and free schools advocate, on the board of the new higher education watchdog, the Office for Students (OfS).
Young has already faced claims that sexually explicit remarks he has publicly made about female former work colleagues and other women make him unfit for public office.
Source : Theguardian
Nutritionists Advocate Education, Counseling to Fight Infant Mortality
In an offer to diminish Nigeria’s high newborn child death rate, specialists have called for accentuation to be set on training and directing on the significance of sustenance for youngsters, beginning with selective bosom sustaining.
They said the majority of the passings amid early stages were connected to poor sustenance, thus the requirement for Nigerians to be educated on the significance of nourishment for their newborn children and kids.
The specialists talked as of late, amid a ‘Symposium and Convocation of Post Graduate Program in Pediatric Nutrition’, an instructive activity upheld by Nestle Nutrition Institute, in relationship with Boston University School of Medicine and Medinscribe, in Lagos.
Source : ThisDay
Government launches new roadmap for proposed curriculum
The government Wednesday launched a new roadmap for the rollout of the proposed school curriculum.
It begins with a national piloting this year that culminates in the actual implementation in January next year.
The pilot starts immediately and will cover pre-school and Standards One and Two. It will also be done in Standard Three in a few schools.
Known as competence-based curriculum (CBC), the new system, which seeks to replace the current 8-4-4, focuses on skills instead of knowledge.
It is phased as follows: two years of pre-school, six years of primary school, six years of high school, and three years of tertiary education (2-6-6-3).
In its naming system, classes will henceforth be referred to as grades rather than standards as is currently the case.
Source : Nation
Masari fires education commissioner who called for teachers to undergo aptitude test
Governor Aminu Bello Masari of Katsina state has on Thursday sacked his Commissioner of Education, Professor Halimatu Sa’adiya Idris. Governor Masari demotes principal, head teacher A press statement signed and made available to newsmen in the state by the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on Media, Abdu Labaran Malumfashi quoted a letter personally signed by the Governor, saying the Commissioner was relieved of her appointment with immediate effect.
Her statement has caused serious tension and apprehension in the state with many calling for her ousting.
Source : DailyTrust
WAEC pledges collaboration with relevant organisations on prisoners’ access to education
The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) says it will always partner relevant organisations to assist prison inmates to have easy access to education. The council’s Head of National Office (HNO), Mr Olutise Adenipekun, told the Newsmen on Wednesday in Lagos that such collaboration would enhance the inmates’ transformation and development.
Source : Vanguard
Must-Read Education Stories From 2017
It would be easy enough to drive past Calvin College without giving Betsy DeVos’s alma mater a second thought. Six miles southeast of downtown, the school is a sprawling cluster of nondescript buildings and winding pathways in a quiet suburb. But to bypass Calvin would be to ignore an institution whose approach to education offers clues about how the recently appointed U.S. education secretary might pursue her new job, and about the tug religious institutions feel between maintaining tradition and remaining relevant in a rapidly diversifying world.
Source : TheAtlantic
Lagos boosts technical education
In its quest to meet the needs of youths’ technical and vocation skills, the Lagos State government has announced additional three technical colleges, bringing the total numbers to eight in the State.
Speaking during the 2016/2017 graduation ceremony and special awards for the Lagos State Government Technical Colleges graduands, Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Dr Idiat Oluranti Adebule said: ”Three new technical colleges will be added to the existing five.”
Source : Vanguard
How social vices affect schooling – Chioma Osuji
The Policy Adviser, Civil Society Action Coalition on Education for All (CSACEFA), Chioma Osuji, spoke on the effects of social vices in schools.
Over N360 billion has been accessed by the states from the Federal Government to improve basic education, but challenges still persist. Why?
If you go to these states that have accessed UBEC counterpart funding you will discover that basic education there is still in shamble; there’s no teaching and learning materials among others. What happened to the utilization of these funds, what happened to the management of the funds? This is something that we are looking at.
Source : DailyTrust
Change begins with Education – Adamu Adamu
It is with extraordinary regard and appreciation that I respect His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, to this vital Presidential Retreat on Education for Ministers.
Your Excellency, your essence at this critical and memorable occasion is a showing of initiative and your own responsibility regarding training and the enthusiasm and duty of this organization to renew our instruction division and build up the country’s human capital.
Read more Vanguard