Calling on government to introduce a policy that would encourage young Nigerians to study Mathematics, Olayinka, who spoke during the 75th Interdisciplinary Discourse of the UI Postgraduate School, said that proper career counseling was necessary in secondary schools to guide and expose pupils to the opportunities available in studying the subject at university level.
The Guest Lecturer at the event and former President of the African Mathematics Union, Prof Aderemi Kuku, also called on the Federal Government to stop the brain drain in Mathematics, Science and Technology.
NAAT blames mass failure of students on low budget for education
The National Association OF Academic Technologists (NAAT) has blamed the abysmal performance of secondary school students on the dwindling allocation of resources to the education sector.
The union in a communiqués reached at the end of its 37th National Executive Council (NEC) meeting, held at Obafemi Awolowo University (O.A.U), Ile-Ife, noted that despite the existence of ‘special centres’, the results of the Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (SSCE) keeps dropping year on year.
The union observed that the abysmal performance is equally to blame for the falling standard of education across the tertiary levels. The communiqué read in part: “In spite of the worrisome existence of ’special centres’, the results of SSCE keep dropping – implying poor quality of secondary school graduates. This may not be unconnected with the poor allocation of financial and human resources to the education sector.
Full article: https://guardian.ng/appointments/naat-blames-mass-failure-of-students-on-low-budget-for-education/
NAUS urges FG to build technology hubs
The National Association of University Students has urged the Federal Government to support entrepreneurship by building technology hubs for graduates and students across the country, where new skills and innovations could be learnt.
The NAUS Chair of Presidents, Solomon Adodo, stated this in Abuja at a press briefing on Friday, noting that the establishment of such technology hubs was an effective way to reduce poverty and unemployment in the country.
Adodo said there must be public-private partnership to drive development in the country, adding that the briefing was also to recognise one of the “country’s most innovative private investors and Managing Director of Jamub Group of Companies, Jacob Momoh.”
Full article : http://punchng.com/naus-urges-fg-to-build-technology-hubs-for-graduates/
FG begins audit of schools nationwide
The Federal Government, through the Universal Basic Education Commission, has said that it will commence the audit of pupils and teaching personnel in public and private-owned schools nationwide so as to collect data for the purpose of policy planning and implementation.
The UBEC Executive Secretary, Dr Hamid Bobboyi, who stated this at a briefing in Abuja on Thursday, also said the audit of the teaching personnel in schools would begin by April 29 in the southern states and June 3 in the northern states.
Bobboyi noted that the exercise was aimed at collating reliable data for the national databank in line with the Nigeria’s Education Management Information System policy.
Full Article : http://www.punchng.com/fg-begins-audit-of-schools-nationwide/
Your investment in health, education not good enough– Bill Gates
Bill Gates, world’s second richest man, says the federal government’s investments in young people, especially in areas of health and education, is not good enough.
He said this in an interview with CNN. The co-chairman of Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation reiterated the comments he made when he spoke at the expanded national economic council meeting on Thursday.
At the meeting which was presided over by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, Gates had said the execution priorities of the economic recovery and growth plan do not reflect the true needs of Nigerians.
“The Nigerian government’s economic recovery and growth plan identify investing in our people as one of three strategic objectives. But the execution priorities don’t fully reflect people’s needs, prioritising physical capital over human capital,” he had said.
“People without roads, ports, and factories can’t flourish. And roads, ports and factories without skilled workers to build and manage them can’t sustain an economy.”
Nasir el-Rufai, governor of Kaduna state, who was at the meeting had defended the federal government, saying Gates’ comment was incorrect.
But in the chat with CNN, the billionaire businessman defended his criticism of the Nigerian government.
He said Nigeria would become an engine of growth if the government gets health and education right.
“As a partner in Nigeria, I am saying the current plan is inadequate. Nigeria has all these young people and the current quality and quantity of investment in these young generations; in health and education just isn’t good enough. So, I was very direct,” he told CNN.
“If they can get health and education right, they will be an engine of growth not just for themselves but for all of Africa.”
FG decries neglect of girl-child education
The Federal Government, through the National Institute for Educational Planning and Administration, has decried the lack of attention to the education of the girl-child in the country.
Speaking during the opening of a five-day training workshop for school administrators held in Ondo, Ondo State, the Director-General of NIEPA, Prof. Lilian Salami, who conveyed the government’s position, said the girl-child, in comparison to the opposite sex, was being subjected to “demeaning and destabilising situations” that had placed her in a disadvantaged position in the society.
Source : Punch
ASUU faults FG on funding of varsity education
THE Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, has accused the Federal Government of plans to deliberately stamp out public universities by starving it of funds.
This was disclosed by Chairman of ASUU, University of Ibadan branch, Dr Ayodeji Omole, a press conference in Ibadan yesterday. Omole lamented that our leaders in the country allowed private universities across the country to feed fat on Nigerians with the outrageous tuition fees they charge.
Source : Vanguard
Federal cabinet approves 6 new private universities
The Federal Executive Council on Wednesday approved six new private universities.
They are Admiralty Univerity, Ibusa, Delta State; Spiritan University, Nneochi, Abia State; Precious Cornerstone University, Ibadan, Oyo State.
Others are Pamo University of Medical Sciences, Port Harcourt, Rivers State; Atiba University, Oyo State; and Eko University of Medical and Health Sciences Lagos.
The Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, told journalists after the FEC meeting, that more requests for private universities’ approval were underway.
He said the Nigerian Universities Commission would take the issue of accreditation very seriously “and if any university fails to meet their standard, we are going to deregister their courses and if enough courses are deregistered, it will lead to the closure of the university.”
Source : Dailytrust
ASUP poly lecturers suspend 15-day-old strike
Polytechnic lecturers have suspended a nationwide strike they started on November 13 over failure of government to meet their demands.
Chairman of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) told a press conference in Bauchi that the decision to suspend the strike came at the group’s 14 conference in Bauchi after it reached an agreement and signed a memorandum of settlement and action.
The union has previously met with officials and ministries of education and labour, alongside the National Salaries and Wages Commission, Budget office of the federation, office of Head of Civil service and office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.
“While we are not unaware of the government over the years to willfully renege on agreements of this nature with labour unions including ours, it is the considered view of our union that the contents of this MoS be given a chance of implementation particularly as there is a mechanism for monitoring and evaluation embedded in the MoS.
Source: DailyTrust