Education
C’River Requires 20,000 Teachers to Address Shortage in Public Schools, Commissioner
The Commissioner for Education in Cross River, Sen. Stephen Odey, says a minimum of 20,000 teachers is required to address shortage of teaching staff in public schools across the state.
The Commissioner, who disclosed this during a press briefing in Calabar on Tuesday, said that the Sen.
Bassey Otu led administration had embarked on massive employment of teachers to bridge the gap.He however, noted that owing to paucity of fund, the employment would be carried out in phases.
The commissioner further noted that there were several ongoing reforms to revamp the education sector in the state.
Odey said, “We are determined to reform the sector holistically because we want to make Cross River a reference point in education sector amongst commity of states.
“There is already a memo before the governor for us to start with the employment of 6,000 teachers.
“We discovered that in many schools, especially in the rural area, had only two teachers and this is not how we intend to be the best in the country.
“The money the government paid as fee for West Africa Examination Council (WAEC) for students in the state will amount to nothing without teachers to teach them.
Odey disclosed that priority would be given to the employment of teachers in their catchment areas as the state was not buoyant enough to pay peculiar allowances to teachers in rural areas.
Speaking on the payment of WAEC fee, Odey dispelled the rumour that the 16,301 list was padded.
He said rather, the list was not exhaustive as some schools that submitted late were not captured.
“The only issue that arose from the list was that we found out that some names were duplicated during compilation which brought the figure to about 16,287 students.
“Even at that, we had students from about 20 schools that were not included because of late submission; for instance, a particular schooling in Boki had over a thousand students not included.
“For the avoidance of doubt, those principals that were found not to have been diligent in their duty have been sanctioned.
“About 37 of them are in this category and are going to be demoted to the classrooms,” he said.
The Commissioner further said part of the reform is to ensure uniformity in school system in the state as well as go after illegal schools.
On school uniformity, he said, “Upon resumption in office, I discovered that schools across the state, both public and private, operate different school calendars.
“We have been able to streamline this to a large extent and still working to ensure all around complaint across the state,” he explained.(NAN)
The newly-appointed Pro-chancellor of Aliko Dangote University of Science and Technology, Wudil, Justice Abdu Aboki, has promised to turn the challenges of the institution into opportunities.
Aboki, who made the promise in his inaugural speech, noted that his appointment was not just a personal milestone but a significant moment in the journey of the university.
“As we journey together in concert toward
impacting and making positive contributions toward the wellbeing of this
university.
“I have no doubt in the immense potential that lies in our students, management and the community at large in taking this university to greater heights,” he said.
He called on all stakeholders to collectively harness the strengths and resources available to transform challenges into opportunities for the benefit of Kano State and Nigeria.
“The journey ahead will not be without its obstacles, but I am confident that with your support and a shared commitment to our goals, we will succeed.
“It is important that we make a difference; to leave a lasting impact on future generations and to elevate Aliko Dangote University to new heights,” the pro-chanchellor said.
He expressed appreciation to Kano State Governor Abba Yusuf for his appointment, saying he was elated for being given another opportunity to render service.
“Having spent the better part of my adult life in
the public service, I feel elated for this opportunity to continue my service in this new capacity.”
On his vision as the institution’s pro-chancellor, Aboki promised to cultivate an environment where academic excellence would thrive.
He also promised that the institution’s students would be equipped with theoretical and practical knowledge and inspired to become leaders in their respective fields.
“Let us embark on this journey with a renewed sense of purpose and determination,” he added.(NAN)
The Federal Capital Territory Wing of the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) on Wednesday, resumed industrial action over unresolved welfare issues between it and the six area councils of the territory.
The union declared the strike in a communique signed by its Chairman, Mr Abdullahi Shafa, State Secretary, Mrs Margaret Jethro, and State Publicity Secretary, Ibukun Adekeye.
The strike is a continuation of earlier ones suspended by the union in October 2023 and in January 2024.
The union, in the communiqué issued in Abuja, explained that the action was the outcome of the State Wing Executive Council (SWEC) meeting held on Tuesday.
It added that the SWEC had deliberated on the 14-day ultimatum given to the area councils’ chairmen to pay the teachers their entitlements.
The ultimatum expired on Tuesday, Sept. 17.
“The SWEC, therefore, resolved and directed primary school teachers in the FCT to resume the suspended strike action with effect from Wednesday, Sept. 18.
“All public primary schools in FCT should remain closed and parents are hereby advised to remain guided by this development until the union’s demands are met.
“We appeal to all teachers to remain calm and disregard any counter directives except as directed by the union,” it added.
The union identified one of the unresolved issues as non-payment of 60 per cent of the 25 months old minimum wage areas.
Other issues included non-implementation and payment of 25 per cent and 35 per cent salary increase, and non-implementation and payment of 40 per cent peculiar allowance.
The union is also demanding the payment of the N35,000 wage award arrears and the implementation of the template on outstanding entitlements of teachers as agreed in 2022.
The FCT Minister had intervened and promised to pay 40 per cent of the outstanding 25 months minimum wage arrears.
As part of the resolution for suspending the strike, the six area councils were expected to pay the remaining 60 per cent of the minimum wage arrears.
The teachers acknowledged and applauded Wike for redeeming the 40 per cent pledge, and frowned at the area councils’ chairmen for failing to fulfill their part of the agreement.
Reacting to the development, Dr Hassan Sule, acting Chairman, FCT Universal Basic Education Board (FCT-UBEB), appealed to the NUT to suspend the strike.
Sule said that discussion with the chairmen of the area councils was ongoing to resolve the issues. (NAN)
Some parents of students of Oriwu Model College in Ikorodu on Sunday protested the sudden increase of boarding fees by the Lagos State Government.
The parents, who carried out the peaceful protest at the gate of the college, demanded the immediate reversal of the boarding fees which was increased from N35,000 to N100,000.
Mr Kazeem Oladuni, Chairman, Parents Forum Association (PFA), Oriwu College, appealed to the state Ministry of Education to reverse the increment to enable their wards resume school.
“Our children were supposed to resume on Sept. 9, butt we received a memo that one week has been added, which expired today, Sept.15.
“To our surprise, another memo came out on Sept.
13, indicating that the boarding fees have been increased from N35,000 to N100,000“We held a meeting with Lagos State Coordinator of PFA and resolved that the fees are outrageous for any parent at this time of hardship in the country,” he said.
Also, Mrs Adedoyin Badmus, who spoke on behalf of parents in the Igbogbo Area, Ikorodu, said education was supposed to be free.
Badmus, however, said the government was making it difficult for the children of many average Nigerians to acquire education with the sudden and astronomical increase in boarding fees.
Similarly, another parent, Mrs Mary Enaayi, appealed to Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu to consider the plights of many parents who are petty traders and struggle to ensure that their children access quality education.
Enaayi urged the state government to urgently reverse the fees to allow dividends of democracy to cut across all strata of society.
“I am appealing to LASG to consider that some parents are traders, but because they want their children to have quality education, that is why they registered them as boarders.
“With this outrageous amount, the careers of those wards will be shattered because their parents can not afford to pay the N100,000.
“Some have two or three children in the school, which means they have to withdraw due to the sudden increment,” she said.
The parents carried placards with inscriptions like ‘No reduction, No resumption’, ‘We need free education’, ‘Our government is wicked’, ‘N35,000 to N100,000 is too outrageous’, among others. (NAN)
Media, Important Ally in Anti-corruption Fight -EFCC Boss
ShareThe Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, has stressed the need to collaborate with the...
NES Decries Rising Inflation, Unemployment, Poverty, Others
ShareBy David Torough, Abuja The Nigerian Economic Society (NES) has decried Nigeria’s socioeconomic dilemmas, including; low personal incomes, dysfunctional education,...
CBN Denies Re-Introducing Cyber Security Levy
ShareBy Tony Obiechina, Abuja The Central Bank of Nigeria has denied the re-introduction of the controversial cyber security level it...
Borno: Why I Focus on Feeding 10,000 Flood Victims Daily – Imam
Share The Mutawalle of Borno, Alhaji Kashim Imam, says he engages in feeding 10,000 victims of Maiduguri flood disaster daily...
Edo Governorship: Tinubu Sues for Peace, Civility
SharePresident Bola Tinubu has called on all stakeholders in the upcoming Edo governorship elections to conduct themselves peacefully and sportingly.The...
Ugbor Sues Alia for Defamation, Seeks N10bn Damages
ShareFrom Attah Ede Makurdi The controversy trailing the truck of palliatives seized by Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia yesterday took...
Police Detain Man over Alleged Murder of Business Partner in Yobe
Share The Police Command in Yobe, says it has detained a man, Yunus Isa, in connection with alleged murder of...
Maiduguri Flood: Over N12b Support Generated for Victims
Share Borno Government says it has realized over N12b cash and material donations for victims of Alau Dam flood disaster...
Jigawa Reviews mid-year Performance of MDAs
Share The Performance Delivery and Coordination Unit (PDCU), says it has concluded mid-year performance review of Ministries, Agencies and Departments...
Benue State Enjoys Relative Peace, Prepares for Floods- Alia
Share Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, Governor of Benue, announced on Thursday that his state is experiencing relative peace, enabling farmers...