Education
Kaduna to Implement 65 Years Retirement Age for Teachers – Commissioner
The Kaduna State Government said yesterday that it was finalising the processes for the implementation of the 65 years retirement age or 40 years of service for teachers.
The Commissioner for Education, Hajiya Halima Lawal, made this known in Kaduna on Monday at the distribution of 2,358 digital school attendance devices to 2,358 public primary schools across the state.
President Muhammadu Buhari had in April signed the harmonised retirement age for teachers’ bill into law.
The law has increased the retirement age of teachers in the country from 60 to 65 years and extended the duration of service for teachers from 35 to 40 years.
Lawal, who was represented by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Dr Haliru Soba, said that the processes for the domestication of the law had already passed through the state’s Policy Council.
She added that the document would be sent to the State Executive Council for final approval.
The commissioner called on the teachers to reciprocate the gesture by rededicating themselves and increase their commitment, to reduce the disturbing learning poverty index in the state.
Lawal said that the current learning poverty index in the country stood at 70 to 80 per cent, with that of Kaduna State estimated at around 50 to 60 per cent.
“This means that we can have a 10-year old child that cannot read a simple passage or do a simple addition or subtraction. This is quite alarming.
“We are supposed to take care of this at the foundation level and if we fail, then we are going to be recording increased levels of poverty in learning in the state and the country.
“This is why we are making all efforts to make our education system functional by looking at the child, the teacher, infrastructure, funding, and the education systems,” she said.
She, however, noted that nothing would be achieved without the maximum support of the teachers and other education stakeholders.
The commissioner called on education managers at all levels to support government efforts to reposition the sector to ensure quality teaching that would improve learning outcomes in public schools.
The digital school attendance register is an initiative of the World Bank-supported Better Education Service Delivery for All (BESDA).
The digital register is designed to track school attendance and provide critical information to help ensure school retention and completion rate in public primary schools. (NAN)
Education
NECO Reschedules 2024 Common Entrance Exam into Unity Colleges
The National Examinations Council (NECO) has re-scheduled the 2024 National Common Entrance Examination into Federal Unity Colleges and the entrance examination into Federal Government Academy, Suleja.
This is contained in a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja on Tuesday by Azeez Sani, acting Director, Information and Digital Communication of the council.
Sani stated that the common entrance examination earlier scheduled for April 20, 2024, would now hold on June 1, 2024.
He also said that the entrance examination for Gifted and Talented Children into Federal Government Academy, Suleja, earlier scheduled to hold on May 4,
2024 would now hold on May 25, 2024.
He added that the rescheduling of the two examinations was due to low enrollment of candidates.
He enjoined candidates, parents, guardians, schools and relevant stakeholders to take note of the new dates.
Sani said that registration of candidates would continue till the new dates of the examinations. (NAN)
Education
Six Nigerian Universities to Benefit from EU’s €27m Funding
By Eddy Ochigbo
No fewer than six Nigerian Universities have been selected to benefit from the 15 Intra-Africa Mobility Scheme Projects funded by the European Union (EU) with €27 million under the flagship Youth Mobility for Africa.
Permanent Secretary, of the Federal Ministry of Education, Mrs.
Didi Walson-Jack, who signed the agreement at the Global Gateway High-Level Event on Education in Brussels, said Nigeria would also benefit from the regional Team Europe Initiative on Opportunity-driven Skills, Vocational Education and Training in AfricaUnder the initiative, the European Union would spend €27 million, allocating €1.
8 million to each of the Projects in the education and healthcare sectors in Africa.These Projects, which are to be facilitated by various Universities, aim to enhance learning mobility opportunities for Students, Trainees, and Staff across the Continent, focusing on developing high-level green and digital skills.
The participating Universities include the University of Lagos, the University of Port-Harcourt, Ebonyi State University, the Federal University of Technology, and the University of Nigeria.
Education
UTME: Police, JAMB Warn Candidates Against Patronising Fake Websitess
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) and the police have warned candidates preparing for the 2024 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) against patronising fake websites.
The two bodies gave the warning at a joint news conference in Abuja on Saturday.
The Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said there were several fake websites created by unscrupulous individuals with the intention of misleading candidates.
He urged candidates to be wary of their tactics, saying the fake web sites were designed to deceive innocent candidates into providing personal details such as registration numbers, email addresses, and phone numbers.
“Both JAMB and the Nigeria Police Force condemn these fraudulent activities and hereby reiterate the readiness to safeguard the interests of candidates and maintain the integrity of the examination process.
“We urge parents, guardians, and all stakeholders to ensure that candidates print their UTME Notification Slips only from the Board’s approved website: www.jamb.gov.ng.
“Candidates can print their slips from the comfort of their homes or visit any of the over 700 accredited Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres nationwide,” he said.
Adejobi explained that the force was familiar with the tactics employed by fraudsters, especially during the annual assessment and admission exercises.
He, therefore, said that both organisations was actively sensitising candidates and the public about these deceptive practices.
“Any candidate who visits these fake sites will definitely have unreliable information and thereby miss out in the forthcoming exams.
“Candidates are advised to print their UTME Notification Slips before Friday, 19th April, 2024, to access vital information about their examinations.
“Any website other than www.jamb.gov.ng offering UTME slip printing services is fake and designed to defraud candidates,” he said.
He also called on candidates to beware of web sites offering ‘live’ questions and answers, as they were false and deceptive, saying that accessing such materials was prohibited.
He further said the board was partnering with the Nigeria Police Force National Cyber Crime Centre (NPF-NCCC) to address online scam-related issues seamlessly.
He assured candidates and the public of the force firm dedication to ensuring a fair and transparent examination process.
He also stressed that the Inspector General of Police had ordered the NPF-NCCC to go after scammers and fraudsters who engage in cyber related crimes and create phishing sites/portals.
On his part, the JAMB spokesperson, Dr Fabian Benjamin, pledged the Board’s commitment to continue in playing its role
He, therefore, urged candidates to ignore any unsolicited messages noting that they were from elements who aim at defrauding candidates.
The 2024 UTME is scheduled to commence on Friday, April 19, and end on April 29. (NAN)