Education
ASUU: National Assembly gets proposals to create 63 new varsities, others
At least 63 bills are currently before the Senate and the House of Representatives for the creation of new universities, polytechnics, colleges of education since the beginning of shutdown of activities in public tertiary institutions in the country in 2022, according to a PUNCH’s report.
The Academic Staff Union of Universities, Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics and Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union have, however, warned the government against the establishment of new institutions while failing to fund the existing ones.
Nigeria is said to currently have 49 federal universities, going by the official data from the National Universities Commission, with 59 state universities and 111 private universities.
The National Board for Technical Education also puts the number of Federal Polytechnics at 40; state owned at 49 and private at 76.
While a total of Federal and state owned colleges of health is 70; Nigeria currently has 17 private colleges of health.
The National Commission for Colleges of Education put the total number of colleges of education in Nigeria at 219.
An analysis of the 63 bills on creation of new institutions being considered by both the Senate and the House of Representatives revealed that 26 bills are for federal universities; 33 bills for federal colleges of education; agriculture; health; technology; and forestry among other specialised colleges.
The lawmakers also proposed four bills for the creation of new polytechnics.
However, a professor at the Adekunle Ajasin University, Ondo State, Victor Olumekun, in an interview with The PUNCH, faulted the lawmakers for turning the establishment of new institutions into constituency projects.
Olumekun said, “I say it often that it is not the number of universities that we have that matter but the capacity to do what universities are supposed to be doing.
“As an academia, we don’t have to establish universities in every town, village and hamlet. University education is not about number, it is about capacity.”
The National President of ASUP, Dr. Anderson Ezeibe, said the move showed a clear lack of direction.
“We have continued to maintain that government should fund existing institutions to enable them meet their mandates. Passing bills for new institutions at this time is for political convenience and not in the public interest,” he said.
The General Secretary, COEASU, Dr Ahmed Bazza, also faulted the development.
He said, “There is shortage of lecturers in all tertiary institutions because the system has made it so harsh that there is high level of brain drain in the system. We are trying to cope with that and also trying to cope with the funding and facilities.
“Then someone will just wake up for political reasons and say he is proposing a bill to establish a new university. That is not fair to the system honestly.
The Programme Director, Reform Education Nigeria, Ayodamola Oluwatoyin, also accused the lawmakers of trying to score political goals.
Oluwatoyin said, “It is so unfortunate that we live in a country where lawmakers use matters like education to score cheap political goals, this is unheard of in any part of the world.
“How will you propose new bills for new institutions when the existing ones are on shutdown? Who advises these individuals?”
Education
Poly lecturers to embark on nationwide strike from Dec 2
Poly lecturers to embark on nationwide strike from Dec 2
The Chairman of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), Kaduna Polytechnic Chapter, Comrade Abubakar J. Abdullah, said the union will shut down all polytechnics nationwide by December 2 due to the Federal Government’s failure to meet its demands.
He explained that the union leadership issued a 15-day ultimatum to the Federal Government on October 6, 2024, outlining pressing demands aimed at resolving the systemic challenges that hinder the progress of polytechnics. However, he said the government failed to address the issues.
Speaking at a news briefing on Tuesday, Nov. 26, in Kaduna, the chairman listed some of the demands, including swift release of the second tranche of the NEEDS Assessment Intervention fund, immediate implementation of the approved 25/35% salary review across all public polytechnics, and the payment of accrued arrears.
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Other demands are the release and final resolution of the decades-long arrears of CONTISS-15 migration for lower cadres, the release of outstanding promotion arrears, addressing inadequate funding, and resolving the issue of unpaid allowances.
“Regrettably, as we passed the deadline of this ultimatum, we are yet to see the necessary actions from the Federal Government to address these pressing demands. The silence and inaction have left us with no option but to consider the possibility of a total shutdown of our institutions, scheduled for December 2nd, 2024, should our concerns remain unaddressed,” he said.
Comrade Abdullahi said the survival and quality of the educational system hinged upon the government’s responsiveness.
He stated that the union believe that a strong education sector is vital for the future of the nation and cannot afford to compromise on these issues any longer.
He urged the Federal Government to engage in meaningful dialogue with the union and take decisive steps towards resolving these challenges.
Poly lecturers to embark on nationwide strike from Dec 2
Education
US University opens 2025 scholarships for international students
US University opens 2025 scholarships for international students
Montana Technological University (Montana Tech) has opened applications for its 2025 scholarships, offering international students the opportunity to pursue graduate studies in the USA.
These scholarships, available for both Master’s (MS) and PhD students, provide a tuition waiver and a competitive stipend for living expenses.
Scholarship overview and opportunities
Scholarship Region reports that Montana Technological University is offering funded Graduate Research Assistantships (GRAs) for Fall 2025. These assistantships are available for students applying to the MS and PhD programs, and they provide an opportunity to work alongside faculty on important research projects.
The university is focusing on key research areas such as advanced materials and manufacturing, critical mineral recovery and processing, environmental remediation, and biotechnology. Interested applicants are encouraged to apply soon to contribute to these cutting-edge fields.
Eligibility requirements
To apply for the Montana Tech University Scholarship 2025, candidates must meet several criteria.
- Applicants should have completed a bachelor’s degree from a recognized university.
- They must also meet the admission requirements for the program they wish to apply to and satisfy the English language proficiency requirements set by the university.
- Additionally, applicants must submit their applications for admission by January 1st to be considered for the scholarship.
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Benefits for scholarship winners
Students who are accepted into the MS or PhD programs at Montana Tech and are awarded a Graduate Research Assistantship will receive significant benefits. These include a
- Tuition waiver and a competitive stipend to cover living expenses.
- All applicants to available graduate programs will automatically be considered for the assistantships.
Required documents for application
Details inform that candidates applying for the Montana Technological University Scholarship must prepare several documents as part of the application process. Required documents include the;
- Application form,
- A personal statement,
- A CV, recommendation letters,
- TOEFL or IELTS scores, GRE scores, and official academic transcripts.
These documents as mentioned, are crucial for the admissions review and scholarship consideration.
Step-by-step application process
To apply for the scholarship, candidates are informed to first visit the graduate research fields page on Montana Tech’s Graduate School website. From there, they can apply for openings in the available research areas and complete the application form.
All required documents must be uploaded as part of the application. For more details and guidance, prospective students can contact the Montana Tech Graduate School at [email protected], where they will be connected with a faculty member leading a funded project.
US University opens 2025 scholarships for international students
Education
Canadian university offers funded national scholarship program for 2025
Canadian university offers funded national scholarship program for 2025
Western University has announced that applications are now open for the National Scholarship Program for the 2025-2026 academic year.
The opportunity offers funding to outstanding students with a proven track record of academic excellence, leadership, and community involvement.
According to Western University, the deadline for applications is February 14th, 2025.
Details of the program and eligibility
The National Scholarship Program is aimed at Canadian citizens and permanent residents, as well as international students meeting specific criteria. International students who are not Canadian citizens or permanent residents are eligible for the International President’s Entrance Scholarship.
Details inform that applicants must have an overall academic average of 90% or higher from their Grade 12 courses (or equivalent) and must apply for full-time studies at Western University’s main campus. Students must also be nominated by their high school.
Scholarship opportunities and amounts
The program offers various scholarship opportunities based on academic achievement and extracurricular involvement.
- The Neen Hodgins National Entrance Scholarship awards $80,000 over four years, while,
- President’s Entrance Scholarships range from $50,000 to $70,000, depending on the amount of funding available.
- For black students, the James Jenkins President’s Entrance Scholarship offers $50,000, and the Beryl Ivey Continuing Entrance Scholarship provides $92,000 over four years.
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International students have access to scholarships such as the Neen Hodgins President’s International Entrance Scholarship, valued at up to $80,000. Other awards include the Faculty Entrance Scholarships, valued at $30,000, and the National Merit Awards, which provide $2,000 for students who are interviewed but not selected for a National Scholarship or a Schulich Leader Scholarship.
Application requirements
Applicants must submit a variety of materials, including a completed online application, a transcript from their school, and a reference letter from a teacher or staff member who is familiar with their academic and extracurricular achievements.
Additionally, applicants are required to write a 1,000-1,250 word essay on an issue of public concern. The essay, along with other supporting documents, must be submitted by the February 14th, 2025, deadline.
Nomination and assessor process
The institution informs that in order to be considered for the National Scholarship Program, students must be nominated by their school. The application includes a “Nomination Request Form,” which is sent to the school administrator once completed.
Students are told to ensure that they follow up with their school to confirm that their nomination and transcript are submitted on time. Additionally, students must request one reference letter from a teacher or staff member who can assess their academic performance and involvement in extracurricular activities.
How to apply
To apply, students need to access the National Scholarship application through the online portal, using their OUAC reference number and date of birth.
- Western University advises that there may be a delay between submitting the admission application and being able to access the scholarship application, with a minimum wait time of five business days.
- Once available, students can complete the application and submit all required documents before the assigned deadline.
For further details on how to apply, visit the Western University National Scholarship application portal.
Canadian university offers funded national scholarship program for 2025
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