Education
FG denies plans to hand over public varsities to private investors
FG denies plans to hand over public varsities to private investors
The Federal Government has said there was no plan to hand over government-owned tertiary institutions, particularly the universities, to private investors.
The Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, made the clarification at the second quarterly engagement of the ministry with the heads of units and chief executive officers of parastatals and agencies under the ministry.
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), had accused the Federal Government of plans to hand over the federal universities to investors through public private partnership.
“There is no plan to sell off universities to investors,” he said, noting that the policy of the government allowed for transnational education.
According to him, transnational education is a policy on what this government is doing to open up tertiary education by taking people from the rest of the world to come and invest in the tertiary system. “Some people are carrying information that the Federal Government is selling off to private investors its universities. This is an absolute lie and completely false.
“This government believes in our public institutions. However, as we all know, this government has reforms that the country needs.
“The private sector will play a major role in the provision of tertiary education as there are more private universities in Nigeria than public universities combined.
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“What this government has done is to open up the tertiary education level, in particular, the universities for global competitiveness.”
The minister stressed the need to allow those who operate universities at the international level to come into the country and set up institutions either for themselves or in collaboration with our local universities. He said this was in no way to sell its institutions, noting that guidelines on transnational education had been in place.
Mamman said the country must take a cue from what is obtainable in the other climes, so as to benefit from the advantage of transnational education.
“In other parts of the world, like Asia, they have benefited immensely from having international institutions in those countries.
“They have taken standards to those countries and also for the exchange and bringing money to those countries,” he said.
He further said engagement with the heads of agencies as parastatals was to review the progress, challenges, and reaffirm the commitment towards the educational landscape of the country.
Minister of State for Education, Dr. Tanko Sununu, in his submissions, noted the importance of the quarterly review meeting, adding that education must be earned by character, knowledge, and skills.
“We must champion a campaign that would produce graduates that would survive and fit into the 2024 century. This is also the direction of the African Union as the year is declared a year of education so that we can have an education that can guarantee experiences in lifelong learning for Nigerians to take its rightful place in the comity of nations.”
FG denies plans to hand over public varsities to private investors
Education
FG to unbundle unity colleges into basic, secondary schools
FG to unbundle unity colleges into basic, secondary schools
The Federal Government has announced its plans to unbundle the 115 Federal Unity Colleges in the country into basic and secondary schools.
Minister of State for Education, Dr Yusuf Sununu, disclosed this during the opening of the Annual General Meeting of Principals of Unity Colleges in Abuja on Tuesday.
The theme of the event is ‘Entrepreneurship Education: A Panacea for Self-Reliance and National Development’.
Sununu said that the plan to unbundle the unity colleges was in line with the National Policy on Education (NPE).
The minister said the unbundling of Unity Colleges would among other things attract more funding to improve infrastructure, address teachers’ welfare and create employment opportunities, among others.
He added that the ministry, with the support from relevant agencies of government, would ensure it was achieved in the shortest time possible.
“I want to emphasise the significance of fostering an entrepreneurial spirit in our youths, a spirit that will propel them toward self-reliance and contribute meaningfully to our nation’s development.
“Unemployment remains a pressing concern, and it is our collective responsibility to equip our students with the skills and mindset necessary to succeed.
“Entrepreneurship education offers a solution to this challenge as it prepares students to think creatively, innovatively, and develop the confidence to take calculated risks,” he said.
Sununu called for the collaboration of the principals as critical stakeholders to improve the educational landscape of the schools.
He further urged them to curb social vices, instil the maintenance culture on the students and co-operate with their host communities for the overall security and growth of the Colleges.
Also, the Chairperson, Principals of Federal Unity Schools Colleges, Dr Idowu Akinbamijo, said the meeting was to set the agenda for the coming year and build capacity for the task ahead.
Education
JAMB gives reasons for limiting physical interaction with underaged candidates
JAMB gives reasons for limiting physical interaction with underaged candidates
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has revealed why it plans to limit physical interaction with underaged candidates.
JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede announced on Monday that the move is aimed at preventing extortion and enhancing service delivery.
The development was announced in a bulletin on the JAMB website, with Oloyede elaborating that limiting physical contact would address issues of extortion and exploitation.
“Prof. Oloyede stated that given that many of the candidates who take the UTME are underage, the board is considering limiting physical contact with those with challenges to avoid any alleged issues of extortion and other forms of exploitation.
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“He stated that in due course, interactions would be limited to online ones with calls recorded for effective monitoring and quality control.
“The board had received a series of reports bordering on some unwholesome practices, adding that a team had been deployed to investigate the claims, promising to make the findings known to all.
“He urged students who had accused some JAMB officials and other operatives such as CBT centres of extortion in the name of ‘regularisation’ or other services to provide credible evidence, adding that any staff found culpable would face the full wrath of the law,” the statement reads.
JAMB gives reasons for limiting physical interaction with underaged candidates
Education
Lagos govt says no going back on school boarding fee increase
Lagos govt says no going back on school boarding fee increase
The Lagos State Government (LASG) says increase in boarding fees in its model colleges is inevitable, to ensure better welfare of the students.
Mr Ganiu Lawal, Deputy Director, Public Affairs, Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, Lagos State, said this in a statement made available on Monday.
Lawal noted that students in the boarding schools were over one percent of the entire basic and secondary school student population in public schools in the state.
According to Lawal, the N35,000 boarding fees being paid since 2021 is not realistic in 2024.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Lagos State Government approved the upward review of boarding fees payable in all public boarding schools in Lagos State.
The review of boarding fees in all public secondary schools in Lagos State is with effect from 2024/2025 session.
The newly approved fee is N100,000 only and starts from the ongoing session which commenced on September 15, 2024.
“The Ministry is aware of dissenting views by some parents to the inevitable increase in boarding fees in our model colleges.
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“This was not an easy decision, but the welfare of the children is a priority for the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education and the Lagos State Government.
“Since enrolment of a child into a boarding school is an individual choice for every parent, they are expected to pay boarding fees.
“The boarding fee is paid every term and it is used basically for feeding, janitorial and other miscellaneous cost related to keeping them in the hostels per term,” Lawal said.
The ministry official explained that the schools took care of energy cost on fuel and cooking gas, which are essential for preparing the students’ meals.
“The model college students enjoy all other privileges of free education vis a vis provision of education infrastructure, free tuition, technology support (free devices).
“Also provision of adequate security in schools and payment of terminal examination fees; the state government pays WAEC fees for all public school students.
“Ideally, none of our parents will testify to the reasonability of feeding a child of 12 to 18 years with N35,000 for 3 months.
“A comparative analysis of Federal and state public schools with boarding facilities across the country shows Lagos State Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education is still very considerate with the reviewed rate in spite of the incomparable cost of food and other expenses,” he said.
Lawal noted that nutritious food was not just for physical growth but also for mental alertness, adding that the Ministry would not want any boarding student to look gaunt or lack the skill of critical thinking.
He stressed that government took responsibility of the health and well being of the students while in school, but added that government would require full cooperation of all stakeholders to do this.
The ministry official, therefore, enjoined parents to see reasons with the state government and show understanding for the sake of the children.
Recall that the LASG provides free education in 1,021 primary schools, 369 junior secondary and 329 senior secondary schools, which include 32 model colleges across the State.
All the model colleges are boarding schools, except for Vetland Junior and Senior Secondary Schools, which operate day.
Lagos govt says no going back on school boarding fee increase
(NAN)
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