Education

Admission: Daily part-time programmes illegal — JAMB

Published

8 months ago

July 29, 2024

JAMB registrar, Professor Ishaq Oloyede

Admission: Daily part-time programmes illegal — JAMB

The Registrar of Joint Admission Matriculation Board, Prof. Isiaq Oloyede, on Monday, described some institutions operating daily part-time programmes in Nigeria as illegal.

Oloyode, who was on a fact-finding mission to the Ibadan Zonal Office of JAMB in Oyo State, said most of the allegations levelled against his officials are unfounded.

He said most of the affected students have themselves to blame for whatever they are experiencing now, not JAMB.

The registrar said most of the students, in a desperation to secure admission to higher institutions of learning, have cut corners that have now backfired.

Oloyode said, “The complaint was that at the Ibadan Zonal Office, the officers are not acting well and that there was no programme devoted to the Ibadan office. So, I have to come here to see what is going on because the impression is that people here are not responsible.

“However, from what we have seen, it is now clear that they are grappling with things that even the system would not have envisaged.

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“How do you explain a case of somebody who was given what could aptly be described as an under-tabled admission seven years ago and did not appear until now?

“Another case is that of somebody who had changed his name more than seven years ago and he/she is now coming back to us to effect a change. It is just like going back to primary school that I have since changed my name and I need another certificate.”

On the admission for Higher National Diploma programmes, Oloyede disclosed that the board has nothing to do with the process.

He said the law does not allow JAMB to register candidates for any of the HND programmes.

“You are offered admission to run the OND programme on a part-time basis now that you want to apply for the HND programmes, you want the board to change your OND from part-time to full-time. How do we do that?

“You can now see the other dimension of what they called a daily part-time programme which is another illegality. A situation where the institution is allowed to admit only 200 candidates but goes ahead to admit an additional 400 candidates on a part-time basis.

“At that time, the board was not reckoning with them and the institution went ahead to register them as full-time students, graduating with full-time students, forgetting that they are registered on a part-time basis.

“The board has made returns to the NYSC about the students that are graduating that year. The point is that you don’t expect JAMB to change the daily part-time students to full-time,” he said.

Admission: Daily part-time programmes illegal — JAMB

Education

Why postgraduate students are ineligible for FG loan – NELFUND

Published

13 hours ago

March 24, 2025

Trends Admin

Managing Director of NELFUND, Akintunde Sawyerr

Why postgraduate students are ineligible for FG loan – NELFUND

The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has clarified the eligibility criteria for the scheme, explaining why students pursuing post-graduate programmes are not qualified to apply for the facility.

Managing Director of the Fund, Akintunde Sawyerr, gave the revelation while speaking on TVC’s Breakfast Saturday.

Sawyerr also addressed concerns regarding postgraduate students’ eligibility for the loan, explaining that the facility is currently only available to students pursuing their first degree.

“The way the President has set this up and the way he has insisted that this must work is that you don’t need to know anybody to access this loan. And that’s what we are doing. No connections, no long leg, no man-know-man. We are not going to allow it to happen. The President wants us to completely democratize education.”

Although repayments have not yet been received, the Managing Director assured that the Fund is developing a robust repayment structure to facilitate timely and effective loan repayments.

He said currently, postgraduate students are not eligible to apply for the loan, as the primary focus is on supporting students pursuing their first degree.

Future plans for postgraduate students

Sawyerr, however, offered a glimmer of hope for postgraduate students, indicating that they may be eligible for the loan facility in the future.

“Post-graduate students can’t apply for this loan. We have a lot of people in this country who are just trying to get on the first rung of the ladder as far as tertiary education is concerned. The funds we have are focused on those people who are looking for their first opportunity.

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“I congratulate those who have graduated who are doing their Master’s or PhDs, it’s fantastic. At some point in the future, we will be able to fund them. Today, we are looking for those who need us most. They are the people we want to support.”

He emphasized that while plans exist to extend financial support to postgraduate students, the immediate priority remains assisting undergraduates who face financial difficulties.

The Fund is committed to ensuring that students do not drop out of tertiary institutions due to lack of funds, and future adjustments to the loan scheme will be considered based on available resources and policy direction.

Over 271,000 students enrolled

According to the Managing Director, revealed that more than 271,000 Nigerian students pursuing tertiary education have received a financial lifeline through the Federal Government’s Student Loan program since its launch in May 2024.

“Nigerian students are reacting extremely positively to the initiative. And as more disbursements happen, they are becoming more trusting. One of the interesting things going on at the moment is that President Bola Tinubu is restoring trust in the government. The students are receiving it well. We are transparent about what we are doing.

“In total, to date, we have about 271,000 Nigerian students who have either had their fees paid or their fees plus upkeep,” he noted.

As of Saturday, March 22, out of 521,000 students who have registered for the loan facility, approximately 438,000 have submitted their applications.

Why postgraduate students are ineligible for FG loan – NELFUND

Education

FG approves NYSC mobilisation for all full-time HND graduates

Published

4 days ago

March 21, 2025

Trends Admin

FG approves NYSC mobilisation for all full-time HND graduates

The Federal Government has approved the mobilisation of all full-time Higher National Diploma (HND) graduates for the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), ending years of exclusion from the scheme.

Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, announced the decision on Thursday in Abuja, stating that only graduates of full-time HND programs would be eligible for mobilisation. The policy shift follows consultations with the Director-General of the NYSC and is aimed at promoting fairness in the education sector.

“The Federal Ministry of Education remains committed to equity, fairness, and inclusivity in Nigeria’s education system,” Alausa said in a statement released by the ministry’s Director of Press and Public Relations, Folasade Boriowo.

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To ensure smooth implementation, the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) has been directed to compile data on eligible HND graduates. A circular has also been issued to polytechnic rectors, instructing them to upload the necessary graduate records to a newly established HND admission portal, which will serve as the official database for NYSC mobilisation.

However, the minister clarified that part-time HND graduates remain ineligible for the scheme.

“This decision applies strictly to those who completed a full-time HND programme,” Alausa reiterated.

He urged all qualified graduates to take advantage of the opportunity and begin their mobilisation process immediately.

The move is expected to address long-standing concerns among polytechnic graduates and enhance their participation in national development through the NYSC scheme.

FG approves NYSC mobilisation for all full-time HND graduates

Education

Romanian university offers fully funded scholarships to non-EU and non-EEA students for 2025

Published

1 week ago

March 16, 2025

Trends Admin

Romanian university offers fully funded scholarships to non-EU and non-EEA students for 2025

Transylvania University in Brașov, Romania, has announced the availability of fully funded scholarships for international students from non-EU and non-EEA countries.

The 2025 Transylvania Academica Scholarship offers recipients the opportunity to study bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree programs at the university, covering tuition, accommodation, and living expenses.

The Transylvania Academica Scholarship is an initiative driven by Transylvania University to attract international students to Romania. The scholarship not only covers tuition fees and accommodation but also provides a monthly stipend to help with living expenses.

As stated by the institution, “Transilvania Academica Scholarship is designed as a competition for international students from non-EU or non-EEA countries.”

This move, according to the university, is part of efforts harnessed to build a network of global ambassadors and increase its international visibility.

Scholarship coverage and benefits

The scholarship covers several expenses for selected students. Tuition fees, including registration and graduation costs, are fully paid for. Students will also receive free accommodation in the university’s dormitories, even during holidays.

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Details inform that each scholarship recipient will receive a monthly allowance of 800 lei, which is approximately 170 USD, to help cover living expenses. However, candidates are responsible for their travel expenses and visa costs to Romania.

Eligibility and application requirements

To apply for the Transylvania Academica Scholarship, candidates must meet specific eligibility criteria. The scholarship is open to students from non-EU and non-EEA countries.

Applicants are required to submit an online application and provide several documents, including a curriculum vitae that highlights their academic achievements. Link to application form:http://tas.unitbv.ro/?page_id=4
A one-page motivation letter, and three letters of recommendation.

All documents must be submitted in English, and incomplete applications will be rejected.

Selection process and timeline

The institution informs that an evaluation board whose members are appointed by the Rector of Transilvania University of Brasov will be in charge of the candidates’ selection.

The selection criterion is the quality of the documents submitted in the application file.

Timeline:

February 17th, 2025 – April 25th, 2025: Candidates are required to register by filling out the online application form.
April 28th, 2025 – May 28th, 2025: Application files will be evaluated.
May 29th, 2025 – May 30th, 2025: The list of selected candidates, including a pending list, will be approved.
June 2nd, 2025: Selected candidates will be notified via email.

Only successful applicants will be contacted by email.

The selected candidates for the Transilvania Academica Scholarship will be subject to the Romanian academic studies admission procedure available at https://www.unitbv.ro/en/prospective-students/admission/admission-information-for-non-eu-citizens.html