Education

Fees Hike: OAU students threaten to shut campuses nationwide in joint action with NANS

Published

2 weeks ago

September 19, 2023

Fees Hike: OAU students threaten to shut campuses nationwide in joint action with NANS

Students of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun State, have threatened to shut down their campus in joint action with the National Association of Nigeria Students (NANS) over a 300 percent increase in tuition fees.

The students, led by their union leaders, gathered at the Kensarowiwa building on the university campus on Monday and demanded that the tuition hike be reversed.

Addressing the students, the President of the Student Union, Abbas Akinremi-Ojo, disclosed, “We’ve also written to all respective banks to halt the acceptance of fee payments from any student until a better resolution has been achieved. As much as we don’t want to, we are currently running out of options and might have to shut down all activities on campus and progressively on all other federal institutions’ campuses in Nigeria, with the backing of the National Association of Nigeria Students (NANS).”

READ ALSO:

He recalled that the student leadership had met with the management in August when they learned about plans to increase school fees, followed by negotiations.

He continued, “It is unfortunate that the management announced the 300 percent increment in tuition fees without considering the plight of the students of the institution. When we met with the management, they claimed that the Federal Government had stopped funding OAU. However, the recent release on September 15th, 2023, listed OAU as the 9th top-funded university with a budget allocation of N13.4 billion.”

Meanwhile, the leadership of the National Association of Universities Students (NAUS), led by its chairman, Comrade Olayinka Popoola, issued a 5-day ultimatum to the management of OAU to reverse the tuition fee hike. He warned other universities planning to increase fees to desist from doing so, suggesting they seek alternative funding sources.

Popoola also expressed concern about the safety of the students in the institution in Ilesa, calling on security agencies to intervene and stop the violence in the community.

Fees Hike: OAU students threaten to shut campuses nationwide in joint action with NANS

Education

Katsina University suspends 6 students over alleged murder of colleague

Published

2 hours ago

October 2, 2023

Trends Admin

Katsina University suspends 6 students over alleged murder of colleague

The academic journey of at least six persons at Federal University Dutsin-Ma (FUDMA) has been halted over the alleged murder of a 200-level student of the institution.

The management of the University announced the development in a statement issued by Malam Habib Aminu-Umar, its spokesperson, in Katsina on Sunday.

The State Police Command had earlier announced the arrest of six students of the University, in connection with the death of Abubakar Nasir-Barda, a 200 level-student.

“The management of the University, on behalf of its Senate, staff and students is deeply saddened, concerned and highly regrets the unfortunate incident involving some of its students.

“It led to the sudden death of a 200-level Computer Science and Information Technology, from an unfortunate altercation over a female student.

“The University Management has been up and doing since the occurrence of the unfortunate incident to ensure justice is served to all.

READ ALSO:

“The management upon getting wind of the incident swiftly constituted an Interim ad-hoc committee to look into the case and feed management on development as they unfold,” he said.

According to him, a preliminary report submitted to the management on Sept. 30, by the committee revealed that the unfortunate incident occurred outside the university’s campus.

“But upon receipt of information, the university’s security were quickly mobilised to the scene for prompt intervention that halted further altercation between the students and apprehension of some students involved.

“The matter has already been taken over by Police, which led to the arrest of six students that are in connection with the incident as confirmed by the Police official press statement,” Aminu-Umar said.

According to him, the ad-hoc committee’s interim report had equally recommended the University Management to invoke session 5.5(a) Of the University Academic Policy by suspending all the six students involved in the matter pending the outcome of the police investigation.

“Which the management has approved by suspending indefinitely all the six students involved,” the university’s spokesperson revealed.

He said that while the police investigation was ongoing, the university management was assuring the public, particularly the university community, that no stone would be left unturned in ensuring justice was served.

Aminu-Umar further disclosed that the university management prayed for the repose of the soul of the deceased.

Katsina University suspends 6 students over alleged murder of colleague

(NAN)

Education

WAEC to Introduce CBT for WASSCE — HNO

Published

1 week ago

September 23, 2023

Trends Admin

WAEC to Introduce CBT for WASSCE — HNO

The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) says plans to introduce the Computer Based Test (CBT) mode in the administration of its examinations are at advanced stage.

The Head of National Office (HNO), Mr Patrick Areghan, gave the hint in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Lagos.

Areghan was speaking against the backdrop of notable achievements and advancements of the council under his watch, as he prepared to bow out of office on Oct. 1.

He would be bowing out after completing his three-year tenure.

Areghan said that introducing the CBT mode of administrating some of the council’s examination had been part of his vision for the body in the near future.

”We have already started something in terms of CBT examination. We have gone far with our planning and all of that, even in the sub region, the registrar to council is also doing something.

“But this is not as easy as some people will think. This is because we ask ourselves, how do we conduct CBT for practicals and essay papers?

“We can only readily do that in the case of objective questions. But so many people will not see it from that angle. They argue that some others are doing it, why can’t WAEC do same.

“Now, no one even talks about energy; how many schools are exposed to computer literacy? How many have computer facilities and how many have electricity to run these things?

“Even where you have all these things on ground, how do you handle the issue of theory and practical papers? So, these are the issues, but that is what I want the council to do in the very near future.

READ ALSO:

“We should be able to conduct CBT examinations, even if it means starting with the objective questions,” he said.

The outgoing WAEC boss noted that already, the council had concluded on introducing the administration of its examination using the CBT platform under his watch, in no distant time, starting with the objective questions and later theory and practicals.

“But you can still be sure that not all schools will be ready. Maybe we can have a segregated market. Those who cannot afford the CBT will go for the pencil and paper mode.

“So, I will like to see WAEC in that light,” he said.

Areghan said asides the introduction of the CBT, he would also like to see all the operations of the council fully digitalised in the near future.

He noted that almost every section of the council had been digitalised under his watch.

“I have almost digitalised everywhere now. Talk of certificate, checking of results and verification of results and more.

“I will live to see more massive deployment of technology so that the vision of council can change from just being a world class examination body to a technology-driven examination body.

“I also want WAEC to be more visible in the international stage. I want to see, through the cooperation of the sub region, how we can take WAEC overseas, that is, how Nigerian children in the diaspora can sit for WASSCE overseas.

“That, again, is what I want WAEC to do in the very near future. That is one thing I wanted to do under my watch, but, again like I said, it needs the cooperation of the sub region, not just Nigeria, to take WASSCE overseas.

“I also want to see its digital certificate that we have successfully launched in Nigeria replicated in the entire sub region, so that any candidate that has taken WASSCE, can be in any part of the world to access the digital certificate; that is a legacy.

READ ALSO:

“For instance, if your certificate gets missing, soaked, destroyed by fire and so on, with one touch on the bottom, it appears.

“For me, this is a great legacy,” the WAEC boss stated.

He also stated that the council’s Digital Security Printing Press is another milestone achievement under his watch.

According to him, after 71 years of council’s existence the introduction of the digital security printing press is a worthy legacy.

This is alongside other internal ones, such as the Staff Bus scheme, meant to cushion the effect of high transportation fare, occasioned by the fuel subsidy removal, he said.

“We are going to do more to motivate staff. I am counting on my successor to follow suit, being a very committed and intelligent person. It is my prayer that he achieves more than me,” he stated.

Speaking on his greatest achievement, Areghan highlighted the successful conduct of examinations, release of results within stipulated time and printing and release of certificates to deserving candidates as key.

“That is my greatest achievement. That is because when you work in the council and you fail to conduct any examination, no matter the other levels of achievements, you have failed.

“So, I give God all the glory that I have been able to conduct all the examinations, even in the COVID-19 years, from 2020 to 2023,” the outgoing council boss told NAN.

WAEC to Introduce CBT for WASSCE — HNO

(NAN)

Education

UNILAG releases cut-off marks for 2023/2024 admission. See details…

Published

2 weeks ago

September 19, 2023

Trends Admin

UNILAG

UNILAG releases cut-off marks for 2023/2024 admission. See details…

THE management of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Akoka on Friday September 15, released the admission cut-off marks for the 2023/2024 academic session.

A breakdown revealed that Medicine and Surgery has the highest cut-off mark of 84, followed by Mechanical Engineering and Computer Science 81 and Law 76.

Aside from the merit cut-off marks, UNILAG also came out with catchment cut-off marks for six states; Lagos, Oyo, Osun, Ekiti, Ondo and Ogun.

Cut-off for the Faculty of Education showed that Creative Art 67, English Language 70, History and Strategic Studies 71, Philosophy 68, and Chinese 68.

The university cut-off marks for College of Medicine are Physiotherapy 75, Radiography 76, Medical Lab Science 77, Physiology 76, Dentistry 80, Nursing 78 and Pharmacy 77.

For the Faculty of Education, the marks are Education Business 67, Education English 68, Education History 65, Education CS 66, Health Education 61, Adult Education 62 and Education Technology 65.

READ ALSO:

Under the Faculty of Engineering, the cut-off marks are Chemical Engineering 77, Civil Engineering 77, Elect and Elect Engineering 79, Met and Geo Engineering 71 and Systems Engineering 79.

The cut-off marks for Faculty of Environment Sciences include Architecture 78, Building 69, Urban and Regional Planning 64 and Estate Management 64.

The Faculty of Management Sciences cut-off marks are Accounting 76, Banking and Finance 70, Business Administration 70, Taxation 71, IRPM 67 and Insurance 69.

For the Faculty of Science, the released cut-off marks are Industrial Mathematics 74, Microbiology 72, Geology 71, Cell Biology 72, Chemistry 68, Geophysics 69 and Statistics 69.

The released cut-off marks for the Faculty of Social Sciences include Economics 72, Mass Communication 73, Psychology 72, Social Work 68, Sociology 68 and Economics and Development Studies 69.

The university management also allocated different cut-off marks for the six catchment states while Sustainable Procurement and Social Standards Center of Excellence 69.