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Tag: SUBEB

  • Oyo Commences Operation At New Model Smart School, As UBEC Hands Over Structure

    Oyo Commences Operation At New Model Smart School, As UBEC Hands Over Structure

    The Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board, SUBEB, on Thursday said all is set for the commencement of operation in the newly constructed model smart school, Sogunro, Akinyele, Ibadan.

    The Executive Secretary, Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board, Mr. Jacob Dairo, said this during a handover of the structure to the Board by the Universal Basic Education Commission, UBEC.

    During the handover, Dairo applauded UBEC on its commitment to technical and digital education in the State.

    He equally said the Oyo State Government, through the Board has not relented in its bid to equip the younger generation with the requisite skills to remain competitive in the global economy.

    Mr. Dairo added that the place of education in the attainment of national development and transformation cannot be relegated to the background.

    The federal government through the Universal Basic Education Commission and the Oyo State Government constructed the Model smart school at Sogunro area, Akinyele Local Government.

    Mr. Dairo, who was recently appointed as the Executive Secretary of the Board by Governor Seyi Makinde, said the goal is to prioritize digital and technical education towards attaining socioeconomic development in the younger generation and make them competitive.

    The Executive Secretary said officials are ready for full academic activities, which will commence in September.

    Mr. Dairo said the school will accommodate pre-basic class; Special Education; Basic 1-3 and Junior Secondary School 1-2 pupils.

    “All is set for the school’s take-off in the new school calendar. The school will enhance the quality of teaching, learning and the use of Information Communication Technology (ICT) of our pupils”, he said.

    “We commend the Universal Basic Education Commission, UBEC, for its support in uplifting basic education in the State, as well as moves to eliminate out-of-school syndrome”.

    “Equally, we appreciate Governor Seyi Makinde in the implementation of qualitative basic education in the State. The visit was meant to assess the level of the project in readiness for the next session”, he added.

    Also speaking, a representative of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Mrs. Sherifat Lawal, reiterated the commitment of the federal government to Basic Education in Oyo State.

    She also said the objectives of the Commission is to assist all States in the development of smart schools projects, and to improve the access of teachers and pupils to quality teaching and learning materials. 

    The Zonal consultant, UBEC, Arc. Sanya Akindele said the school has classrooms for pupils with special needs, Pre-basic, Primary and JSS classes.

    He added that the school is equipped with a Robotic laboratory, vocational laboratories, Clinic, ICT room and an e-library.

    Arc. Akindele also eulogized Governor Seyi Makinde, for his commitment to the project.

    Arc. Akindele added that the project is an opportunity to open up e-learning and expose pupils to computers at an early age, saying the school is fully computerised by UBEC/SUBEB.

    “The way forward is ICT and this will give them a jump-start in life”, he said.

    The Chairman, Sogunro community, Mr. Jimoh Wasiu who applauded Governor Seyi Makinde and the OYOSUBEB, said the project will contribute to the development of the community. 

    Recently, the Desk officer, Oyo state Smart School, Mrs. Olaide Ladipo led a monitoring team, including officials of the Ministry of Energy and the host local government round facilities at the model smart school.

    She disclosed that registration has commenced online through www.oyostatesmartschool.com for admission, adding that the entrance examination will come up on Monday, September 11, 2023.

  • Feature- ASUU: Private Varsities Experience Surge in Students Transfer from Public Varsities as Strike Lingers

    Feature- ASUU: Private Varsities Experience Surge in Students Transfer from Public Varsities as Strike Lingers

    by Oluwatosin Ojebisi

    The establishment of public universities in Nigeria can be traced back to the 1940s with the University College, Ibadan was established. From the 1940s to date, we have witnessed the establishment of 170 universities, according to Statista. Of these 170 universities, 79 are private, 43 are federal, and 48 are state universities.

    Both public and private universities have experienced an evolution since the establishment of the first university in Nigeria. However, the major concern is not the number of universities in the country, but the quality of education they provide to learners who seek knowledge. As we continue to experience steady growth in population, year on year, we have also observed a rise in the number of students applying to different universities across the country. However, some public universities have encountered several challenges in accommodating students who are qualified, thereby leaving them to seek admission in private universities or outside the country.

    But the question is, how many Nigerian parents can afford the tuition fees for private universities with the current situation of the economy?

    The situation of the economy is not the only thing biting hard as we speak. The state of education in Nigeria is a cause for enormous worry as it is currently at an all-time low. Among the problems plaguing the educational system are; poor funding, poor infrastructure, incessant strike actions, lack of autonomy, political interference, inadequate academic personnel, low revenue generation, and unstable administration, among others.

    Significantly among the highlighted problems is the incessant strike actions by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU). It may interest you to know that the union is on its 16th strike since Nigeria’s return to democracy in 1999. The shutting of academic activities for a long time mostly characterised these strike actions. In the last 23 years, the union has embarked on an aggregate of over 4 years of strike action–a sufficient time frame to begin and conclude a degree programme.

    The latest among its strikes began on 14th February 2022, with the union demanding a renegotiation of the 2009 FGN/ASUU Agreement, deployment of the University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS), payment of outstanding arrears of Earned Academic Allowances (EAA), the release of the agreed sum of money for the revitalisation of public universities (Federal and States), addressing proliferation and governance issues in State Universities, settlement of promotion arrears, the release of withheld salaries of academics, and payment of outstanding third-party deductions. Unfortunately, these demands are still yet to be met by the Nigerian government, which has led to several extensions, with the most recent extension being indefinite.

    Notwithstanding, a lot of Nigerian students and parents who are frustrated with the ongoing situation and see no hope have started seeking admission to private universities, as Visa restrictions in some countries have posed a great challenge for some Nigerians.

    It is rather unfortunate that the fate that befell government primary and post-primary institutions will gradually befall tertiary institutions also. Recently, when the Ondo State government through the Chairman of the Universal Basic Education Board, SUBEB, Mr. Victor Olabimtan, declared that it has become an offense for any teacher in its public schools across the state to enrol their children in private schools as a result of the dwindling population of pupils in public primary schools across the state.

    Nigerian parents are striving to ensure that they get the least of quality education for their wards but the lackadaisical attitude of the government over the years have made people gravitate towards private schools and we are heading towards that when it comes to tertiary education. At the end of this industrial action, what will redeem the time wasted by the students? There has been an astronomical rise in the number of students on forced internships in various offices while there are some learning various skills across the country. Unfortunately, there would also be a rise in teenage pregnancies, drug addiction, and other vices.

    In a recent report by Vanguard, Dr. Joshua Suleiman of Babcock University, Ilisan Remo, Ogun State stated that; “It is true we have been receiving requests in huge number, from students in federal and state universities to switch to our university. The requests for transfer cut across many courses.

    “I can tell you for sure that I receive not less than five of such on a daily basis. The phone numbers put on our school’s website are daily jammed with such requests. Some requests come from students in 300 level and even 400 level. But that is not possible. Any student that is past 200 level cannot transfer to another university according to regulations”.

    Babcock isn’t the only university experiencing a surge in student enrolment, private universities like the American University of Nigeria (AUN), Yola, recently declared that it has admitted over 3,000 students into various academic programmes run by the institution.

    As the strike continues to take its toll on both the students and parents, there is a need for the government and relevant stakeholders to rethink and make provisions for the improvement of the education sector rather than ignoring the current situation. We acknowledge that the challenges, peculiarities, and practicalities are extensive, but notwithstanding, it is time for the government to take deliberate steps to build a stable system, save the sector to avoid losing its best brains, and secure the educational heritage of Nigerian public universities.

  • Teach For Nigeria Inducts Its 6th Cohort of Teaching Fellows

    Teach For Nigeria Inducts Its 6th Cohort of Teaching Fellows

    …trains 319 Fellows to teach in underserved schools

    Teach For Nigeria (TFN), a non-profit organization that is developing leaders to ensure that children in under-served communities can fulfil their potential regardless of their socio-economic background. This year, the Teach for Nigeria Fellows went through a five-week hybrid Training Institute which kicked off virtually on the 31st of July 2022. A two-week residential training at Greensprings School, Lekki Campus, Lagos, followed running from 1st August – 16th August 2022.  

    The Teach For Nigeria Fellowship is a leadership development program that equips Fellows with teaching and leadership skills to effect change in their classrooms and beyond. Every year, Teach For Nigeria recruits promising graduates, engages them through an intensive Pre-Service Training Institute, and then places them in under-served schools where they make a remarkable impact and contribute immensely to changing the trajectory of their learners.

    The guest speaker at the event, Director, Enterprise Development Center of the Pan Atlantic University, Dr. Peter Bamkole, reminded the Fellows that they were on a mission. “When you do what you do with your whole heart,and you can do it for free and you’re still happy, that is not work, that’s a mission,” he said. In addition, Dr. Peter stated that the Fellows were the agents of change who would drive the needed change in the educational sector.

    Blessing Adeyemi, one of the Fellows, delivered a valedictory speech on behalf of the Fellows. In her remarks, she noted  “ we have not just been taught the art of teaching, but there’s been a transference of the heart of collective leadership to a shared vision.

    The Fellows were inducted formally into the Fellowship through a commitment pledge/oath led by the CEO of Teach For Nigeria, Folawe Omikunle. She encouraged Fellows to fully honour this promise that they have made to that one Nigerian child as they enter the classrooms.

    Present at the event was the Executive Chairman, Ogun State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Dr. Femi Majekodunmi, who was represented by the Board Secretary, SUBEB, Mr. Wasiu Kuye. The Honourable Commissioner of Education, Lagos State, Folashade Adefisayo, represented by Dr. Olufunke Oyetola, Tutor General/Permanent Secretary (TGPS), Education District 3 was also in attendance.

    In her goodwill message, the Honourable Commissioner of Education, Lagos State, Folashade Adefisayo, represented by Dr. Olufunke Oyetola, Tutor General/Permanent Secretary (TGPS), Education District 3 charged the Fellows to be change agents. “As you go out today, I want to encourage you to be good ambassadors, be an agent of change because education will take Nigeria to a greater level” She said.

    “You have come, you have seen and you have reconquered. Effecting change, requires time and lasting efforts. You are set for a new journey, new experience, in a new environment which will inform a major part of your decision in life now and beyond the fellowship”  This was the goodwill message from the Executive Chairman, Ogun State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Dr. Femi Majekodunmi, represented by the Board Secretary, SUBEB, Mr. Wasiu Kuye.

  • LASG Adjusts Public Primary Schools Y2019/2020 Academic Calendar

    LASG Adjusts Public Primary Schools Y2019/2020 Academic Calendar

    …Schools to Vacate Friday, 6th December and Second Term Resumes Monday, 20th January

    The Lagos State Government has announced the adjustment in closing date for first term year 2019/2020 and resumption date for second term Y2019/2020 school calendar.

    The state government through State Universal Basic Education Board, SUBEB, announced the adjustment in a circular dated November 27, 2019.

    The circular was signed by Mrs. M.A Folami, Acting Director, School Support Services for Executive Chairman, SUBEB,
    Folami explained that the measure has become necessary as the Public Pre-Primary School and Primary School Head Teachers and Teachers would be attending Eko Excel Pre Service Professional Development and Technology Training programme between December 2019 and January 2020.

    The circular read in part, “I’m directed to inform you that the Commissioner for Education has approved that the Y2019/2020 Academic calendar for Lagos Pre-Primary and Primary schools be adjusted thus: For the first term of 2019/2020 academic session Lagos State Public Primary Schools will vacate Friday, December 6th, 2019 as against the earlier date of December 13th, 2019.

    “For the second term of 2019/2020 academic session Lagos State Public Primary Schools will resume on Monday, January 20th, 2020 as against the previous date of January 6th, 2020.”