Education
Enugu Govt seals illegal, substandard schools
The Enugu State Government has shut down some schools in the state capital, over alleged substandard and illegal operation.
The Commissioner for Education, Prof. Ndubueze Mbah, made this known on Saturday during the enforcement of government’s policy on ways to boost and enhance the quality of education in the state.
Mbah said that the exercise was meant to rid the state of poor education quality and skill deficiency.
According to the commissioner, some of the affected schools were Evangel School, Ivory Education Centre, located on Owerri Road, Asata and Eastview Nursery and Primary School at Railway Quarters, Njemanze.
Others included St Michael Nursery and Primary School, Asata; St Bartholomew Nursery, Primary and Secondary School, Asata; and Olive Grove Nursery and Primary Academy, Njemanze.
He said that the exercise followed the ministry’s earlier directive requiring all the operators of educational institutions at the Basic and Secondary School levels to comply with the state regulations.
Mbah added that government made registration and approval by the ministry mandatory for any school to operate.
He regretted that some of the schools visited were operating under open-roof, fallen rafters and severely cracked walls housing hundreds of pupils under abysmal learning environment.
He said that the situation was in complete disregard of the rules guiding the establishment and management of educational institutions.
Mbah said that the state government would not compromise on its determination to raise the bar for education by ensuring competent and qualified teachers, adherence to the curriculum, conducive learning environment and other safety measures for students.
He described the proliferation of illegal schools across the state, where unscrupulous proprietors rip off parents without providing commensurate quality education for their children, as worrisome and unacceptable.
According to him, some schools paraded unqualified teachers, while cramping children in dilapidated structures that put their lives in danger.
“We sensitised our people about the state government’s education policy and how education must align with the most advanced global practices, if our children can have a chance to acquire 21st Century skills and modern workforce knowledge and be able to compete with their global peers.
“We gave them four months grace for all schools yet to register or obtain provisional licences to do so.
“And we are doing this to checkmate abuses and restore the dignity of education in our state,” the commissioner said.
Education
New Minister for Education reverses 18 years University entry policy
The 18 years entry age for university admission has been reversed by the newly appointed Minister of Education, Dr. Morufu Olatunji Alausa.
The 18 years entry policy initiated by Professor Tahir Mamman, former Minister of Education, had generated controversy.
Addressing journalists upon assumption of office on Tuesday, Alausa said the policy was detrimental to the Federal Government.
Alausa said the reversal of the policy was aimed at reducing the number of out-of-school children in Nigeria.
He said the policy is also not sustainable for the education sector, explaining that the 16-year-age limit would be maintained and exceptions would be granted for “gifted children”.
The new minister added that going forward, Nigeria’s education system will be 80 percent practical and 20 percent classroom/theoretical.
Alausa said practical education will help to curb the unemployment situation in Nigeria as tertiary institutions will not continue churning out graduates on a yearly basis without jobs for Nigerians.
He said the Federal Government will work with private sector operators for the training of students to unleash their potentials.
Alausa was among the 10 ministers who got new portfolios after last month’s cabinet reshuffle which led to the exit of his predecessor.
He was formerly Minister of State for Health.
Education
UK govt to raise university tuition fees in 2025
The administration of Prime Minister Keir Starmer in the United Kingdom is planning to increase tuition fees in universities in the country effective from September 2025, a report by The Telegraph of London has indicated.
The increase is going to be the first in eight years.
Education Secretary, Bridget Phillipson, is expected to announce the tuition fees rise in line with the Retail Price Index inflation.
The fee rise is expected to come into force from September 2025, meaning that it will affect A-level students who are currently applying to universities.
Tuition fees have remained frozen at £9,250 since 2017. It is unclear which month’s inflation figures the Labour Party government will choose to link fees to, but matching them to the current rate of 2.7 per cent would see fees rise to about £9,500 from next year.
Previous reports suggested that the government would raise tuition fees to £10,500 over the next five years.
The move follows growing concerns that many institutions are now facing financial crisis, with 40 per cent of English universities expecting to slump into a deficit this year.
The Coalition government tripled tuition fees to £9,000 in 2012. Fees only increased after that to hit £9,250 in 2017, where they remain frozen today despite soaring inflation over the past few years.
The Russell Group of elite universities has argued that the cap on tuition fees means they are now making a loss of about £4,000 per UK student.
University finances have also suffered from a dramatic drop in lucrative international students following a Tory crackdown on dependent visas.
Home Office figures showed 16 per cent fewer visa applications were made between July and September than in the same period in 2023.
Foreign students, who typically pay triple or even quadruple domestic students, had been largely propping up the sector. A sudden fall in numbers has removed a crucial lifeline for universities and amplified calls for immediate action from the new government.
Sources close to discussions told The Telegraph they were hoping that a small tuition fee rise would be announced in the budget last week as an acknowledgement by Rachel Reeves of the severity of the situation.
However, the Chancellor held off from unveiling any new funding for the higher education sector in her maiden budget.
Education
NASU, SSANU suspend strike
The Joint Action Committee (JAC) of non teaching staff unions in tertiary institutions, says it has suspended its ongoing strike for one month, effective from Nov. 5.
JAC comprises the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU), and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU).
Mr Peters Adeyemi, General Secretary of NASU said this in a statement jointly signed by Mr Mohammed Ibrahim, President of SSANU on Sunday in Abuja.
JAC had directed its members to embark on an indefinite strike on Oct. 28, to protest non-payment of their salaries for months and non- implementation of other demands.
Adeyemi said the decision to suspend the ongoing strike for a month was due to exhaustive deliberations held with the Federal Government.
According to him, these high-level engagements culminated into extracting an irrevocable commitment from the Federal Government that two out of the four months salaries would be paid in staggered forms.
He said that a payment of the agreement had been made in October 2024, adding that the second month would be paid by the end of November.
”Arising from the above and in view of the level of commitment exhibited by the new Minister of Education and the leadership of the Department of State Services.
“The leadership of JAC, after several contacts and other patriotic considerations, hereby directs that the ongoing strike be suspended for one month effective Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024.
“Branch leaders of both NASU and SSANU are hereby directed to convene a joint congress in their respective campuses.
“We wish to reiterate that discussions on the remaining two months, the N5O billion Earned Allowances, Arrears of 25/35 per cent and the Wage Award have been revisited and are undergoing deliberations,” he said.
(NAN)
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