Education

Liverpool teacher shortlisted for $1m global teacher prize

A UK PE teacher who has pioneered new ways of teaching sports to visually impaired children at a special needs school in Liverpool has been shortlisted for this year’s prestigious global teacher prize.

David Swanston, a teacher at St Vincent’s school, is in the final 10 out of 8,000 nominations and applications for this year’s $1m (£730,000) award, which is intended to showcase the work teachers do preparing young people for their future. It is funded by the Varkey Foundation and endorsed by Unesco.

He is joined by Elliott Lancaster, a 24-year-old postgraduate student at Keele University, who is shortlisted for the first Chegg.org global student prize, a sister award that rewards exceptional achievements in learning and extracurricular activity, with a $100,000 prize.

Swanston has taught children with visual impairments for more than a decade at St Vincent’s, which is a specialist school for children with sensory impairments. In 2020 he was appointed deputy principal.

Swanston specialises in PE but teaches a range of subjects including geography and art. He pioneered techniques to enable students with visual impairments to participate in sports, since they on average accumulate less than half the recommended 60 minutes of moderate daily activity. Several of his students have gone on to become Paralympians.

His work has included modelling techniques and examples to enable blind students to understand how sports pitches are laid out. He is developing a version of rugby specifically for blind children, which uses textures and electronics to model game play and create ball prototypes.

If he wins the global teacher prize, Swanston plans to use the funds to support physical activity, horticulture and wellbeing programmes at the neighbouring Alder Hey children’s hospital, as well as to develop inclusive and blind ice hockey across the UK. He will also use the funds to support his charity, Sightbox, which aims to improve access to adapted sport for visually impaired students in developing countries.

Lancaster is a postgraduate student at Keele University and a sustainability campaigner. In 2016 he established a social enterprise app in Newcastle-under-Lyme called Utter Rubbish, which updates local residents on recycling policies in their local area. There are now plans to roll out the service in other local councils. He has also set up a network of sustainability volunteers, who lobby for organisations to become carbon neutral.

In his academic work, Elliott has published two award-winning studies looking at interdisciplinary learning and the impact of coronavirus on blended learning.

Sunny Varkey, the founder of the Varkey Foundation, said Swanston and Lancaster’s nominations “highlight the importance of education in tackling the great challenges ahead – from climate change to growing inequality to global pandemics”.

The education secretary, Nadhim Zahawi, congratulated Swanston and Lancaster on their nominations. He said that after a recent meeting with Lancaster he had been “so impressed by his passion and commitment to issues like sustainability”, and he praised Swanston for his “innovation” and “inspirational work”.

The winners of both prizes will be announced on 10 November in a virtual ceremony hosted at Unesco’s headquarters in Paris.

Education

TASUED Convocation: Abiodun Gifts Three Best Graduating Students N2m Each

L-R: Best graduating student (2021-2022) from the Department of Biology, Elibe Patricia; best graduating student (2020-2021), from the Department of Mathematics, Sunday Oluwafemi; Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, best graduating student from the Department of Mathematics (2022-2023), Sanyaolu Mercy and the First-Class student of Mathematics under the indigenous work-study program, Okewale Nelson during the 13th,14th and 15th combined convocation of Tai Solarin University of Education (TASUED), Ijebu-Ode on Tuesday.

The three best graduating students of the Tai Solarin University of Education (TASUED), Ijebu-Ode, representing the 2020/2021, 2021/2022 and 2022/2023 academic years, have been awarded N2 million each by Governor Dapo Abiodun for their academic feats.

The cash award was announced on Tuesday by the Governor during the 13th,14th, and 15th convocation ceremonies of the institution.

He also announced N500,000 to the best graduating students in each of the colleges for the three years from 2020 to 2023.

The recipients are Sunday Oluwafemi, with a GPA of 4.89 (2020/2021); Obadina Patricia Elibe with GPA of 4.89 (2021/2022) and Mercy Deborah Sanyaolu with GPA of 4.86 (2022/2023).

The governor announced a cash of N250,000 to a first-class student, Okewale Nelson, who, despite taking advantage of the ingenious work-study program of the institution, was able to earn a first class degree in mathematics.

Abiodun disclosed that the feat recorded by Nelson has shown that working while studying is not a deterrent to academic success, calling on other students to take advantage of the program and go the same way.

The governor, while empathizing with the students over a recent robbery attack on some of their colleagues residing off campus, said that his administration would root out those obstructing the peace being enjoyed in the state.

He noted that his government remains and maintains a zero tolerance policy for criminal activities, even as he warned of dire consequences on anyone caught disrupting the peace of the state.

Governor Abiodun urged the graduating students to reciprocate the gift of learning and character modelling that the institution has bestowed on them, noting that his administration remains committed to creating an enabling environment for growth and development aimed at making the state economically stable for all.

Abiodun promised that his administration would continue to work diligently to the purpose of utilising the vocational courses acquired during their time in school.

He charged the graduands not to allow the fear of failure to deter them from taking the opportunities, noting that the path ahead may be demanding, but challenges are stepping stone to greatness.

In his address, the institution’s Vice Chancellor, Prof. Oluwole Banjo disclosed that 12,700 students graduated in the 13th,14th, and 15th combined convocation ceremony, while 329 graduated in the postgraduate college.

He also said that 113 students graduated with first-class honours.

In his remarks, the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council; Prof Rahamon Bello, noted that the institution has developed a reputation as being dynamic, accessible and responsive to change.

Education

Gov Abiodun Gifts 3 TASUED Best Graduating Students N2m Each

2023: Ogun gov declares support for Osinbajo’s presidential bid

On Tuesday, the Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, gave the three best-graduating students of the Tai Solarin University of Education (TASUED), Ijagun, a sum of N2 million each for their exceptional academic performances.

He announced the gift during the 13th, 14th, and 15th convocation ceremonies of the institution for the 2020–2021, 2021–2022, and 2022–2023 academic calendars.

Abiodun also announced a N500,000 gift to the best-graduating students in each of the colleges for the three years from 2020 to 2023.

The recipients are Sunday Oluwafemi, with a GPA of 4.89 (2020/2021); Obadina Patricia Elibe, with a GPA of 4.89 (2021/2022); and Mercy Deborah Sanyaolu, with a GPA of 4.86 (2022/2023).

The governor announced a cash donation of N250,000 to a first-class student, Okewale Nelson, who, despite taking advantage of the ingenious work-study programme of the institution, was able to earn a first-class degree in mathematics.

The governor, while empathising with the students over a recent robbery attack on some of their colleagues residing off campus, said that his administration would root out those obstructing the peace being enjoyed in the state.

He noted that his government remains and maintains a zero-tolerance policy for criminal activities, even as he warned of dire consequences for anyone caught disrupting the peace of the state.

Abiodun promised that his administration would continue to work diligently for the purpose of utilising the vocational courses acquired during their time in school.

He charged the graduates not to allow the fear of failure to deter them from taking the opportunities, noting that the path ahead may be demanding, but challenges are stepping stones to greatness.

In his address, the institution’s Vice Chancellor, Prof. Oluwole Banjo, disclosed that 12,700 students graduated in the 13th, 14th, and 15th combined convocation ceremonies, while 329 graduated in the postgraduate college.

He also said that 113 students graduated with first-class honours while advising the new graduates to be persistent, determined, and never to lose hope of their dreams on their way to success in life.

Banjo charged the new graduates to be good ambassadors of TASUED by displaying the good values inculcated in them while they were students.

“Your hard work, dedication, and unwavering commitment have brought you to this pivotal moment. You have not only acquired knowledge but have also grown as individuals, and today, you reap the rewards of your perseverance.

“As you move forward into the next phase of your lives, it’s important to reflect on the values that have been instilled in you during your time at TASUED. Remember the importance of intellectual curiosity, critical thinking, and the pursuit of knowledge. Continue to ask questions, seek answers, and never stop learning,” he said.

In his remarks, the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Council, Prof. Rahamon Bello, noted that the institution has developed a reputation as being dynamic, accessible, and responsive to change.

Education

Baze University Barred From Admitting Law Students

The Abuja-based Baze University has been barred by the Council of Legal Education (CLE) from further admitting students into its Law Faculty for next five years.

The university was founder by the vice presidential of the Labour Party in last February’s election, Dr. Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed. He is also the university’s Pro-Chancellor.

CLE’s decision, it was learnt, was informed by the university’s alleged consistent abuse of its admission quota for Law students.

In a statement, the Acting Secretary and Director of Administration of the Nigerian Law School, Aderonke Osho said that Baze University was banned for consistently violating its admission quota of 50 students per session as approved by the CLE.

The Chairman of the CLE, Chief Emeka Ngige (SAN) also confirmed the development when contacted on Saturday by The Nation.

In the statement, Osho added that the ban resulted from the findings of the CLE, to the effect that the university’s Law Faculty currently has a backlog of over 347 law students waiting to be admitted into the Nigerian Law School.

She said the university runs a three (3)-year LL.B programme for some UTME candidates without the approval of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) and CLE.

Part of the statement reads: “At its quarterly meeting held on 23 November 2023, the Council of Legal Education (CLE) presided over by its Chairman, Chief Emeka Ngige, SAN, OFR, considered the report of the Accreditation Panel to the Faculty of Law, Baze University, Abuja.

“It emerged from the findings by the panel, led by the Director-General, Nigerian Law School, Prof Isa Hayatu Chiroma, SAN, that Baze University consistently and most flagrantly had contravened its admission quota of 50 students per session as approved by the Council of Legal Education with the result that the faculty is currently having a backlog of over 347 law students waiting to be admitted into the Nigerian Law School.

“Since 2017 the Council of Legal Education has grappled with the excesses of Baze University by admitting over 750 law students which ordinarily would have taken about 15 years of admission based on the quota allotted to the university.

“Under the NUC Minimum Benchmark Academic Standard (BMAS) for law degree programme in Nigerian universities, Law is a five (5)-year programme for UTME candidates and four (4)-years for Direct Entry students.

“The Council of Legal Education, after thorough consideration of these infractions, resolved as follows:

*The imposition of a moratorium on admission of law students to the Faculty of Law, Baze University, Abuja, with immediate effect;

*The moratorium will last in the first instance for a period of 5 years and may be renewed if no satisfactory action is taken to remedy the situation.

*The Council, in the interest of the innocent students, parents and guardians, will use the 5 years to find ways to deal with the backlog of law students admitted by Baze University in excess of its admission quota.

*Follow-up visits will be paid to the university to ascertain the extent of the measures it has taken to remedy the anomalies observed during the accreditation visit.

*The National Universities Commission (NUC), Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB), parents, guardians, prospective applicants and members of the public are hereby put on notice on the status of Baze University Abuja and its Faculty of Law”.