Education

Nadhim Zahawi: I Will Not Stand Back And See Schools Close

Nadhim Zahawi: I will not stand back and see schools close

The new Education Secretary has said he will not “stand back” and allow pupils to miss school as a result of Covid, as he encouraged children to get the vaccine.

Setting out his priorities for the first time in his new role, Nadhim Zahawi said that as a parent he has seen how “damaging” it can be for children to be out of education and the “great strain” it can put on family life.

Mr Zahawi, who was appointed Education Secretary earlier this month after Gavin Williamson was sacked in a Cabinet re-shuffle, said that almost every state school is now open and operating normally.

He cited the latest official attendance figures, which showed that 122,500 pupils were off school last week compared to a peak of more than a million in July when entire “bubbles” were sent home when a child tested positive.

‘We won’t stand back and let attendance fall’
“While the latest attendance figures show more than 91 per cent of children are in school, we must do everything we can to keep as many in face-to-face learning as possible,” he said.

“We can’t and won’t stand back and let attendance fall. The education of our children is simply too important.”

Mr Zahawi’s comments will be seen as a signal that he is willing to stand up to the unions which have repeatedly called for schools to close during the pandemic.

His predecessor was accused of being too soft on teaching unions and failing to get children back to the classroom quickly enough following the first national lockdown, then presiding over the controversial “bubbles” policy which at its height saw over a million pupils forced to stay at home after a classmate tested positive.

Mr Zahawi said that the swift rollout of the Covid jab among adults, which he oversaw in his previous role as vaccines minister, had led to the safe reopening of society and the economy.

“As a result, life has returned to relative normality far sooner than many of us dared to imagine,” he said.

“Now, in my new job as the Prime Minister’s Education Secretary, I’m determined to see the same sense of urgency and vigour we’ve witnessed throughout our vaccination programme as we offer the vaccine to children aged 12 and above.”

Mr Zahawi said that no child is being “forced” to have the vaccine, adding: “It is a personal medical choice for children and parents or carers to discuss and we trust them to do so – and no one should be stigmatised for their decision.”

‘Being vaccinated is personal medical choice’
But, he stressed: “Let’s be clear. Being vaccinated is a good thing, both for you and for those around you.”

The Education Secretary accused anti-vaccine protesters outside schools of behaving in an “outrageous and completely unacceptable” manner.

“Under no circumstances is it ever acceptable to target teachers or the wider school community,” he said.

“As Education Secretary, I want teachers and students to know that I will always stand up for them and tackle any harassment head on, so teachers can do their vital jobs safely and children get the education they deserve – regardless of whatever choice children and their parents make over vaccination.”

The vaccine roll-out in schools began last week after the UK’s chief medical officers said offering a single dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech jab to around three million pupils would “reduce educational disruption”.

The move came despite the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation deciding not to recommend the mass vaccination of 12 to 15 year olds, as it concluded the jab would provide only a marginal benefit to that cohort, which is at a low risk from the virus.

Education

Lagos university workers declare indefinite strike

The Non-Academic Staff Union of the Lagos State University of Education, LASUED, Ijanikin, have embarked on an indefinite strike to protest the failure of the state government and the institution’s administration to address its demands.

The university union says it wants the payment of payment of 72 months of arrears for hazard and transport allowances to its members as well as salary increase.

The Chairman of the LASUED chapter of NASU, Badmus Adesola, while speaking on the development, said, “We have exhausted all avenues for dialogue, and our members can no longer bear the financial strain caused by the non-payment of our allowances and stagnant wages. This strike is our last resort to demand fairness and justice.

“Many of our members struggle to make ends meet without these allowances. It is unacceptable for the government to ignore our pleas for support.”

“Also, NASU is calling for a 25-35% salary increase, citing the escalating cost of living.

“Our financial demands are not mere whims; they are essential for our survival. The government agreed to this increase, but implementation is still lacking.

“We deserve equal pay for equal work, and it’s time the government recognized our contributions to the education sector.

“We were assured that issues regarding our allowances would be resolved by January 6, but nothing has changed. This strike represents our fight for dignity, respect, and a better working environment.

“While we regret the disruption this may cause, our fight is ultimately for a better educational experience. A well-compensated workforce directly contributes to improved educational standards.”

Education

JAMB remits N6bn to FG coffers after conduct of 2024 UTME

The Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) on Monday said it has remitted over N6 billion to the federal government coffers as part of its operating surplus after the conduct of the 2024 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

The Board disclosed that it has so far contributed over N50 billion as an operating surplus to the national treasury over the past seven years under the watch of its Registrar/Chief Executive, Prof Is-haq Oloyede.

The details of the remittances are contained in the Monday Bulletin of the Board made available to newsmen in Abuja by the Public Communication Advisor, JAMB, Dr. Fabian Benjamin.

According to the board, in 2024, it generated a total income of N22,996,653,265.25 and spent N18,198,739,362.68 towards conducting examinations (UTME), paid service providers, and covering essential expenses, including staff claims amounting to N2,119,571,022.88.

According to JAMB, 2024 represented a pivotal moment, marking a time to reap the rewards of the various innovations it had implemented.It noted that one area where the Board has demonstrated commendable courage over the years was in enhancing accountability, transparency, and openness in its financial practices, stressing that since 2017, it has consistently provided weekly income and expenditure reports for public scrutiny.

While looking ahead to 2025, the Board reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining accountability, transparency, and openness in all financial dealings.

It stated: “As we reflect on 2024, it is essential to uphold our commitment to transparency by sharing our financial performance for the year. In 2024, the Board generated a total income of N22,996,653,265.25.“From this amount, It expended N18,198,739,362.68 towards conducting examinations (UTME), paid service providers, and covering essential expenses, including staff claims amounting to N2,119,571,022.88.

“Upon assuming office, Professor Is-haq Oloyede’s management team prioritized financial responsibility. In line with government regulations, it remitted over N7 billion from its operational surplus during the first year.

“Additionally, management initiated a programme to give back to candidates by reducing the cost of its application documents by N1,500, a practice that has continued with subsequent remittances to the federal treasury.

“In 2024, the Board remitted N6,034,605,510.69 to the government. When combined with the N1,500 reduction per form for candidates multiplied by the number of candidates that benefited in 2024, the total remittance by JAMB would amount to N9,013,068,510.69.

“Looking ahead to 2025, the Board remains committed to maintaining accountability, transparency, and openness in all financial dealings.

“The Board will also continue to ensure equity and fairness for all candidates in the admission process, which remains its core mandate.”

The Board also highlighted various reforms instituted by the management of JAMB under the leadership of Prof. Oloyede over the years culminating in significant achievements and recognition in 2024.

It recalled that at a roundtable organised by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC) in January 2024, President Bola Tinubu, represented by Vice President Senator Kashim Shettima, commended the Board and specifically highlighted Prof. Oloyede’s exemplary character, purposeful leadership, and prudent management of resources.

“This recognition was underscored by the Board’s remarkable contribution of N50 billion as an operating surplus to the national treasury over the past seven years,” it noted.

Also, the Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BPSR) shortly after rated JAMB highly in its performance index using its Self-Assessment Tool (SAT).

During an official visit to JAMB’s National Headquarters in Bwari, Abuja, on March 19, 2024, BPSR Director-General Dr Dasuki Arabi praised the Board for its commitment to efficient service delivery and acknowledged Prof. Oloyede’s visionary leadership.

In response to the government’s confidence in JAMB, the Board was tasked with combating the prevalence of fake degrees and certificates in the country.

To enhance its efforts in this area, JAMB collaborated with relevant agencies, including the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).

In April 2024, this partnership was formalised to protect the integrity of tertiary education certificates, helping to identify fraudulent candidates seeking to participate in the NYSC scheme. (Nation)

Education

WAEC Introduces Resit Exams For Candidates

The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has announced a new initiative, which will allow students to resit their WASSCE papers as early as January and February 2025.

This marks a significant shift from the previous system, where candidates had to wait for the next private exam cycle.The Head of Public Affairs at WAEC, John Kapi, disclosed this while speaking on JoyNews’ AM Show in Ghana on Tuesday, December 31st.He explained that the new programme, referred to as WASSCE PC1, provides a faster route for students to improve their grades.

“Students who access their results now and realise they need to resit one or two papers have until 8th January to register online through our website or at WAEC-accredited internet cafés. The exams will take place from 24th January to 15th February 2025,” Mr Kapi stated.

According to him, to aid candidates in their preparations, WAEC plans to expedite the release of chief examiners’ reports, saying, “These reports will provide detailed feedback on where students may have gone wrong and how they can better approach their studies and the examination process.

“We’ve advertised this programme widely through banners, our website, and our results checker platform to ensure that both students and parents are aware,” Mr Kapi added.

He said students whose results have been cancelled are also eligible to sit the WASSCE PC1 exams, provided they have not been banned for some years for malpractice.

“For now, the exams will be conducted in regional capitals due to the limited number of candidates. Prospective participants are urged to complete their registration by the 8th of January to take advantage of this opportunity.”

WAEC, however, expressed optimism that this initiative will allow candidates to quickly improve their grades and qualify for the next cycle of admissions, avoiding a year-long delay in their academic progress. Daily Trust