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

Okpebholo orders reinstatement of sacked Ambrose Alli varsity staff

Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State has approved the immediate reinstatement of the staff members of Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma, who were disengaged from service in March 2023.

The approval was announced on Monday via a statement issued by the Secretary to the State Government, Musa Ikhilor.

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Recall that the staffers, who were majorly members of the institution’s branch of Academic Staff Union of the Universities (ASUU), were relieved of their appointment, following the agitation for payment of their outstanding salaries, amongst other entitlements.

Ikhilor described the recall as Okpebholo’s significant step toward correcting the injustices of the past and upholding the principles of natural justice, equity and good conscience.

“The government of Sen. Monday Okpebholo believes in the principle of natural justice, equity and good conscience, and will, therefore, not fail to correct any seeming injustice meted to on citizens of Edo State.

“This reinstatement, therefore, is to demonstrate His Excellency’s avowed commitment and adherence to the rule of law in governance at all times,” Ikhilor said.

Education

ASUP to embark on nationwide strike Dec 2

The Chairman of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), Kaduna Polytechnic Chapter, Comrade Abubakar J. Abdullah, said the union will shut down all polytechnics nationwide by December 2 due to the Federal Government’s failure to meet its demands.

He explained that the union leadership issued a 15-day ultimatum to the Federal Government on October 6, 2024, outlining pressing demands aimed at resolving the systemic challenges that hinder the progress of polytechnics. However, he said the government failed to address the issues.

Speaking at a news briefing on Tuesday, Nov. 26, in Kaduna, the chairman listed some of the demands, including swift release of the second tranche of the NEEDS Assessment Intervention fund, immediate implementation of the approved 25/35% salary review across all public polytechnics, and the payment of accrued arrears.

Other demands are the release and final resolution of the decades-long arrears of CONTISS-15 migration for lower cadres, the release of outstanding promotion arrears, addressing inadequate funding, and resolving the issue of unpaid allowances.

“Regrettably, as we passed the deadline of this ultimatum, we are yet to see the necessary actions from the Federal Government to address these pressing demands.

“The silence and inaction have left us with no option but to consider the possibility of a total shutdown of our institutions, scheduled for December 2nd, 2024, should our concerns remain unaddressed,” he said.

Comrade Abdullahi said the survival and quality of the educational system hinged upon the government’s responsiveness.

He stated that the union believe that a strong education sector is vital for the future of the nation and cannot afford to compromise on these issues any longer.

He urged the Federal Government to engage in meaningful dialogue with the union and take decisive steps towards resolving these challenges.

Education

UNICEF, Katsina Govt. Empower 800 Out-Of-School Adolescent Girls

The United Nations Children Funds (UNICEF), in collaboration with the Katsina State Government, has empowered 800 out-of-school adolescent girls across four selected local government areas in the state.

Zainab Abdulkarim, Acting Director, Planning, Research and Statistics (DPRS), Department of Girl Child Education and Child Development, disclosed this in Katsina while presenting the fourth quarter progress report.

According to her, the department, in collaboration with UNICEF, is conducting safe space exercises to empower girls through education and skills acquisition, aiming to facilitate their reintegration into formal school.

“The Ministry of Women Affairs coordinates and monitors the conduct of the exercise in Katsina, Daura, Mani and Batagarawa Local Government Areas.

“About 800 female children were selected for the training programme, which is still ongoing until January 2025.

“No fewer than 200 female out-of-school children selected from the four local government areas were provided with all the necessary reading and writing materials, as well as hygienic kits.

“We trained eight mentors from each local government area, making 32 mentors for the step-down training to the female children of ages 10 to 19 years,” she said.

Mrs Abdulkarim further explained that the project also engaged about 50 community stakeholders and 50 parents of the safe space children to discuss the issues about the training.

According to her, the aim is to allow their children to attend in their local government areas.

She noted that within the period under review, about 70 service providers were trained on the Child Protection Information Management System (CPIMS).

Mrs Abdulkarim explained that during the review period, the department carried out child protection activities, primarily funded by UNICEF.

“These initiatives aim to significantly improve the lives of vulnerable community members, especially children, by empowering them to make better personal and community decisions.”

NAN reports that during the meeting, various ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) that render social protection activities also presented their fourth-quarter progress reports.

The progress review meeting with stakeholders on social protection was organised by the state’s Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, with support from UNICEF, Kano Field Office.

NAN