JAMB set to upload names of successful candidates

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) says it will soon commence the uploading of names of candidates who have been offered admission into tertiary institution on its website.

The board’s Head, Media and Information, Dr Fabian Benjamin, made the disclosure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Lagos.

According to him, the board will ensure that Nigerian children are not unjustly denied admission in any institution of their choice.

17-year-old Nigerian girl secures admission to 13 universities

     A 17-year- old girl, Serena Omo-Lamai, has been granted admission to study in 13 universities in America and Canada.

Omo-Lamai, who graduated from Dowen College, Lekki, Lagos, last year, however, opted for Syracuse University, United States, to study Bio-Medical Engineering.

Some of the universities  where she was offered admission include Emory University, Georgia Institute of Technology, New York University, among others.

   Speaking in a telephone interview with news correspondent on Monday, Omo-Lamai said she settled for Syracuse University because of the institution’s world-class research laboratory and a $51,000 scholarship offer.

The teenager, who aspires to be a medical engineer, disclosed that she would study medicine as a second degree.

“I feel very honoured and I feel it is an opportunity to work harder. I know that I have to justify the offer. I chose Syracuse University because it has a very good research lab and the offer came with $51,000 scholarship. I have always loved Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Geography.

“My hope is to study medicine for a second degree, but I would love to be a medical engineer. Most of the medical equipment in the country are imported and I would like a situation where medical equipment is manufactured here in Nigeria.

“My parents are my role models, but I am also inspired by anyone who is hard working, anyone who puts so much efforts into what they do,” she said.

   A statement from the Vice-Principal, Dowen College, Mr. Muraina Olusesi, on Monday, said Omo-Lamai was the valedictorian of the school last year.

He said, “Alumni students of the school have continued to show the stuff they are made of in the world of academic excellence. Serena Omo-Lamai was our best graduating pupil in the 2014/2015 academic session and she has done it again.

“She secured admission to 13 universities across the globe, but she has settled for Syracuse University where she signed up to read Bio-Medical Engineering, with an annual scholarship of $56,000.

   “Also, Daniel Obaseyi Buraimo, Class of 2010, graduated with First Class honours degree in Computer Science from the University of San Francisco, California, USA. According to the university, he is the first Nigerian to attain this height.”

‎80-year-old, Buhari’s daughter, 2,216 others called to bar.

  An 80-year-old, Pius Chuka Enebeli, on Thursday made history as being the oldest new wig ever produced by the Nigerian Law School.

Enebeli and 2,217 others including a daughter of President Muhammadu Buhari, Halima, were called to the Bar at two separate ceremonies held in Abuja on Thursday.

   Wife of the President, Aisha Buhari, was at the morning session ceremony during which her daughter, Halima, who was part of the the first batch of 1,132 new wigs, were called to the bar.

Also present at the ceremony were Zahra and Yusuf Buhari who graduated two days ago from a UK college.

The ceremony was conducted for  the rest 1,127 new lawyers during the after session which began 3pm on Thursday.

The two ceremonies which held at the International Conference Centre in Abuja were presided over by the Chairman of the Body of Benchers, Chief Bandele Aiku.

He performed the Call ceremony during the first session around 10.23am.

At about 10.26am after performing the Call, he asked the new lawyers to wear their wig.

   The filled-to-capacity hall spontaneously erupted into a triumphant cheers of the new lawyers as their parents and well-wishers occupying the gallery also clapped to celebrate the candidates’ cross-over to the bar.

   TheThe total of 2,218 new wigs were the successful candidates at the April 2016 and previous Bar Final Examinations of the Nigerian Law School.

   The Director-General of the NLS, Mr. Olanrewaji Onadeko, acknowledged Enebeli’s record breaking feat, while presenting the candidates for the actual Call on Thursday.

He said, “Let me also congratulate one of the new wigs, who is making his history in his own right, by being the oldest new wig ever produced by the Nigerian Law School.

“He is 80-years-old and we wish him a very successful career at the bar.”

See photos from the ceremony below: 

Education ministry, stakeholders agree on N2,500 as post-UTME screening fee

   The Federal Ministry of Education and other stakeholders in the tertiary education sub-sector have agreed on N2,500 as the fee for post-Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) screening.

This is contained in a statement issued by Prof. Michael Faborode, the Secretary-General, Association of Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities (AVCNU) on Wednesday in Abuja.

   Faborode said the agreement was reached after a deliberation of officials of the ministry, federal universities, polytechnics and colleges of education.

The secretary-general said while it was agreed that the post-UTME screening should be sustained following the scrapping of the Computer Based Test (CBT).

“From the statement made by the Permanent Secretary, Dr Folashade Yemi-Esan at the meeting, there is no objection to screening by universities as long as it is not another CBT.

“She agreed that universities should advertise and the maximum fee that should be charged for the screening should be N2,500 – bank charges inclusive.’’

   According to the statement, the association will formally convey its stance to the Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu.

Adamu’s recent announcement of the ban on post-UTME had raised a lot anxiety among stakeholders.

I didn’t order use of hijab in schools – Aregbesola.

   The Governor of Osun State, Rauf Aregbesola, has denied claims that he is behind the hijab crisis rocking the education sector in the state.

“Let me say this there is no official pronouncement on hijab. I have not ordered the use of hijab in schools and I challenge them to bring evidence,”Aregbesola said.

“It might interest you that my wife does not use hijab, my daughter does not use hijab. So, I did not order the use of hijab.

“My view on Islam is why I am suffering unmerited persecution. My crime is that I struggle to be a good Muslim and not because I hurt anybody.”

   The governor insisted that there was no crisis in the state’s education sector and accused the media of celebrating idiocy by focusing on the decision of some “misguided students” of Baptist High School to wear church garments to school.

   He said it was wrong for any religious body to claim the ownership of any public school in the state as government took over the schools about 41 years ago.

   The governor also said it was not true that schools founded by Muslim were merged with schools established by Christian missionaries.

He explained that the hijab crisis started in 2012 when four Muslim students were prevented from using hijab after they were transferred to Baptist High School from a school where they were allowed to use hijab.

   Meanwhile, some Muslim clerics stormed some public schools in Osogbo on Monday, insisting that female Muslim students should be allowed to wear hijab to the schools in accordance with the judgment of the Osun State High Court.

   It was gathered that the clerics went to St. Charles’ High School and Ife Oluwa Middle School early in the morning but the teachers told them it would take a directive from the Ministry of Education for that to happen.

“Some Muslims came this morning and said they wanted to enforce the use of hijab. We explained to them that we will allow our students to wear hijab whenever we get instruction from the state government to do so,” the Principal of St. Charles’ High School, Mr. Anthony Famoriyo, said.

“You know that everything we do in schools follows procedure; what you teach, the way you teach. We are not against any group. We are here to teach our children and that is our mission", he added.

States should absorb 500,000 teachers after contract with FG – Stakeholders.

   The Civil Society Action Coalition on Education for All (CSACEFA) wants states and local governments to plan to absorb the 500,000 teachers after the expiration of their two-year engagement by the Federal Government.
CSACEFA’s National Moderator, Malam Kabiru Aliyu, who briefed newsmen on Tuesday in Abuja, said that such absorption would address the shortage of qualified teachers in the states.

   A statement by Mr. Laolu Akande, the Senior Special Assistant to the Vice-President on Media and Publicity, said the recruitment would be done online and would be a two-year paid programme.

Aliyu commended the Federal Government for the recruitment and the National School Feeding programme, adding that the schemes would move the education sector forward.

“As often said, no nation can rise above its educational standard as education is the bedrock of every society.

“This recognition has been demonstrated in the administration’s plan towards moving the education sector forward through the roll out of several initiatives.

“The initiatives are the recruitment of 500,000 teachers, launching of National School Feeding Programme, the Conditional Cash Transfer scheme, among others.

“We advise that states and local governments should start looking at ways of absorbing the new recruits after the expiration of their two years of engagement, to address the shortage of qualified teachers in our schools.”

Aliyu, however, said that there were still some critical issues that needed to be addressed toward ensuring Education for All.

He urged the government to resort to Public Private Partnership, to ensure sustainability of the programmes.

According to him, a strong monitoring structure should be set up involving school-based management committee, civil society organisations and the media, among others, to ensure compliance to the school feeding programme.

Aliyu said that government should conduct a needs assessment to determine the distribution process of the new teachers, when recruited.

The moderator also said that there was the need for qualified teachers to mentor the recruits. 

FG begins recruitment of 500,000 teachers on Sunday

   The recruitment of the 500,000 teachers promised by President Muhammadu Buhari in his Democracy Day speech starts on Sunday.

According to a statement on Wednesday by the Senior Special Assistant to the Vice-President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Laolu Akande, the recruitment would be done online.

Akande said the 500,000 Teacher Corps, nicknamed N-Power Teach on the portal, was one of the three direct job creation and training schemes Nigerians could start applying for from Sunday.

Others, according to him, are N-Power Knowledge which will train 25,000 Nigerians in technology, and N-Power Build, which will train another 75,000 in building services, construction, utilities, hospitality and catering, automotive vocations, aluminium and gas services.

He said all trainees would be paid for the duration of their training.

He added, “The N-Power Teacher Corps initiative which will engage and train 500,000 young unemployed graduates, is a paid volunteer programme of a two-year duration.

“Unemployed Nigerians selected and trained will play teaching, instructional, and advisory roles in primary, and secondary schools, agricultural extension systems across the country, public health and community education-covering civic and adult education.

“Besides their monthly take home pay estimated at about N23,000, the selected 500,000 graduates will also get computer devices that will contain information necessary for their specific engagement, as well as information for their continuous training and development.

“They get to keep the devices even after exiting from the programme.”

restrict universities from screening students – NUC.

   The Public Relations officer of the Nigerian Universities Commission, Ibrahim Yakasai,
 has stated that despite the new directive by the Federal  Government  scrapping the Post-UTME, universities are free to screen students sent to them for admission by the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board, JAMB.

   The government argued that if there was absolute confidence in the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, there should be no need for Universities to conduct internal examinations to determine the fate of candidates seeking admissions.

NYSC Batch A Stream 2 orientation holds next week.

The long awaited National Youths Service Corps, stream II Orientation course will now hold next week as reported by daily post.

The orientation exercise, which was billed to hold early last month was put off over unavailability of fund.

There have also been speculations of plans by government to scrap the scheme, an allegation the presidency denied.

In a statement through its twitter handle, the NYSC Management said “it wishes to inform all prospective Corps members that President Buhari has approved and released funds to the Scheme to hold its planned Orientation course.
“Consequently, Management of the Scheme has scheduled the 2016 Batch A Stream II Orientation course to commence from Monday 13th June to Wednesday 29th June 2016 Nationwide.

“Prospective Corps members are expected to log on to d NYSC Portal to commence printing of their Call-up letters from TUESDAY (7/6/16) by 12noon as the Call-up letters printed earlier are now invalid.”‎

NYSC has not been scrapped – Presidency.

The federal government has denied scrapping the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).

There were reports that the scheme, which was established since 1975 by then Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon (retd), has been scrapped by President Muhammadu Buhari, together with post-UMTE.

However, the presidency described the story as unfounded and legally illogical.

“NYSC is a creation of the law. Only another law can repeal it,” Garba Shehu, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity said while reacting to the rumour.

NNPC calls on qualitative science, technology education.

  The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation has called for policy emphasis on science and technological development in Nigeria’s education curriculum.

Federal Government scraps post-UTME for prospective tertiary students.

   The Federal Government on Thursday scrapped the conduct of post Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examinations, post UTME, for candidates seeking admission into higher institutions, adding that there was no need for other examination to be conducted by universities after the one conducted by JAMB.

   Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, who stated this in Abuja after declaring open the 2016 Combined Policy Meeting on Admissions to Universities, Polytechnics and other higher institutions in Nigeria, said all tertiary institutions were at liberty to conduct screening for candidates seeking admission into any school.

   While expressing confidence in the examination conducted by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB, Adamu said: “As far as I am concerned the nation has confidence in what JAMB is doing. The universities should not be holding another examination and if the universities have any complain against JAMB let them bring it and then we address it.

“If JAMB is qualified enough to conduct tests and they have conducted test then there will be no need to conduct another test for students to gain admission", he added.

   The Minister, however, requested JAMB to stop extra charges on several categories of changes on admissions such as the change of course, change of school and others.

UTME: JAMB, stakeholders meet on June 2 to fix cut-off points.

   The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has concluded all processes to kick-start the 2016 admission exercise.

This is as the organisation will on June 2 hold its policy meeting and fix cut-off points for all courses.

The decision was sequel to the successful completion of the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

The policy meeting which is to set the tone for the exercise is presided by the Honourable Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu.

   The spokesperson of JAMB, Dr. Fabian Benjamin in a statement issued on Monday in Abuja said that during the meeting, Adamu will underscore the importance and relevance of this decision-makers on admission into tertiary institutions and issues bordering on the general well-being of the system are to be discussed and decisions taken.

He said, “This year’s meeting is scheduled to hold on June 2. Nationally accepted cut-off marks would be decided and issued Federal Government guidelines and regulations would be articulated and decision taken; even as it would x-ray the performance of subsequent years to put checks and balances.

   “The very important meeting has policy makers, the Heads of all tertiary institutions, the Vice-Chancellors, Rectors, Provost, Registrars and relevant stakeholders like the National Universities Commission (NUC), National Youth Service Corps and others in attendance.

“The Honorable Minister places much important on this assembly and has categorically made it clear that he won’t tolerate a situation where decision reached would be flagrantly disobeyed or not adhered to strictly.

“Some of this decision borders on admissions deadlines and quota system which some institutions has failed to comply with and other sharp practices capable of undermining the entire admission process.

    “JAMB commends the Honorable Minister for his effort at sanitizing the sector and ensuring that the lost glory of education are returned and restored, while noting that these efforts would no doubt manifest great results in no distance time.

“JAMB wishes to use this medium to urge the public to follow this process keenly and also note that cut-off points in particular are as usual a minimum score pruning mechanisms and institutions are at liberty to go higher depending on their peculiarities.

“JAMB also commends the Honorable Minister for his efforts so far in ensuring that the lost glory of education are returned.

“The Minister’s insistence on due process and support for the transformation in the Board and the entire educational system will no doubt manifest great results in no distance time.”

Most trained teachers in Nigeria are unemployed – British Council report.

   A survey carried out by the British Council has revealed that most Colleges of Education graduates since 2014, are yet to be employed as teachers.

The Principal Investigator, Elaine Unterhalter, University College, London, stated this on Monday while presenting the Report: “Teacher Education, Teachers Practice, Gender and Girls’ Schooling Outcomes: A study in Five Nigerian States’’.

   The states where the study was carried out are Jigawa, Kano, Sokoto, Lagos and Rivers by the British Council with support from the MacArthur Foundation.

“Six months after completing their education studies, the vast majority of newly qualified teachers from the initial cohort reached in the follow up telephone survey were unemployed.

“A small minority of (16 per cent of sample reached) were working as teachers, while the largest proportion (30 per cent of sample reached) are in Lagos.

“Eighteen months after graduation in the second follow up telephone survey, the proportion of unemployed teachers had reduced to 29 per cent but in some states it was nearly half, but 47 per cent in Sokoto State.”

   Unterhalter said the unemployed teachers gave some of the impediments given for their inability to secure teaching jobs in the five states.

“In all these groups, corruption was mentioned as a reason that teachers could not get employed.

“In addition, participants mentioned that jobs were allocated on the basis of who supported which political party, ethnicity, and state of origin,” she said.

She said in Sokoto, issues of status of applicants and to what extent they had respect for elders were also mentioned.

   According to her, the labour market for teachers is far from rational, and that, aspects of politics, identity and affiliation played key roles.

In his goodwill message, Mr Olaide Oladayo, Deputy Director, MacArthur Foundation, regretted the effect of the mass recruitment of teachers at the inception of Universal Basic Education programme in 1999.

Oladayo said the programme limited adherence to entry qualifications for teachers and consequently reduced teachers’ quality.

   He said the Federal Government must not repeat the mistakes of the UBE programme of 1999 in its planned recruitment of 500,000 graduates as teachers.

“The plan by the Federal Government to recruit 500,000 teachers over the next five to 10 years requires careful planning and implementation.

“We urge government and its partners not to spare any effort to adequately plan and put in place a transparent and inclusive system.

“This is to draw the support of state governments and local government agencies and non-state actors, in order to raise the potential impact of the recruitment,” he said.

   In her remarks, Director Programme, Ms Louisa Waddingham, said the Report was invaluable and challenged stakeholders from government parastatals to make the best use of the report.

“When they are implementing policies, reviewing policies, or when they are putting new policies in place, they’ve got some research to inform that decision making.

“It’s really important that we make evidence-based decisions when it comes to education policies and they can use that along with all the other research that they have,” she said.