NECO Deploys Software for Grading, Bemoans Deductions from TSA

By

-

July 26, 2022

The National Examinations Council (NECO) has deployed cutting-edge software to ensure efficient grading of candidates in its various examinations.

The examination body also lamented that the initial placement of NECO on the list of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) that remit 25 per cent of generated revenue to government coffers was taking a toll on the exam body’s activities.

The Registrar/Chief Executive of NECO, Prof. Dantani Ibrahim Wushishi, made this known in Minna, during a press briefing to mark one year in office.

Speaking on the new grading system, Wushishi who listed several achievements recorded since assuming office, said the software would ensure precise grade value for every subject.

He said: “One of the innovations that will bring to bear in the conduct of the examination is determining the way and manner we determine the grade number, which relates to the allocation of grades for various subjects to students.

“Formerly it was done manually and there are processes that are followed in doing that manually but when I came felt it is necessary to align ourselves and some of our operations with the in-thing, which is technology, and we felt there is need for us to have a software that will enable us determine precisely real values for subjects after our exams. so we had a workshop for that and we were able to now deploy standard software to determine grade and marking.”

On the successes recorded in recent times in the conduct of the school-based Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) and its external version, Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) as well as National Common Entrance Examination of unity schools, Wushishi said he had been able to put in place mechanisms to drastically reduces cases of malpractice and other challenges.

The NECO boss listed some of the measures to include deployment of robust security surveillance for exam papers and officials, improved welfare mechanisms for staff and examiners, use of foolproof software in selection of NECO staff on monitoring duties, among others.

“In 2020, we had over 30,000 cases of exam malpractice. In 2021 we had just about 20,000 and this year and this year we have confidence it will reduce to the barest minimum. In our last BECE the malpractice was about 600 cases and this year it was less than 100,” he said.

Wushishi said though NECO was removed from the list in June 2022, over N6 billion had been deducted from its and paid into the Treasury Single Account (TSA) in the first six months of 2022, adding that the exam body needs money to meet its obligations.

“From 2021 to date, to June (this year), the Minister of Finance has deducted from NECO’s Treasury Single Account, the total of N6,023,145,000”

Asked about the debt owed to the Council by some state governments, Wushishi revealed that NECO has recovered parts of the money, even as he lamented that over N2 billion still remained unpaid.

“When you talk about the issue of debts, we have done a lot, we have recovered some, some states are still indebted to the Council to the tune of over N2 billion. This is for over so many years, from 2012 till date. We are making efforts and some states are responding.

“And through our efforts to make sure we solve our problems, we have a commitment with the Accountant General of the Federation, and the states we have MoU with, we can take the MoU to the Accountant General Office to deduct from source but we are very tactical about it, because we also have to sensitize the state governments on the need to keep this place afloat, and it is the payment of what they have subscribed for in the council that will keep this place afloat.

“So we are tactically doing that and we are getting the result and we have not yet taken any state to the Accountant General office.”

ASUU Resolute on Renegotiated Agreement

By

Rhoda Onuzulike

-

July 26, 2022

0

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has insisted on the signing of the draft agreement reached with the Federal Government for university teachers.

Its president, Prof Emmanuel Osodeke, said the union was yet to receive official communication from the government regarding a new proposal on salary review.

Labour said it would go ahead with its planned pro-ASUU protest, but electricity workers would not withdraw their services.

Activist-lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) backed Labour, saying the right to protest was fundamental.

He urged the police to provide security for those protesting.

The government reportedly had agreed on increasing the salaries of professors by 100 per cent, with each earning N1million monthly.

This is against the 180 per cent increase said to have been recommended by the Prof Nimi Briggs Committee that renegotiated the 2009 agreements with university unions.

The government has rejected the figures reached in the draft agreement with ASUU.

Osodeke said: “That (the 100 per cent pay rise proposal) is still a social media report; we are not aware.

“We have a negotiated agreement. If they have issues, they should come back to us, not go to the public.

“There is no offer, nothing from the government. When we see what they bring, we will look at it. That is collective bargaining.

“It has not been offered to me. When they bring their offer, we will look at it at the collective bargaining table. What we have as a draft agreement is their offer. It is not ours.”

Also, ASUU Chairman, University of Ibadan, Prof Ayo Akinwole, said signing and implementing the renegotiated 2009 agreement would end the over five months strike.

“Until we rise above sentiments to get responsible and responsive people who will be accountable to Nigerians into public offices the cycles of strikes will not end in Nigeria,” he said.

Akinwole called on Nigerians to join the struggle to revitalise public universities to give children of the masses hope.

He said unless that was done, the children of the ruling class trained overseas will return to take over from their “wicked parents” and continue to enslave Nigerians.

Akinwole added: “We got here by collective negligence of electing incompetent people into public offices.

“The fight for quality education for the children of the masses has become a class war among the economic elite, the working class and the ruling class.

“Until we rise and demand accountability from those in office to do what is in the best interest of the majority, the cycle of strikes and underdevelopment will not stop.

“Our renegotiation ought to have ended by 2012 but here we are in 2022 and yet the government is playing games with us.

“We are asking for a renegotiation of existing agreements that will position our members as human beings working in a decent place.

“We are asking for the revitalisation of public universities through appropriate funding; and a better homegrown alternative of University Transparency Accountability Solution (UTAS).

“We are saying check the proliferation of universities that you cannot fund and we are saying Nigerians deserve to be ranked among the top 100 in the world if our leaders invest in education.

“We should be developing our own solutions not depending on others.

“This strike is not about ASUU. It is about the future of the Nigerian children.”

Agency Establishes Clubs In Schools To Tackle Violence Against Children

By

Rhoda Onuzulike

-

July 25, 2022

0

The National Orientation Agency (NOA) says it has established clubs in 10 secondary schools in Kaduna State to propagate its End Violence Against Children (EVAC) campaign.

The clubs were established by the agency in collaboration with the state Ministry of Education and UNICEF.

The state Director of NOA, Zubairu Galadima-Soba, said that the aim was to sensitise students on issues surrounding violence against children and how to end it.

Galadima-Soba represented by UNICEF Focal Person, Yusuf Balarabe, urged students to join the club.

He advised them to organise debates, quizzes and dramas to sensitise other students on the dangers of violence against children.

He listed the different forms of violence to include physical violence (inflicting physical pain on children), emotional violence, sexual violence and negligence.

“Any students that experience or know someone experiencing any form of violence should speak out and report to their parents or school authorities.

“The school authorities will take it further by reporting to Salama Sexual Assault Referral Centres in the state,” Galadima-Soba said.

The Principal of the school, Charity Omomugwu, described the establishment of the club as necessary and timely and commended NOA for the efforts.

Omomugwu said the school was teaching students to say no to any form of violence, especially sexual violence.

“The establishment of the club is a motivation to do more.

“We had an incidence, where a pupil was sexually abused by her elder brother at home and the parents were hiding the matter, when we heard it, we reported it to the authorities,” she said.

A student, Grace Sample, who was appointed the President of the club, said she would ensure adequate sensitisation of other students on issues that border on violence against children.

The Secretary of the club, MacArthur Olorunagbe, said that they would organise quizzes and dramas that centre around violence against children as part of the advocacy.

Nigerian State Govt Sanctions Head Teachers Over Illegal Fees

By

Rhoda Onuzulike

-

July 25, 2022

0

The Oyo State Government has sanctioned some head teachers for collecting illegal fees and denying pupils access to examination halls in the ongoing Public Primary Schools Unified Examinations.

The Executive Chairman, Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Dr Nureni Adeniran, made this known in a statement on Monday in Ibadan, while monitoring the examination.

Adeniran said that five head teachers of Methodist Basic School (School one to five), Gan-gansi, were found culpable in the alleged illegal collection of fees, spearheaded by the School-Based Management Committee (SBMC) of the school, who chased the pupils home.

He said that the present administration had abolished collection of any development levy in all schools across the state.

Adeniran frowned at the role of the school authority who compelled parents to contribute the said fee.

“No doubt, SBMCs, PTAs can contribute to the development of their local schools, but it must not in any way affect the education of pupils.

“No child should be discriminated against in the state education sector,” Adeniran said.

According to him, some parents had reported to the board that head teachers of the school denied their children access to the examination hall for failing to pay the N100 development levy charged by the school’s management and SBMC, through a popular radio station in Ibadan.

Adeniran said that the present administration, under Gov. Seyi Makinde’s leadership, would not fold its arms and allow saboteurs to ridicule its efforts in mandating free education.

“For denying Gov. Seyi Makinde’s pupils access to write examinations, queries have been issued to head-teachers of the affected schools,” he said.

The SUBEB chairman, also directed that all learners should be allowed to sit for examinations without any form of hindrance.

He urged teachers in all public schools to adhere strictly to the state government’s policies and directives on education.

Adeniran, who led a team of officials from SUBEB said that the monitoring exercise would continue in the course of the week, which would also be extended to other zones of the state, including Ogbomoso, Oyo, Oke-Ogun and Ibarapa.

Banditry: Ministry Shuts Abuja Unity Schools, Vacuates students

By

Rhoda Onuzulike

-

July 25, 2022

0

The Federal Ministry of Education, has directed the immediate closure of all unity schools domiciled in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, while ordering immediate evacuation of students over concerns of impending bandits and terrorists’ attacks,

The decision was as a result of rising insecurity and threat to the lives, properties and well-being of the students therein.

While some schools had directed students to vacate latest on Wednesday, July 27, 2022, other schools disseminated messages to parents on Sunday asking them not to fail to come pick their children on Monday, unfailingly, due to rising fear and anxiety emanating from reported threats.

An unconfirmed report had trended on social media on Sunday, indicating that there were heavy shootings at Federal Government College in Kwali, Abuja, a report which prompted parents to rush down to the school to ascertain the safety of their wards and possibly return home with them until calm was restored.

Some members of staff at the Federal Government Girls’ College, Bwari, also confided in our correspondent that they received a directive from the Federal Ministry of Education to allow students vacate the school before Wednesday.

Members of staff also told news correspondent, in confidence, that the school would be shut down today not minding the Wednesday deadline as parents had been asked to come pick up their children before noon on Monday.

Efforts to reach the authorities for reactions to the incident have been futile; however, some parents, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, claimed that a message came from the school authorities informing parents to come pick up their children not later than Monday noon.

Although sources within the Federal Ministry of Education confirmed to news correspondent that the schools were directed to be closed due to security threats and concerns over impending bandits and terrorists’ attacks.

ASUU: NLC to Embark on Three-day Warning Strike After Protest

By

Rhoda Onuzulike

-

July 25, 2022

0

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has said that it will embark on a three-day warning strike immediately after the Tuesday and Wednesday nationwide protest in solidarity with the striking lecturers.

It further stated that it might extend the warning to an indefinite strike if the federal government fails to resolve the issues with the university unions and have the schools reopen for Nigerian students.

The labour movement said it has mobilized workers across the country for a nationwide protest in all the 36 states of the federation and Abuja Tuesday.

The protest is to compel the federal government to resolve all the lingering issues to re-open universities for academic activities.

NLC President, Ayuba Wabba, stated this while speaking to journalists at the ongoing 18th NLC Rain School in in Uyo, Akwa Ibom.

“The protest happening tomorrow is not a solidarity protest but a protest of NLC against government actions that lead to our universities being shut down and our kids staying at home instead of going to school. All the unions directly involved in the strike are NLC affiliates and their members are part of NLC.

“We have taken three levels of decision. First is the protest, which is going to be national tomorrow. After the protest, a three-day national warning strike will start, and if they fail to resolve the issues and bring back our kids to school, we go on indefinite strike.

“That is the decision of our National Executive Council. And what will be helpful for them is to check the timeline we have given for them to resolve the issues. We are optimistic that they will be willing this time because we are also willing to get our children back to school,” he said.

Speaking on the harsh living condition of Nigerians, Wabba said that it is not only the education sector that is in a shambles but the economy.

Wabba said: “I never knew that the exchange rate has moved within a week from N630 to N670. This is very frightening and it erodes the purchasing power of workers. There is no way we can continue in this direction and expect that there will be shared prosperity within workers, and within the large portion of Nigerians that are in the lower echelon at the economic ladder.

“Importantly is the issue of our children that are out of school for five months. Basically, it also requires a political decision for the issue to be sorted out. What is even more worrisome is the fact that they keep posting the graduation of their children in universities out the country on social media and then the universities where the children of the working class study are closed down.

“I was told today that we have three sets of students that ought to be in the university but unfortunately they have not even sorted out their admission challenges. So it is really a very frightening future for Nigerians, particularly the youths.”

He said the irony of it is that most of the political elite today benefited from free public education, wondering why it is impossible for them to fix our public education.

“Is it about the class divide, it honestly beats somebody’ s imagination. That is why all of these issues resonate that we need to engage politically. We have also realised the fact that they have used different approaches to divide Nigerians.

“Unfortunately for them, NLC is a pan-Nigerian organisation that cannot be divided and workers should not allow themselves to be divided along ethnic or religious lines. This is just diversion of interest. Their division tool is happening now. Workers should be wiser, citizens should be wiser. We should work assiduously to unite Nigeria and not to divide Nigerians.”

NCDC investigating strange illness in Delta

By

Cleopatra Okohai

-

July 25, 2022

0

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control says it is aware of the strange illness reported among secondary school children in Delta state and it is investigating the situation.

The NCDC said it will communicate with Nigerians as the situation evolves.

According to reports that a student reportedly died and nine others hospitalised after the outbreak of an ailment in Boji Bojji Owa, in the Ika North-East Local Government Area of Delta State.

It was gathered that in a bid to ascertain the cause of the ailment among some students of Marymount College, Agbor, the school was shut down.

The representative of the school, Rev. Sister Kauna Ola, and the School Secretary, Mrs. Rita Ofuasia, stated that the decision to shut down the school was part of measures to ensure that the outbreak did not escalate.

She said, “Four of the 10 students were taken to St. John’s Hospital, Agbor, while the parents of the remaining six students took them to hospitals of their choice.

“There is a gas plant close to the school and the management of the school had long told the owner of the plant to remove it from the place for the sake of the health of the people in the area.”

Giving an update on the strange illness in the state on its Facebook page, the NCDC said “The NCDC is aware of an unknown illness reported among secondary school children in Delta State.

“We are in touch with the Federal Ministry of Education, Nigeria, Federal Ministry of Health Nigeria and Delta State Ministry of Health to investigate and respond accordingly.

“We will communicate with Nigerians as the situation evolves.”

Women Africa, others releases Report on GBV in Nigeria

By

Cleopatra Okohai

-

July 25, 2022

1

A non-governmental organization, Women Initiative for Leadership Strategy and Innovation in Africa (Women Africa) has released a report on the state of gender-based violence response in Nigeria.

The report which is developed with support from the European Union and United Nations Spotlight Initiative Programme through UNESCO is a mapping of critical response mechanisms across the 36 states and FCT in Nigeria.

It provides comprehensive information on the current state of gender-based violence response in Nigeria with regards to available laws and policies, support system and structures, law enforcement, justice institutions, reporting channels and available coordination mechanisms.

The Executive Director, Chinwe Onyeukwu who made this known in Abuja, said “following the rise in fatal cases of sexual and domestic violence against women and girls recorded in Nigeria across the country during the four-month Covid-19 lockdown,

“The Federal Government of Nigeria, and the State Governors, under the aegis of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF), declared a State of Emergency on Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in June 2020.

“It also made commitments towards putting in place gender-based protection laws – including adopting the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act (VAPP Act) and the Child Rights Act into state laws by states that have not done so to increase protection for women and children, ensuring speedy investigation and prosecution of perpetrators, and creating sex offenders register in each state to name and shame violators.

Since then, few studies have been carried out to map and assess the level of implementation of these commitments and the milestones achieved by various states in the country on gender-based violence protections and child rights interventions.

Although the number of states that have adopted the VAPP Laws, Child Rights Laws, and Disability Rights Laws across the states have increased, however, there is still limited information available regarding the existence and level of implementation of these laws”.

She stated that it was this premise that informed the need for the research; to identify the available mechanisms and provide comprehensive information on GBV and Child Rights Protection in the country.

Over 50 stakeholders from relevant government agencies, civil society organizations and development partners under the EU-UN Spotlight Initiative Programme were in attendance at the one-day meeting.

Participants at the meeting contributed to the validation of findings from the report.

In her remarks, a representative of the European Union and Programme Manager, Gender and Human Rights, Esmé Stuart stated that; “the context for the report came from the pandemic, within the pandemic that we saw in 2020 where we had huge numbers of people being victims of GBV because of COVID-19, restriction and because of being locked up at home in their house. Which saw commitments from the Nigerian government and the Nigerian governor’s forum as GBV was high on the national agenda.

“This report is part of efforts to track the commitments from states governments in terms of gender based violence whether it translates into actual action for victims and survivors”.

She added that in order “to consolidate the different efforts of various stakeholders, the EU-UN Spotlight Initiative Programme, developed a National Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Barometer.

In her remarks, the representative from the Federal Ministry of Justice, Yewande Gbola-Awopetu, Head SGBV Response Unit, said: “We are all experts working in the field with hands on deck to ensure justice and proper services are delivered to victims of GBV and as mentioned also, the work will be in vain of we do not know the state of response we cannot access the congress of our effort.”

Acting Director, Women Development, Ministry of Women Affairs, Ilyasu Zubair, said: “the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs is and has always been working with partners especially on issues of Gender Based Violence particularly United Nation Agencies, Civil societies and other spirited individuals in the NGO.

“It’s our hope that the document will go a long way to eradicate the issue of gender-based violence in our society and the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs like I said before is ever willing and ready to support the programme and put in place policy geared towards the eradication of gender-based violence in Nigeria.”

Ms. Hadiza Dorayi, National Coordinator, Spotlight Initiative and Gender Advisor to the United Nations Humanitarian and Resident Coordinator, lauded the commitment and dedication of the stakeholders for contributing to the success of the report.

“The Joint European Union and the United Nations Spotlight Initiatives are committed to the elimination of all forms of violence and harmful practices against women and girls, and persons with disabilities facing intersecting forms of violence in Nigeria, so that women and girls can reach their full potential and contribute to nation-building.”

Some of the key findings from the report include: 32 states including the FCT have passed the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act 2015 into law and gazetted in 15 states (including the FCT).

States that are yet to pass the VAPP Act include Borno, Gombe, Kano, Katsina and Zamfara.

The VAPP Act is an innovative piece of legislation that provides for a robust response, care, and support services to survivors of sexual and gender-based violence.

There are now 32 Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARCs) across 19 states including the FCT in Nigeria, where victims and survivors of sexual assault can receive medical assistance, counseling, and justice support services in a confidential space.

The Child Rights Act 2003 has been signed into law in 29 states (including the FCT) out of 36.

ASUU Strike: Institutions Allowed to Determine 2022 Admission Deadline

By

Rhoda Onuzulike

-

July 25, 2022

0

The deadline for 2022 admissions into public universities has been left for various institutions to determine based on the status of 2021 admissions.

This was part of resolutions reached at the 2022 Policy meeting and 2020 National Tertiary Admissions Performance-Merit Award program organised by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board.

Considering the ongoing strike by members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities in Nigeria, ASUU, participants suggested and adopted that each universities should determine the closing date for the 2022 admissions into the universities giving opportunities for universities yet to conclude 2021 admissions to end the process.

The 140 cut off mark adopted for universities , the Vice chancellor of University of Jos, Prof. Ishaya Tanko said that as much as universities expect the ASUU Strike to end soon, it was better to make plans that would accommodate and address pending admissions in some universities.

According to him, “there are institutions that have not done any admission for year 2021 ,there are students waiting for these admissions therefore at the policy meeting it was difficult to say the 2022 admission should be concluded by 31st of December of this year.

“It was important to consider the ASUU strike and the 2022 admissions because some universities were yet to conclude the 2021 admissions so at the policy meeting we suggested and adopted that each institution will determine the closing of admissions into their various universities because we do not know when the strike will be called off, we are very optimistic following the recent meetings stakeholders had with President Muhammadu Buhari,” Prof Tanko added.

*_Universities Cut Off Mark_*

Speaking on the adopted cut off mark , the vice-chancellor of the University of Jos, Prof. Tanko said that the benchmarks provides common ground for all institutions while it will also rescue candidates of first and second generation universities.

“It is a good balance because some universities may not really have students who score higher but a minimum will give people a clear guidance there are colleges of Education that admits with 200 and above but to make a decision is just a minimum of 100 which is 25-30percent of the entire jamb score perhaps considering the challenges that has affected the system from the Pandemic to disruption of academic calendar, all of these have affected performance of jamb candidates and may have contributed to the agreed cut off mark”

“The main information is that the cut off marks are the minimum and that is not binding on any institution. What is binding is that no institution can go below those cut off marks” he added.

The Vice Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Prof Charles Okechukwu Esimone expressed confidence in the ability of the cut off marks to enrol qualified students at all levels of higher institutions.

“Some of us move very strongly for the particular cut-off because sometimes when you go for something higher you will not be able to come lower, a cut off of 140 does not mean you must take somebody that score 140 but it gives you the latitude incase there are applicants who for some reasons do not fill into particular course and they can be considered, for some of us that compromise, it became necessary because we have institutes that are affiliated to us, if you have college of Education that are affiliated to you and you go higher that means you are disenfranchising them, it means every candidate that chose your school must meet the minimum standard,” Prof. Charles added.

*_2021 Score Range And Admissions_*

Earlier, at the 2022 Policy meeting chaired by the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, the Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede said in his presentation on tit bits of 2021 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination and Admissions, Oloyede said a total of 1,351,284 candidates applied to study in Nigerian higher institutions in 2021, while another 76,925 students applied for the Direct Entry.

Professor Oloyede however said 600,000 is the target admission for 2021.

Turks Consume Hamburger Most As Fast Food

By

Olasunbo Okoromi

-

July 25, 2022

0

Turks prefer to eat hamburger the most as fast food, according to a survey conducted with more than 1,100 participants.

Pizza is the runner up and chicken döner is the third fast food Turkish people consume the most.

Some 19.1 percent of the participants chose hamburger, the survey showed. The percentage of those preferring pizza is 7.3, chicken döner 6.8 and lahmacun 6.7.

Lahmacun is a meat dish consisting of a flatbread topped with minced meat, minced vegetables, and herbs including onions, garlic, tomatoes, red peppers, and parsley, flavored with spices.

Some 6.4 percent said they loved the meat döner and 6.1 preferred kokoreç, a Turkish dish consisting of lamb or goat intestines wrapped around seasoned offal.

Meatballs with bread was the fast food taste some 5.5 percent of the participants loved. Those choosing pitta as fast food is 4.2 percent.

The fast food taste differs depending on age, too. According to the survey held between June 28 and July 5, young Turks love hamburger and people over the age of 55 prefer lahmacun.

When divided into groups, the survey showed that 75.2 percent of young Turks preferred hamburger. The percentage of the young Turks saying pitta is 32 and “dürüm,” a Turkish wrap that is usually filled with typical döner kebab ingredients, 30.7.

Some 52.1 percent of those above 55 preferred lahmacun whereas the percentage of those over 55 saying meat döner was favorite is 27.3 and pizza 21.1.

When analyzed by gender, the survey also showed women listed “hamburger,” “pizza” and “lahmacun” as their favorite fast food. Men’s top three were “hamburger,” “dürüm” and “meat döner.”