As Rwanda prepares for the start of academic year 2021/2022, the Ministry of Public Service and Labour has suspended all job recruitment in public institutions to focus on teachers.

The development was announced through a letter addressed to the top officials of the Ministry over the weekend.

The statement signed by the Minister of Public Service and Labour,  Fanfan Kayiranga Rwanyindo, reads “Reference made to the school calendar where the academic year will commence on 11th October, I would like to inform you that all other job positions in public service is temporarily suspended until schools reopen”.

The move was taken to provide a special consideration to the teachers’ recruitment and provide all needed support to be conducted smoothly, read the letter.

Government recently announced plans to recruit over 13,000 teachers and over 40,000 applications are expected through an electronic recruitment system.

The exercise is being conducted by the Ministry of Education in collaboration with the Rwanda Education Board (REB) and Rwanda TVET Board.

Previously, REB officials have indicated that the recruited teachers will be deployed to 650 schools.

In addition, the teachers’ recruitment is aimed at reducing congestion of students and scrapping the ratio of students per teacher, which will allow the teachers to be able to easily monitor the students’ performances and follow their daily progress.

The leadership of a faction of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, Lagos State University (LASU) branch, has congratulated the institution’s newly appointed vice-chancellor, Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello.

The union also commended the university’s joint council and senate selection committee for a smooth process.

In a press statement signed by the secretary, Tony Dansu, and his assistant, Adeolu Oyekan, the union urged the new vice-chancellor to address some of the problems that had confronted the university within the last five years.

The statement listed some of the issues to include alleged non-payment of academic allowances for 11 years; and “meddlesomeness in union affairs,” among others.

The statement reads in part; “We want to applaud the governing council and the senate for facilitating a non-rancorous selection process, as opposed to the botched and flawed exercises under the previous governing council.

“It is our hope that going forward, objectivity and due process, dispatched on forced sabbatical under the previous governing council and vice-chancellor, will be accorded their rightful place in the governance of the university.”

Commending the governor, who doubles as the visitor to the university, for the courage demonstrated in addressing alleged anomalies of the previous processes, the union pointed out that while the debacles generated were avoidable, the protracted corrective procedures are worth it.

“We urge the Visitor to take the reset process in the university to a logical conclusion by constituting the Visitation Panel he promised in May, as soon as possible.

“It is overdue statutorily, and necessary under the circumstance. We believe that a credible visitation, backed with the prompt implementation of its recommendations, will help the relatively new Governing Council and the new Vice-Chancellor to reposition the University for a more effective delivery of its mandate.

“As is the practice of our Union, it shall continue to play its role as a partner in progress in the University, under the conditions of fairness, rule of law, accountability, and collegiality,” the statement added.

Boarding house students of Lagos State Model Colleges and Upgraded Schools will pay N35,000 in each of the next two terms.

Commissioner for Education, Folasade Adefisayo, made the clarification in a statement issued in Lagos by an assistant director in the ministry, Ganiu Lawal.

Adefisayo said the experimental fee regime was in accordance with the resolution made by officials of the ministry, parents and lawmakers.

She assured that no other fee would be charged nor would any intervention be imposed on parents within this period.

Adefisayo explained that the idea was to avoid overburdening parents and it would further allow for a true reflection of the workability of the new boarding school fees in the 2021/2022 academic session.

She said the menu list of the students will also be reviewed and standardised in terms of necessary nutrition. Schools are also expected to incorporate available local menu and seasonal foods.

She further said there will be a review after the second term to analyse the expenditures, gaps, needs and adequacy of N35,000 to cater for a boarding student per term.

The commissioner added that representatives of parents would be incorporated into the boarding house committees to ensure inclusive supervision.

The resumption date for JSS 2 students in Model Colleges and Upgraded Schools is September 19, while JSS 1 students and other returning students will resume on October 2 and October 9, respectively.

The commissioner expressed appreciation to parents for their understanding and support extended to the state government.

Adefisayo assured all stakeholders of the state government’s determination to providing quality education.

The Executive Secretary of the Universal Basic Education (UBEC), Dr Hamid Bobboyi, says that the introduction of education programme, Jolly Phonics, aided the teaching of 144,000 teachers in Nigeria.

Jolly Phonics programme which is a child-centered approach to teaching synthetic phonics was introduced into Nigerian basic schools in 2006.

He stated that in collaboration with the Universal Learning Solutions (ULS), initiators of the programme, 5,755 UBEC, SUBEB and LGEA officials were trained while millions of children were empowered to read and write across the 36, States of the federation.

The UBEC head was speaking at an event to mark the 15th anniversary of the programme in Nigeria.

He said “Since the inception of the Jolly Phonics programme in Nigeria, we are proud of the milestones recorded. In collaboration with Universal Learning Solutions (ULS), I am aware that 144,733 teachers, 5,755 UBEC, SUBEB, and LGEA officials, have been trained and resourced, whilst millions of children are being empowered to read and write across the 36 States of the federation and FCT.”

Bobboyi stated that the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) in the year 2012 entered into a partnership with Universal Learning Solutions (ULS), the organisers of the Jolly phonics programme at a time when the level of literacy was very low in the basic education Sector.

He revealed that at the initial stage of engagement, the training was optional, only states interested in literacy held the training using the UBEC Teacher Professional Development (TPD) fund.

He added that the commission, having found the jolly phonics programme relevant to its objective of improving literacy development of basic education learners, has over the years supported its inclusion in the basic education curriculum in basic schools across the 36 states of the federation and the FCT, whilst also ensuring that teachers are trained and re-trained on the jolly phonics pedagogy to be able to effectively teach learners to read and write.

In his remarks, the Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE), Prof Paulinus Okwelle, said ULS through jolly phonics made significant contributions to literacy development in Nigeria in the past 15 years.

A joint speech released from Portugal by the founders of the programme, Gary and Naomi Foxcroft, said the project which started in Akwa Ibom State had reached 22 countries in Africa and Asia.

The duo, whose speech was presented by the Country Director, ULS, Patrick Uzu, recalled the journey that made the programme a reality.

“How blessed we have been to serve humanity in such a way, working with so many inspirational people and organisations along the journey, as together we grew Jolly Phonics from one school in rural Akwa lbom State to the largest and most effective English literacy project in Africa.

“Amongst the troubling times in which we have been living, the story of Jolly Phonics in Nigeria and how this inspired the philanthropy behind its expansion to a further 22 countries in Africa and Asia, acts as a beacon of hope that brighter times may be ahead,” he said.

Data from the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) revealed that a total of 126 blind candidates were admitted into 40 Nigerian tertiary institutions last year.

According to the admission data released by JAMB, of the total students, 87 (about 69 per cent) were admitted into ten of the institutions.

The Federal College of Education (Special) Oyo admitted the highest number of blind students with 27.

The University of Lagos followed with 11 students admitted. Aminu Saleh College of Education and Nnamdi Azikiwe University (also known as UNIZIK) admitted 9 students each.

Adekunle Ajasin University admitted 8; University of Jos, 6; St Augustine College of Education, 5; University of Ilorin, 5; Adeyemi College of Education, 4; Federal College of Education Umunze, 3.

Both Alex Ekwueme Federal University and Alvan Ikoku College of Education admitted two visually impaired students each.

Also, Federal University Dutsin-Ma, Federal University, Oye-Ekiti, Gombe State University, Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Lagos State University, Nasarawa State University and University of Benin each admitted two students.

In 2019, of the 390 blind candidates, a total of 182 (46.6 per cent) were given admission.

JAMB said this was unprecedented in the history of admission of such a category of students into the Nigerian higher education system.

Most of the candidates were admitted to the University of Ilorin, Bayero University Kano, University of Lagos, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, and the University of Abuja.

In 2018, 156 blind students gained admission; 2017, 145; 2016, 142; 2015, 72; and 44 in 2014.

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB, has appealed to all institutions of higher learning in the country to grant admission to all the blind candidates that meet the minimum requirement for admission.