Government of Malawi says it will withhold April pay cheques for teachers who fail to return to classes by April 12.

A government official said the government team which is leading negotiations with Teachers Union of Malawi (TUM), has already communicated the stand to TUM executive during a meeting which took place in Lilongwe.

Reports say the meeting, which was also attended by Malawi Congress of Trade Union leadership, ended without a resolution as government maintained its stand of no risk allowances for teachers, while TUM insisted on continuing with the sit-in until government changes its decision.

Lagos State Government has reiterated commitment to a functional education system that is capable of dealing with the nation’s current challenges.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu stated this when members of the House of Representatives Committee on Tertiary Education and Services paid him a courtesy visit at Alausa, Ikeja.

The governor who was represented by his Deputy, Dr Obafemi Hamza, said that the various challenges being faced in the society could be solved through quality education.

According to him, the state education system was structured into primary, secondary and tertiary education.

He noted that such separation would facilitate better management of the educational system.

He commended the role of the House of Representatives in building a formidable and virile nation, adding that the survival of democracy depends on what happens at the House of Representatives.

Sanwo-Olu added that the state government had a tracking on all the students who have been registered within its education system and monitoring their success which is very important.

Earlier, in his remarks, Chairman of the Committee, Aminu Suleiman, said that the committee was in the state as part of its oversight functions.

Suleiman disclosed that the committee came to engage institutions of higher learning, both federal and state owned, to confirm if the interventions allocated to them were being utilized according to the purpose for which they were given.

The chairman described the effort of the state government in the sector as laudable and unparalleled.

He, however, assured that the committee is always ready to support the Lagos State Government.

The Federal Ministry Education, in collaboration with UNICEF, is reviewing the National Policy on Gender in Basic Education to tackle insecurity and other emerging gender issues.

UNICEF’s Education Specialist, Azuka Menkiti told newsmen in Abuja at the end of a two day Consultative and Critique Meeting that the review was long overdue.

She said the review of the 14-year-old policy was aimed at finding a lasting solution to emerging gender issues.

She stressed that the review would broaden the scope of the policy which focused only on basic education to ensure inclusiveness for better implementation.

According to her, works are being concluded on the document for onward presentation to relevant authorities for approval.

She added that a review of level of implementation of the policy became imperative to ascertain the level of compliance.

The UNICEF’s Education Specialist said a team of experts were drawn from different levels of education to lead the review of the document in view of its importance.

She explained that the review process was not only about critiquing the draft copy, but also to build consensus on implementation plan.

According to her, it is to avoid the policy being reviewed, approved and shelved in offices, adding that building consensus around the document would go a long way in ensuring adequate implementation.

Menkiti stressed that in order to make the document acceptable to all,  stakeholders, including Civil Society Organisations, religious and traditional leaders, and experts from various states of the federation were part of the process.

Menkiti assured that work would be completed on the document in a few weeks for onward presentation to the Ministry of Education.

She added that once that was done, the ministry would be expected to convene a meeting of the National Council on Education for approval.

Meanwhile, Deputy Director, Gender 2, Federal Ministry of Education, Enakeme Nnorom, said when approved, the policy would go a long way in redefining education in Nigeria.

She said when put in place, girls and boys would have quality education because there would be easier access.

She added that there would be mechanisms to check sexual harassment, while channels for reporting and punishing bad behaviours would be put in place.

She expressed optimism that the document would be approved before the end of the year.