The Edo State Universal Basic Education Board says the state government plans to boost Technical and Vocational Education and Training with the recruitment of 3,000 teachers under the Edo Supporting Teachers to Achieve Result teacher recruitment programme.
The Chairperson, Edo State Universal Basic Education Board, Dr. Joan Oviawe, said the board had received orders from Governor Godwin Obaseki, to educate students on the requisite skills.
She said, “As you are aware, basic education extends to junior secondary school. We are trying to put in place the necessary tools that will make us roll this out. In line with that, we have the Edo Supporting Teachers to Achieve Result recruitment programme.
“We had over 38,000 applicants. Out of this, 11,000 were shortlisted for a computer-based test. From those that took the test, we will do a further review so that we can select the best 3,000 graduate teachers that will be hired amongst them. By the end of May, we ought to have shortlisted the new teachers.”
Speaking on the curriculum to drive the teaching of technical and vocational education, Oviawe noted that work has already commenced on the curriculum for junior secondary school.
She said the governor has the Board marching orders to educate students and have them acquire the requisite skills.
Skills acquisition is now a strong component of thr basic 7, 8 and 9 education system in Edo State.
Edo State Moves To Boost Technical, Vocational Education In Junior Secondary
Lagos State Trains 2,000 Primary School Teachers Under EKOEXCEL Initiative
The Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board (LASUBEB) has completed the final phase of training for 2,000 newly recruited primary school teachers on integration of technological devices for instructional classroom delivery under the EKOEXCEL initiative of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
According to LASUBEB, the training would not only empower and develop the newly recruited teachers and participating head teachers but also bring them up to speed with how knowledge is being impacted across other parts of the world by including technology in the basic education system.
The 2,000 teachers represent the final batch of teachers, who completed their training in a session phased in 3 batches.
All participating teachers promised to implement all they have learnt in the classrooms, noting the training will not only boost their confidence in the classrooms but also ensure their pupils are gainfully engaged in school.
West Bengal Board Cancels Class 11 Exams, Higher Secondary Exams To Hold As Scheduled
The West Bengal Council of Higher Secondary Education (WBCHSE) has announced the cancellagion of annual examination of class 11 due to an unprecedented situation across the country. All students of class 11 will be promoted to class 12 without exams.
However, Higher Secondary Examination (class 12) 2021 will be held in line with the schedule and in their home centres from 12 noon to 3:15 pm instead of 10 am to 1:15 pm.
The council released a circular stating that the decision has been taken in view of the pandemic.
Official statement by the council stated that as a result of the health crisis in the country and other reasons, the council has decided to cancel the annual examination of class 11.
The head of the Institution has accepted a requested to promote all candidates of Class 11 to Class 12 while topics of the reduced syllabus of Class 12 which are related to the Higher Secondary Examination to be completed within the first quarter of Class 12.
Ship Prepares To Ferry Chemicals Out Of Beirut Port
A ship prepared to ferry dozens of containers of hazardous materials from Lebanon’s capital to Germany on Friday, according to managers of a cleanup project.
German firm Combi Lift was contracted to remove dangerous substances from the port after the explosion of hundreds of tonnes of fertiliser there on August 4 last year killed more than 200 people and ravaged large parts of Beirut.
The last of 59 containers was lifted onto the ship on Friday and Heiko Felderhoff, CEO of Combi Lift, said they would be disposed of in Germany.
Meanwhile, Elias Assouad, head of the Lebanese-German Business Council, says the project had cleared the port of “all toxic, cancerous, flammable and highly reactive chemicals that have been stored for decades.
He said the German firm had been expected “to deal with only 49 containers of hazardous material, but they ended up “handling more than 75, of which 59 will be shipped”.
A chemical expert managing the operation Michael Wentler told Newsmen after finishing the job in February that Beirut only avoided a second chemical inferno by chance.
Wentler had described festering chemical mixtures so corrosive they burned gaping holes right through massive shipping containers. Hydrochloric acid, a corrosive and toxic substance, made up 60 percent of the chemicals Combi Lift came across.
Russia Bars Eight EU Officials From Entry In Tit-For-Tat Move
Russia’s foreign ministry says it has barred eight European officials from entering the country in retaliation to EU sanctions against Russian security officials over the jailing of Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny.
The Russian foreign ministry said those banned included Vera Jourova, vice president for values and transparency at the executive European Commission, and David Sassoli, the president of the European parliament.
Moscow said it was responding to sanctions imposed by the European Council last month against four top Russian security officials over the jailing of Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny and a violent police response to protests in his support.
In a statement, the Ministry accused the European Union of unilateral illegitimate restrictive measures targeting Russian citizens and organisations.
It added that such actions by the European Union leave no doubt that their true goal is to restrain the development of the country at any cost.
The list of European officials barred from Russia include officials from France and Germany, as well as Baltic states Estonia and Latvia.
One of Latvian officials, Ivars Abolins, in February supported his country’s decision to drop several Russian television channels.
Another official on the list, Asa Scott of the Swedish Defence Research Agency, helped confirm last year that Navalny was poisoned by the Soviet-era Novichok nerve toxin in August.
The EU and the US have imposed a series of sanctions on Russia over the poisoning and jailing of the critic.
Covid Disruption: Experts In UK Call For Compassion Training For Pupils In Catch-Up Plans
Experts in the United Kjngdom have called for pupils to receive compassion training under plans aimed at making up for education lost due to the Covid fiasco.
A leading group of academics and psychologists will write to the education recovery commissioner urging him to make sure young people and their teachers are “provided with the mental tools to overcome stress and trauma.
The letter, seen UK media, urged Sir Kevan Collins to include “compassion-based training and coaching” for students and staff in both primary and secondary schools in his catch-up plans.
The group which includes education experts and clinical psychologists, said pupils have experienced “enormous stress, pressure, and disruption” due to the Covid-19 pandemic, which kept most children at home during two national lockdowns and changed the way examination results are graded.
They cited data showing a greater proportion of five to 16-year-olds were identified with mental health problems last July compared to in 2017, as well as a poll suggesting 52 per cent of teachers felt their mental health declined due to Covid.
The letter – signed by around 40 experts – said there were “innumerable mental challenges to be navigated” over bringing pupils and teachers back to a school environment and to make sure their education “will not suffer because of Covid”.
The education recovery commissioner is currently looking at ways to help children “catch-up” after the disruption of the past year.
Members of Kenyan Parliament Disagree on Creation of New Department at Education Ministry
Some members of Parliament in Kenya have questioned the creation of a new department to spearhead curriculum reforms under the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) terming it unnecessary.
In a heated debate in the House, a section of the MPs opposed the appointment of Prof Fatuma Chege as the new Principal Secretary for state department for the implementation of curriculum reforms in the Ministry of Education.
This is despite the House committee on education and research chaired by Busia Women Rep Florence Mutua tabling a report in parliament and recommenfing her appointment.
The report reads in part “The committee recommends that this house approves the nomination of Prof Fatuma Chege, PhD, for the appointment of the position of Principal Secretary for state department for the implementation of curriculum reforms in the Ministry of Education,”.
Uriri MP Mark Nyamita opposed the appointment saying that the Ministry of Education already has the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) which is a fully-fledged institution and deals with curriculum reforms.
The current Education Chief Administrative Secretary (CAS) Dr Sarah Ruto was also a former chair at the KICD before her appointment.
Nyamita said the President should instead consider reorganizing the Ministry of Education instead of creating a new department.
Suba East MP Junet Mohamed also questioned the appointment stating that there was no need for an additional state department to do a specific duty which can be done by the existing state department.
However, some MPs supported her appointment but faulted the implementation of the new curriculum in the country.
Majority leader Amos Kimunya moved a motion to postpone the debate saying the House needs to interrogate the issues further. National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi adjoined the debate to resume at a later date.
President Uhuru Kenyatta created the new department and appointed Prof Chege to spearhead the implementation of the new curriculum in the country.
Currently the implementation of the curriculum is at Grade Four. Grade Five is set to be rolled out in July when third term is set to start.
Before her appointment Prof Chege, chaired the CBC taskforce committee and was the deputy vice chancellor in charge of administration at the Kenyatta University.
University Of Lagos Unveils Dates For 51st Convocation
The University of Lagos has announced June 30 to July 9 as days set aside for activities lined up for its 51st Convocation ceremony (2019).
According to a statement issued by the principal assistant registrar , Corporate Affairs of the institution, Nonye Oguama, a pre-convocation news conference that will herald activities lined up for the ceremony has been slated for June 30.
According to the statement, there would be a rehearsal for hooding ceremonies on July 1 at the School of Post Graduate Studies, various faculties and the Distance Learning Institute (DLI).
The statement added that Friday, July 2, has been set aside for the convocation ceremonies, special Jumat Service, while a Thanksgiving Service would hold on July 4.
According to the statement, there will be an Opening of Exhibition and Commissioning of projects, that will be preceeded by a convocation lecture on Monday July 5.
On Tuesday July 6, there will be a congregation for the award of first degree, diploma certificates and prizes to graduating students of the Faculties of Education, Social Sciences, Arts, Environmental Sciences and Sciences.
The congregation for the award of first degrees, diploma, certificates and prizes to graduating students of the Faculties of Law, Engineering, Management Sciences, Basic Medical Sciences, Clinical Sciences Dental Science, Pharmacy and DLI will come up on Wednesday, July 7.
The statement added that the ceremony for Post Graduate Degrees and Masters will also hold on the same day.
It revealed that the recognition and service award ceremony would hold on Friday, July 9.
In a related development, the statement said the university had set aside May 10 for resumption for the second semester of the 2020/2021 academic year and it would be fully physical.
The statement, however, noted that in cases where there would be large classes, it would go virtual. It noted that registration of courses would commence on Friday, April 30 to June 20.
Meanwhile, the Senate of the institution has appointed Obinna Chukwu as its new Deputy Vice Chancellor, Management Services.
Chukwu, a professor of marine sciences and one time Dean of School of Postgraduate Studies , is the current Director, Academic Planning, (Office of the Vice Chancellor) and the immediate past Director, Director Quality Assurance and SERVICOM Unit.
Also, a professor of political science and the immediate past Dean, School of Postgraduate Studies, Solomon Akingboye, has been elected as Senate representative in the institution’s Governing Council.
Massive Tech Show Set To Return In Person In 2022
The Consumer Electronics Show will resume its in-person event in Las Vegas in January after the pandemic forced it to become virtual this year, organizers have said.
The Consumer Technology Association said the show which traditionally draws tens of thousands of industry professionals and technology firms large and small would be held in Las Vegas January 5-8, with two preceding media days.
The trade group said some 1,000 companies have committed to being present at the gathering including Amazon, Daimler AG, Dell, Google, Hyundai, IBM, Intel, Lenovo, Samsung Electronics and Sony.
“We’re thrilled to return to Las Vegas — home to CES for more than 40 years — and look forward to seeing many new and returning faces,” said Gary Shapiro, president and chief executive of the association.
“Hundreds of executives have told us how much they need CES to meet new and existing customers, find partners, reach media and discover innovation.”
The trade group said it would be including some aspects of the online event from the 2021 show including an “anchor desk,” which helps guide participants, and a number of online conference sessions, keynotes and product announcements.
The show traditionally includes product innovations in computing, automotive tech, smart cities, digital health and other sectors.
Anne Douglas, Widow Of Hollywood Legend Kirk, Dies At 102
Anne Douglas, a philanthropist and widow of Hollywood legend Kirk Douglas, died Thursday at her home in Beverly Hills, her family said. She was 102.
Kirk Douglas, who died in February 2020 at the age of 103, met his future wife in Paris in 1953, while filming “Act of Love.”
After a whirlwind courtship, the couple got married in Las Vegas on May 29, 1954.
“It wasn’t romantic, but it was legal and her new husband vowed that someday he would marry her again in a big celebration,” the Douglas family said in their statement.
Kirk Douglas, one of the last superstars of Hollywood’s golden age of cinema renowned for performances in “Spartacus” and “Paths of Glory,” fulfilled that promise in 2004 for their 50th anniversary.
The couple were married for 66 years and had two sons, Peter and Eric. Their family also included two other sons, Michael and Joel, children from Kirk Douglas’s first marriage.
Anne Douglas was born Hannelore Marx in Hanover, Germany on April 23, 1919. She was a student in Belgium when the Nazis bombed Brussels in 1940.
Anne escaped by car with friends, headed toward France. But her German papers were a liability, and she married a Belgian to obtain nationality.
Months after their arrival in Paris, the Germans occupied the city. When the Nazis decreed that movies must be shown with German subtitles, Anne’s knowledge of German, English, French and Italian enabled her to find work with a French film distributor.
After the war, she continued her career in the industry, working for American network NBC, then for John Huston on the production of “Moulin Rouge,” before meeting Kirk.
Anne Douglas was active in diplomacy and philanthropy, including visiting 44 countries as a goodwill ambassador for American values, work for which she was honored by the State Department’s United States Information Agency.
Her philanthropy benefited causes including performing arts, women’s cancers research and homeless women.
After learning of unsafe playgrounds at Los Angeles schools, Anne was determined to fix them.
“She convinced her husband the only way to fund the massive endeavor was to auction most of their art collection at Christie’s,” the family said, adding that the effort had resulted in 403 refurbished play spaces.
“I often wonder what would have happened to me if I hadn’t married Anne,” her husband had said. “I might not have survived without her business acumen and her finely-honed instincts.”
