Sun News - October 8 - B

Don proffers cure as new form of AIDS hits Nigerian academic communities

Beggar lecturers Demand sex, money from students

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Tuesday, October 9, 2012

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EducationReview EDITED BY CHIKA ABANOBI

PEOPLE•PLACES•PROBLEMS•PROSPECTS•PROGRESS

N I G E R I A’ S V O I C E O F E D U C AT I O N

BRAINPOWER!

The story of Chinenye Amadi, the Nigerian schoolgirl that top U.S. universities are wooing with scholarship offers to study in their campuses

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Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Education Review/COVER “Men are like the stars; some generate their own light while others reflect the brilliance they receive” - Jose Marti

Making waves in America How this brilliant schoolgirl brought honour to her family and Nigeria

•Chinenye (middle), with her parents

By ONYEKACHI JET

O

ne way Miss Chinenye Natasha Amadi, 16, chose to say ‘thank you, dad, for investing in my education’ was to make her father, Lambert U. Amadi, an engineer, cry before the audience at a recent valedictory service/graduation ceremonies held in District of Columbia College, Washington DC, United States. It is funny, but her father understands why it has to be so.

Chinenye did not only force tears of joy out of her father’s eyes, she also compelled five top American universities to literally come begging her with scholarship offers for her university education. And you ask: what has she got that is making her the centre of so much attraction? Brainpower!

By garnering 3.85 out 4.0 GPA, she emerged the best graduating student of the Class 2012 of the Washington Mathematics Science Technology Public Charter High School, District of Colombia where she had enrolled in at the ninth grade in 2008. It was this superlative performance that made five

top US universities to fling their gates wide open for the girl to come in and study on their bills. They are Syracuse University, University of Pittsburgh, University of Illinois, State University of New York, Stonybrook and University of Connecticut.

PLACE OF BIRTH By origin, Chinenye Natasha Amadi (fondly called “Princess Nene” by her family) hails from Mbaise in Imo State, Nigeria. But she is Nigerian as she is American. In fact, by virtue of her birth, she is an American, but she had part of her education in Nigeria.

The second child in a family of four, she had her nursery and early primary education at the Learningfield Schools, Lagos.

Consequent upon her father’s relocation to Port Harcourt, Rivers State, she completed her primary education at Archdeacon Brown Education Centre (ABEC) in Port Harcourt.

From there, she proceeded to the Federal Government Girls’ College (FGGC), Umuahia, Abia State for her early secondary education.

All through her primary and secondary

education, the whizzkid often emerged as the best student. At FGGC, she made her school proud when she emerged as an A-class student. In her Junior Secondary School (JSS) 3 final examinations, she made ‘A’s with just a ‘B’. It was after her junior secondary school (JS 3) at the FGGC, Umuahia that she returned to America, her country of birth.

She recalled that at the time of enrolment at the Washington Mathematics Science Technology Public Charter High School, she was under-aged to be placed in the 10th grade.

And so, the school authorities decided she would be stepped down by one year. Like any other child, the news did not go down well with her. The first thought that cropped up in her mind, according to her, was her contemporaries leaving her behind. But she said she did not allow the thought to dampen her spirit.

In a telephone conversation with Education Review, Chinenye recalled how despite scoring high in the entrance tests, she opted to taking the bull by the horn and stepped down in class by one year. “Because I was an international student, I was made to undergo the entrance tests. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have,”

she explains. “I scored very high marks in all the tests I wrote. But I willingly chose to go back one year. I took this decision so that I can start from the basics and so that I can cope fine in every area of my studies without having much challenge.”

PRIZES AND AWARDS Apart from receiving five scholarship offers from the five US universities, Chinenye who won more than 10 prizes, has in her kitty, several awards from external private organizations – some upon graduation.

Among these were the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. awards. In addition, she was one of the four American teens who were honoured at the annual service awards on June 10, 2012 at the Town Hall Education Recreation Campus. The event was in recognition of contributions and achievements of teenagers and organizations who have demonstrated community service and leadership.

Other laurels she won in various high school competitions include the Safeway Scholarship Essay competition in which she bagged $2,000 cash prize for emerging one of the four winners, in the competition titled: “If I were a Mayor, I would….” It was also gathered that in January this year, she also won a $1,000 cash prize in an essay competition organized for High School students in the Colombia District. She was one of the 10 students who did marvelously well in the competition. The essay, she recalls, was on “describing an obstacle or hardship that we had to overcome.

“The Korean-American Grocers Association of DC (KAGRO) which held a banquet honouring several members of the Korean community also treated the 10 of us to a feast of tradition Korean cuisine. This was followed by several door prizes and dancing. The event was attended by several noteworthy D.C. officials including the D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray, Chancellor Kaya Henderson and D.C. Council Chairman Kwame Brown.”

Chinenye is also involved in many leadership, youth, community service programmes and humanitarian services. She was one of the young activists against homelessness and domestic violence in the district of Colombia.

“One of our recent projects was a programme where we spent an afternoon in the spotlight as crusaders for the disadvantaged,” she says.

“By garnering 3.85 out 4.0 GPA, she emerged the best graduating student of the Class 2012 of the Washington Mathematics Science Technology Public Charter High School, District of Colombia where she had enrolled in at the ninth grade in 2008. It was this superlative performance that made five top US universities to fling their gates wide open for the girl to come in and study on their bills.”

•Continued on Page 27

Tuesday, October 9, 2012

DAILY SUN

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Education Review/COVER “We have magnificent brains, but we use a great deal of our brilliance to keep ourselves from not shining. We are so afraid of our beauty and radiance and brilliance because it scared the adults around us when we were children” - Patricia Sun

Why I settled for Syracuse varsity –Chinenye •Continued from Page 26 School Yearbook. Favourite Movies: Twilight saga, The Notebook, Mean Girls, All “This is an advocacy project aimed at driving Harry Potter movies. Music: Pop, Alternative attention on the plight of the disadvantaged in Rock, Blues, Country, Dance, Electronic, the society.”

Indie. Books: Crank, Tricks, Twilight saga, Harry Potter Series, Blue bloods series, PROGRAMMES AND PROSPECTS Gossip Girl, Linger/Shiver, Swoon.”

Back to her story of scholarship offers from US top universities. Education Review was MOTIVATIONS AND MOTHER’S TESTIMONY anxious to know which of them she will go At a point, your conversation with her sudfor. Chinenye, a true reflection of what her denly changed from the reason for her choice Mbaise people would refer in their Igbo of university to what drives her on. She was dialect as nwa evele ako (the extra-sensory able to achieve the feat by remaining focused, lamb), disclosed that to help her in making the she tells you. She listed other motivating facright decision, she took her time to study the tors as “determination, support and encourprogrammes and prospects of each of the five agement from my parents and support from universities before settling for Syracuse.

God.” If you typed in the name, Chinenye Amadi, You asked her what advice she has for felon the Internet, under “Linked in,” you will low Nigerian students and for the Nigerian find the following information displayed: government and she rattled it off in that pecu“Student at Washington Maths Science liar American accent: “I want students back Technology PCHS Washington D.C. Metro home in Nigeria to be determined because Area/ Public Relations and Communications. whatever you determine to do, that you must Current: Youth Intern at DC Council. surely achieve. I want the government to supEducation: Washington Maths Science port and encourage the students by providing Technology PCHS.” them with textbooks and well-equipped ICT Ignore the information. It is outdated. The units for their research activities. They should good news is that she’s just started her studies also provide jobs for those who are through at Syracuse University. Her course of study: with their studies.”

Information Management and Journalism.

Her mother, Lady Ann Amadi who ascribed This choice is hardly surprising for the girl Chinenye’s brilliance to God, said she is who was the editor-in-chief of their school happy that her daughter has succeeded in newspaper, The Prowl. bringing honour not only to her family but “They have the best journalism pro- also to Nigeria. gramme in America and they gave me a lot of “The scholarship is not in cash,” she says. scholarship money, not in cash though,” she “But I’m particularly happy that even though said in the telephone conversation, on the rea- the scholarship is not being given in monetary son for choosing Syracuse. “So, it won’t be a terms, Chinenye succeeded in lifting the burburden going through my university educa- den of her university education off our shoultion. Again, I like their campus. I went there. ders. I’m glad because this is happening at a I also like the student body. It is vibrant.” time when our dear country, Nigeria, is What Chinenye failed to add is that recording lots of negativities; the few who Syracuse is as vibrant as she is. Under write the country’s name in gold needs comwww.zinch.com, she describes herself thus: mendation. I’m proud of her. I’m also proud “I’m an outgoing, witty, determined and of her three siblings who are also doing very loquacious girl. I enjoy reading, writing, and well in their studies. listening to music. My favorite subjects in “For me, the highpoint of the ceremonies school are AP English, street law and was when Chinenye was called up to give her physics.” valedictory speech. And while she spoke, I Witty and loquacious? Education Review saw my husband shedding tears just like when certainly found her so in the telephone con- the late Gani Fawehinmi would weep and versation. In her entry on www.zinch.com, shed tears for his beloved country Nigeria. she describes her interests: Communications. But his was the tears of joy.”

Journalism. Yearbook. School Newspaper.

Memo

•Amadi

Offhead or offhand?

I will travel with my camera. **********

I answered the question offhead.

Offhead is un-English; you should not use it. The correct expression in English is: I answered the question offhand.

This means that he answered the question without looking for information and without thinking carefully. This meaning can also be expressed as follows: I answered the question extempore (i.e. without any preparation or thought in advance).

I came with the bus.

It is unfortunate that people, even some educated ones, are often confused about the preposition to use in connection with travel.

The above error is heard pretty often in our everyday use of English. We should try to avoid it. The correct expression is: I came by bus.

Similarly, we should say: I came by train; I came by car; I came by bicycle; I came by ship. We travel on foot; on a horse; on a donkey and on a camel.

********** Wrong: The woman is coming at your back.

At the back of something is also part of that thing. Thus it is absurd for the woman to walk at someone’s back. The right expression is: Right: The woman is coming behind you.

It is however correct to say: The woman is at the back of the building.

At the back of my mind was the desire for his friendship. **********

I live in the campus Campus, meaning the grounds and buildings of a university or college is preceded by the preposition on, not in. The sentence is therefore jeopardized by the use of in. You should always say: I live on the campus.

Note that the use of the definite article is not obligatory in the sentence. It is equally correct to say: I live on campus.

********** I will travel with my car.

This sentence, as it is, means that the speaker will carry or drag his car along as he travels. But this is not what he meant. His meaning will be brought out clearly if he uses the preposition in instead of with as shown below: I will travel in my car.

On the other hand, it is acceptable to say:

********** I set my watch with the radio.

With is a wrong preposition here. The acceptable preposition is by thus: I set my watch by the radio (Meaning, that I put it to the right time by listening to the radio time signal).

•Culled from Common Errors in the Use of English, by Prof. Joy Eyisi, Africana FIRST Publishers Limited, 2003.

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DAILY SUN Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Education Review/SPECIAL REPORT “Striving for success without hard work is like trying to harvest where you haven’t planted” – David Bly

•Stakeholders at the meeting

Exam malpractice: From PAUL ORUDE, Bauchi

T

malpractices.

According to him, “the effects are that many students now possess results that they cannot defend. Our society is barren of quality graduates.

Graduates who pass examinations through malpractices have the inclination to be dubious. Many of our young girls take to prostitution while in school courtesy of examination malpractice as they have to use their bodies to seduce teachers in order to pass.”

Alexander, in his recommendations, said each student should be made to read and understand Abraham Lincoln’s letter to the son’s teacher that “it is far more honourable to fail than to cheat.” He called for enlightenment campaigns and re-orientation to discourage students from engaging in examination malpractice.”

In his analysis, Magaji Bappa Azare, Permanent Commissioner, State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), lamented that the education system is so flawed that many just pass through the school without the school passing through them. He said it was unfortunate that many students today cannot speak good English after passing through secondary schools.

He called for urgent education summit in the state to address the education challenges. He also called on government at all levels, particularly the state, to engage professional teachers and promote quality teaching in their schools.

Ibrahim Balarabe, an Assistant Editor with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) who spoke during the meeting, lamented that quacks

Stakeholders converge on Bauchi to brainstorm on how to fight monster

he National Orientation Agency (NOA), Bauchi State office recently gathered stakeholders, at the conference room of the Ministry of Education, to brainstorm on the issue of exam malpractice, among others.

Chaired by the Commissioner for Education, who was represented

by Director of Finance, Ministry of Higher Education, Isiaka Tijanni, the stakeholders made extensive comments and proffered solutions to the scourge ravaging education and threatening Nigeria’s future.

According to the NOA State’s Director, Hajia Jummai Bello, the aim of the meeting was to fashion out ways of reducing the negative tendencies associated with conduct of examinations and raise our exam’s integrity to a world-class standard. “The primary concern of NOA is orientation, moulding and social re-orientation for which education is a key factor,” she noted.

Bello reiterated the importance of both formal and informal education in making people aware of challenges in their environment, empowering them with the abilities to strive to change or improve condition and circumstances. She explained that the role of education as it affects the attitude of the populace in the country’s quest for transformation was of particular concern to the NOA. “Therefore, it is our collective ideas, experience and vision that will drive our integrity in the conduct of examinations as to who and where we are as a nation, within a given time frame.

“Looking at the challenges today in the conduct of examinations, external and internal, it is characterised by an alarming rate of malpractices, that had gradually reduced the integrity and value of examinations results. Some Nigerians associate it with the selfish desires of parents, teachers, government, school proprietors, politicians, examination bodies and students as well as law enforcement agencies.

“Majority of parents often abuse their responsibilities of imparting core values and norms into their children by giving them money to earn grades. Similarly, government schools or private corrupt examination bodies to earn marks for their students to attract admission to the schools. Teachers, supervisors as well as security men are said to be influenced by the economic factor.”

She then called on participants to address the

challenges confronting the system in order to have a self-sustaining environment for the conduct of examinations.

Speaking during the meeting, Tijanni, said that the state government has invested massively in the education sector to boost students’performance. Tijanni promised that the government will not relent in providing the necessary assistance to the education sector to improve the performance of students in examinations and called on teachers to show more commitment to work as their salaries and conditions of service had improved since the Yuguda administration came into being in 2007.

In a paper entitled “Current trends in examinations malpractice,” presented at the occasion, Alagh Alexander said that moral decadence and change in core values are to blame, among other factors, for the high rate of examination

•Continued on Page 28

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SPECIAL REPORT/Education Review “Examinations, sir, are pure humbug from beginning to end. If a man is a gentleman, he knows quite enough, and if he is not a gentleman, whatever he knows is bad for him” – Oscar Wilde

How to end cheating in exam “Each student should be made to read and understand Abraham Lincoln’s letter to the son’s teacher that “it is far more honourable to fail than to cheat” •Continued from Page 28 have infiltrated teaching. Lamenting that teachers colleges, which devoted time and resources to training qualified teachers, were disappearing, the NAN senior staff called for urgent revitalisation of the teachers colleges to restore the lost glory. He also observed that many private schools were just making money and did not employ qualified teachers and called for proper supervision of schools to check standard.

The ward head of Tudun Yarima, Yusuf Baba Isa, in his contributions, observed that three things must be addressed if stakeholders must make a headway in addressing exam malpractice. According to the traditional ruler, who is also the Chairman of Garu Co-leaders, Bauchi District, policy makers must avoid the fire brigade approach to addressing issues.

“Instead of rushing to do things, we must plan carefully and take time to implement and that means we need to be patriotic in doing things,” he said.

Secondly, he said, “the issue of corruption in the system must be addressed. Corruption has affected every facet of our national development including education. Examinations cannot be addressed unless corruption is addressed.”

•Stakeholders at the workshop

•Isiaka Tijani, representative of the Commissioner for Education He said he has observed painstakingly that teachers are frustrated because they are poorly remunerated and treated. “Because of this frustration, most of them become aggressive? We need to know why they are frustrated. We can’t afford to toy with the commitment of teachers.”

Also speaking, the Director of Schools Services in the state, Hajia Asumao Pate, noted that when a student is properly taught, he needs not cheat in examinations and stressed that the issue of poor quality teaching is the bane of education in the country. Pate stressed the need to revisit how teachers are employed.

“Many see teaching today as escape route from unemployment but this should not be so,”

she said. “We need to allow people who are professionals to teach and handle examination affairs. On examination malpractices, many things are responsible, the parents, the teachers, and the society. There is too much emphasis on paper qualification and many students do all sort of crooked things to get a certificate. In my opinion, we need to change this orientation and start to emphasise skills rather than paper qualification. Let us look at our schools - the buildings, are the facilities up-to-date to enable students pass exams?

“The number of students-teacher ratio, the TV learning and other programmes, are they in line with our curriculum? We need to visit the

national curriculum which is supposed to have taken effect from 2011. Has it been implemented? Monitoring and evaluation, how often do we do that? On examination fraud, how many people involved have been prosecuted? This should be made public for punishment and reward those schools which are clean.”

Also speaking, an Assistant Director of News, State Television (BATV), Hajia Halima Ibrahim, wondered what steps were being taken to clamp down on the so-called “miracle centres” across the country which have continued to constitute avenues for perpetuating examination malpractices.

In her opinion, such illegal private registration centres should be rooted out. “Also,” she added, “students must be made to repeat a class when they fail and not be allowed to move to the next class. There must be transparency in the system, teachers, especially the inspectorate unit of schools, should stop window-dressing.

They must re-orient themselves at the top before reorienting our students to stop cheating.

For instance, there are reports that some government textbooks are sold to private bookshops. These issues must be tackled.”

The Chairman, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Bauchi State chapter, Dahiru Mohammed startled the audience when he told the story of how, in 2005, as a reporter working for the state TV, he nearly got into trouble investigating how a NECO examination paper got leaked.

“I got wind of how a particular paper leaked and I even went on air with it with a view to stopping the examinations from being conducted. But the examination body went ahead, despite my report,” he recounted. “I got into trouble over my courage. We believe it is normal because everybody is doing it. But we are undoing ourselves. Unfortunately today, unless we stop such things we will end up producing fake doctors, lawyers, journalists and teachers.

If teachers are produced through this way (cheating), we will have teachers who cannot teach. So something urgent needs to be done to correct these anomalies.”

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Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Education Review/ISSUE “Whatever the cost of our libraries, the price is cheap compared to that of an ignorant nation” – Walter Cronkite

By YOMBO ADERINTO

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oday in Africa, education is still in the vein of that put in place by the colonialists, featuring outmoded curriculum, overly authoritarian teacher - student relationship, inflexible instruction (didactic), rote learning, and a very high affective filter on the part of the learner, among others.

Fifty-four years after the first country in Africa became independent, the relics of colonial education are still the cornerstone of education on the continent - while times have changed, many events have unfolded, and the world has moved on. In light of this hard truths and historical backdrop, it is more than imperative for Africa to, in each country, articulate a national outlook for the 21st century education. What follows, therefore, is a stack of harsh realities in African education, along with a prescription for education in Africa based on the challenges that the 21st century presents in a fast moving world.

A good number of specific considerations are in order in reshaping education for the 21st century in Africa. Among these things are the past, present and the future of education in each country. Other things that will figure include what to teach, how to teach it and, of course, its application. More pressing are the authoring of a strong national vision and the realization of this vision.

Indeed, reconstruction or reform in education ought to begin with a clear picture of what each nation wants to achieve or be, relevant to what obtains in our accelerated world of today - broad objectives that can illuminate the pathways to a vibrant 21st century education and, eventually, a socially, economically, technologically, affectively and culturally accomplished nation. While all nations may share the same views about prosperity, the commitment level may vary and - indeed varies from country to country. What is needed, however, is sustained commitment backed up with dedicated resources.

Central to planning and implementing an effective education for a nation is the understanding of the operative definition of education itself. While this may seem unnecessary, it is the foundational current of whatever is destined to be great in education. A nation that professes to be great requires planning - very solid planning. That planning needs to stem from the needs and aspirations of a nation relative to its current state of functioning and projections of future growth. What has been the norm rather than exception is that most countries infrequently change their educational paradigm or framework thinking that it is a monolithic thing that is unsusceptible to change.

As with anything that is subject to time, human factors and environmental dynamics, it needs to be reviewed and revised periodically.

Looking at Now:

21st Century education in Africa (2) Where it is not possible to include everyone on the team, the final document must reflect the true pulse of the nation in terms of those aspirations that could uplift the people and the country as a whole. The plan, rather than being frivolous, should establish clear pathways for achievement of the identified objectives. In addition to this, the document must manifest where the country is currently - educationally, economically and otherwise —- where it is going, and how it’s going to get there with the implementation of the plan.

Necessary for a more workable document of the nature suggested here is the consideration of several factors - among others, national resources in all of its forms, literacy and numeracy levels, relevant knowledge and application skills,

NATIONAL EDUCATION PLAN

A coherent and realistic national education plan for each country is a significant document to have in efforts to advance the cause of education. This document, with implementation steps and accountability built in, should serve as the compass for achieving the objectives specified by each country. The plan ought to be drawn by a multi-disciplinary team of academics, technocrats, parents, educators, education service providers, corporate personnel and, of course, progressive policymakers.

domestic demands, as well as current and future place/roles in the world all important in a globalized economy. This is what countries like Singapore and Finland have done.

Little wonder then that their place and roles in the world, relative to growth and prosperity, are defined and unmistakable.

To achieve anything at all with planning, implementation and planning must be perfectly harmonized. I have been told that while a few countries in Africa have a decent national plan, the same thing cannot be said about implementation. In the case of Africa, what is pervasively wrecking good planning or intentions are simply corruption and tentativeness of attitude about education. Even to deaf ears and locked minds, it sure doesn’t sound as if education and corruption can mix and produce common-good results. So why are we deceiving ourselves by ignoring the noxious grip of corruption on education? If we, for a moment, figuratively consider education as light, it follows somehow that wherever corruption lurks or flourishes, light does not and can never loom - a convenient or perhaps literal reference to NEPA in Nigeria. In a context like this, it’s always going to be lights out! Such is the case currently in many countries in Africa where corruption conveniently cruises ahead of good nationhood. Safe to say a nation that leaves its education in corrupt hands dies slowly and steadily. This is not far-fetched as it is all around us in Africa.

CURRICULUM

•Aderinto

Undoubtedly the curriculum has to be a derivative of the national education plan. While the national plan is a big idea document, the curriculum sort of provides the road map for, or pathways to, achieving the national

goal - more like a compass. It is, for educators, what to teach and, for students, what to know and how to apply that which is known. It stands the reason then that there must not be a - disconnect - between the national plan and the curriculum. Any synapse at all, needless to say, will compromise even the best of efforts and make the goal of nation-building unattainable.

A general observation is that today’s curriculum in Africa is completely out of alignment with the demands of 21st century, given that what is available now is the bequest of the colonialists. Retooling or revamping what exists now is pressingly important. To the extent possible and foremost, national aspirations, as enshrined in the national education plan, must be projected in the curriculum. The curriculum, therefore, ought to be nationally articulated for common goal and common good. It cannot be and must not be fragmented or treated with irreverence. It also has to be comprehensive and all-encompassing in its frame and texture, addressing readiness to college and beyond. The intricacies of achieving this are a big enough subject to produce another document, specifically addressing the key components of the curriculum at each level.

Educators of stature around the world have long touted a balanced curriculum. What does this mean?

For me it means a curriculum that addresses the needs of the learner, the needs of the community, the needs of the nation and the needs of the world— with the resolve that when all of these needs are met, strong nationhood is achieved. A corollary benefit of a balanced curriculum is that it offers or bundles disciplines such as science, math, social sciences, arts and the likes at a general level giving a little dose of everything to

the learner with the objective that knowledge and skills gained in one discipline will help advance those in other disciplines. A balanced curriculum goes beyond this mere crossover effect of skills and knowledge; it provides exploitable links between and among disciplines and allows for depth when skills and knowledge are contextualized and harmonized among disciplines, thus eliminating superficiality in learning. A cursory peek at the curriculum of some schools in Africa indicates incoherence and highly unbalanced curriculum in the vein that is contrary to what is advocated herein. 21st century education, as prescribed by the curriculum, cannot be trite or superficial. Learners of today must know their “stuff” and well, too.

Central to aligning the curriculum with the national plan are earnest efforts to revisit and refresh it based on periodic assessment outcomes and changes that may impact national objectives. A stale curriculum is just as bad as not having one.

Looking at the learning demands of today, I would, for example, enrich the curriculum with strands and substrands in creativity, initiatives, innovations, and excellence - those abstract areas that we think we know but are never deliberate about.

•(To be continued). Aderinto, an award-winning educator whose 26 years experience in education spans a wide range covering early childhood education all the way to college/university is known for his expertise in pedagogy, training, consulting, workshops, assessment, special and general education. The Executive Director, US Africa Business Forum (USAfricaBF), sent this contribution from Artesia, California, U.S.A.

Tuesday, October 9, 2012

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CAMPUS SQUARE Where students report happenings on their campuses... with Sam Otti ( campuseditor@yahoo.com/08038829740)

“When a man of forty falls in love with a girl of twenty, it isn’t her youth he is seeking but his own” – Lenore Coffee

•Cross section of participants at the event

How lecturers demand sex, money from students

BY SAM OTTI

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hose that live at the river bank understand the language of frogs. For the past 18 years, Dr Austin Tam-George has taught in different universities and worked with colleagues and students from over 100 countries around the world, from where he had seen the good, the bad and the ugly.

His insight into the university system was revealed at the one-day conference organised recently by the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) Alumni Association, Lagos branch.

Despite cautious approach adopted by most Nigerian lecturers on the allegations of sex for grade scandal in Nigerian universities, TamGeorge was quick to admit that the glory of universities has been bastardised.

Discussing the theme of the conference, “Positioning Nigerian university system for national development,” he said: “I teach in

•Revelations from the OAU Alumni deliberations on rot in education sector universities where, with all due respect, I worked with colleagues, who should probably be farmers, fishermen, but they end up in classrooms as lecturers and all they demand is sex and money from students before they award degrees”.

Tam-George, “who is also a lecturer at the Pan African University, said washing their dirty linen in public was necessary because ‘one cannot solve a problem except there is a proper diagnosis, understanding of where the problem lies.”

He decried the poor quality of graduates in the country, saying that Nigerian students usually displayed the highest desperation for certificates, most often at the expense of the

required skills.

“We emphasise schooling and certificates to such an extent that out of the 18 years I have spent in teaching, both in Nigeria and abroad, I have never seen the level of desperation I see these days. Students want to get JAMB scores at all cost. I have right before me now the dissertations of PhD students, and I can’t imagine that doctoral candidates can be writing what they are presenting. Let’s not make any mistake about this: we are in the middle of a major national disaster”, he said.

The lecturer recounted with sorrow the lost glory of the nation’s academic pride, which he said has made Nigerian students object of derision in foreign universities. He said foreign cer-

tificates have become the rave of the moment, as many Nigerians rush to near-by African countries for programmes.

He lamented further, “In the 1960s, any Nigerian who came with a degree from Asia, India Pakistan and some other countries was a laughing stock. I remember even as child, a neighbour came with a medical degree from India, right in our premises, behind his back, people called him Indian doctor. Anywhere he went, they called him Indian doctor. When he went to University of Port-Harcourt Teaching Hospital to teach, he was dismissed at the gate.

People asked him, ‘how could you have possibly come with a degree from India of all places?

•Continued on Page 32

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DAILY SUN Tuesday, October 9, 2012

CAMPUS SQUARE Where students report happenings on their campuses... with Sam Otti (campuseditor@yahoo.com/08038829740)

“He who passively accepts evil is as much involved in it as he who helps to perpetrate it. He who accepts evil without protesting against it is really cooperating with it” – Martin Luther King, Jr.

OAU: Students boil over ‘Tal’ water

By ADEBAYO TAOFEEQ

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tudents of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife are boiling with rage over the supply of coloured water in their halls of residence.

Our reporter gathered that when Prof.

Michael Faborode was the Vice Chancellor, students tagged the water ‘Fab water’just the same way they would refer to a‘pure water’ brand. The name was formed from the surname of the thenVC. Now that Prof. Tale Omole is the Vice Chancellor, they now refer to it as ‘Tal water’.

The water, which was at a time amber in colour and at another time ash, was far from clean. In various hostels, students use it mostly for bathing, cooking, and washing. Some students drink after boiling it, while others throw caution to the wind and drink it without boiling, believing that water has no enemy.

Investigation revealed that the pollution of the water was caused by heavy rainfall, as ero•ETF water cistern, ETF Hall sion flooded the water filtration system.

A part-four student of Accounting, Adefioye Femi, described the situation as very pathetic water itched him seriously any time he used it. and unfortunate. He told Campus Square that Let us forget about drinking it; it is not safe. the management should have fixed the problem This had been affecting students economically.

Last semester, I drank the water, but now I canbefore the new session started.

Describing the water as inimical to students’ not try it. I have to purchase sachet water”.

Adefioye advised the management to be senhealth, he said, ‘We have some people whose body system cannot accommodate the water. sitive to the welfare of students. He also comFor some people, to bathe with it is a problem. mended the school for building a solar-powered I have one of my room-mates who said the bore-hole at the Adekunle Fajuyi Hall and

pleaded with the management to extend the facility to other hostels to solve water problem on campus.

Also speaking, Yemi Dideke, a part-five student of Medical Rehabilitation, said he had been drinking the water since his first year. He told our reporter that he stopped drinking the water few days ago when the colour deteriorated.

‘From medical point of view, the water is

good for cooking since it will boil to a certain degree where it can no longer do any harm; but for drinking, it is not good,’ he explained.

Rofiat Adesina, a part-four English student, expressed a contrary view, as she argued that the water was not even good for cooking.

•Adebayo is a 400 level student of English, OAU.

Don decries influence of British, American curricula

•LR: Seteolu, the Chairman, Board of Trustees, OAU Alumni, Lagos chapter, Mrs Agbeke Ogunsanwo, Oluwasami, Fajemilo, Tam-George and another guest at the event

•Continued fron page 31 ous ills bedevilling the sector.

In 1971, Nigerian educational standard was second only to British in the whole of the Commonwealth. We had more surgeons at University Teaching Hospital (UCH), Ibadan than the whole of Ghana and Gambia combined. Today, in 2012, as I stand here, four of my cousins are in the University of Ghana.

One of my friends has his son in a secondary school in Kenya. As I relocated to Nigeria, four of my kids now attend private schools in Lekki. And as I went to register them, the school proprietor told my wife and I that the school operates American, British and Nigerian curricula. And because I had a degree in education, to begin with, I immediately knew that, that was a dangerous concoction. If you design curriculum with America, Britain and Nigerian in mind, then our children will only speak in tongues. I asked the proprietor if she knew any American school that operates such hybrid curriculum, she just said she wasn’t aware”.

Tam-George warned that the nation was at the brink of a major crisis in the education sector if urgent remedial measures were not taken to halt the progressive decline in academic standard. He suggested a national platform for stakeholders to proffer solutions to the numer-

Also speaking, a former minister, Chief Kunle Oluwasami, blamed the crisis in the education sector on the incursion of military into the system. He explained that in the First Republic, Federal Government had nothing to do with education, which was left for the regions to superintend.

“Awolowo was doing very well in the Western region. Nnamdi Azikiwe was doing very well in the Eastern region and Sarduana of Sokoto too in the north. Suddenly in 1975, the military regime took over all the universities and education was restricted to the Federal Government. Since then, there had been problems. When the western government was managing Ife, there was no problem at all. We were doing very well.

“I am saying we are products of our environment. Since 1975, Nigeria had never been the same. All of us are to be blamed for this. We like to copy in Nigeria and we like to copy wrongly. That is the problem”, he said.

He condemned the struggle for appointments in universities, saying, “in those days, before a vice chancellor could be appointed, nobody was running around to become VC. But these days, people can run to the bank to borrow money and bribe in order to become a VC”.

The former minister called for a restructuring of the country as the only way forward. Hear him: “Until this country is restructured, I am sorry to say we are going nowhere. There must be a change of attitude and the Federal Government should be restructured. We have to go back to the First Republic, whereby each state would develop on its own. They don’t need to go to Abuja to beg for money”.

“I have right before me now the dissertations of PHD students, and I can’t imagine that doctoral candidates can be writing what they are presenting. Let’s not make any mistake about this: we are in the middle of a major national disaster”, he said.”

Earlier in his address, the Chairman, OAU Alumni, Lagos branch, Afolabi Fajemilo, said the conference was organised to provoke informed discussions on addressing the problems affecting the university system in the country. He noted that the university system had continued to face challenges that rob it of deserved recognition in the development process.

Members of the alumni association were concerned about the present disconnect between university education and the development of the country and argued that the policy makers must be sensitized to the grave dangers this portends for the nation. “This year’s conference is coming at a time our great university attains the golden age, so, it offers us a unique opportunity to re-examine the university system in the country, viz-a-viz its place of national development”, he said.

Fajemilo said the conference afforded them the opportunity to celebrate with their own, Femi Falana on his recent elevation to the enviable position of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN). He urged other old students of the institution to become more involved in the activities of the association, since it provided a platform to advance academic views that would benefit the larger society.

Tuesday, October 9, 2012

DAILY SUN

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CAMPUS SQUARE Where students report happenings on their campuses... with Sam Otti ( campuseditor@yahoo.com/08038829740)

“If Christopher Columbus had turned back, no one would have blamed him. Of course, no one would have remembered him either” – Anonymous

•Cross section of previous participants at the conference

By DAVID ISHAYA OSU

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he Commonwealth Youth Programme has selected hundreds of young people across the globe to partake in the inaugural edition of a Commonwealth YouthLeadership Development Programme conference, tagged: ‘Discovering Young Leaders Programme 2012’.

Over 70 Nigerian youths are participating in the conference, among which are two Campus Square correspondents, Faith Olaniran, who recently graduated from FUT Minna, and David Ishaya Osu, a 300-level Student of Urban and Regional Planning, FUT Minna.

The conference, which is being conducted

Surprise, as ATBU student emerges best cook, gets new car

By MARTINS TAMUNO

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70 Nigerian students participate in Commonwealth conference online, has commenced with huge responses from participants. With participants cutting across 54 countries, the conference is slated for five weeks (from 17 September to 19 October, 2012).

To qualify for the certificate, participants are expected to compose and post at least 20 edits (comments) throughout the course, complete at least five online reflections and submit one course assignment.

Materials, course instructions, brochures and updates have been sent to emails of the participants.

The course Coordinator, Wale Salami, noted growing disconnect between people and leaders across the globe. He said the conference would address challenges typical of the society that had birthed the concept of the conference.

He said, ‘‘recognizing this need, the Commonwealth Youth Programme Regional Centre for Africa designed the Discovering Young Leadership Programme (DYLP) as a discussion and capacity development plat-

form to seek answers to a series of related questions on leadership within youth organizations, the community and the world at large.’’

Salami explained that at the end of the programme, participants would foster understanding among themselves and use new materials, techniques, and approaches in their youth development programmes.

In a series of online interview with Campus Square, participants expressed their hopes and what they desire to learn from the five-week online conference.

Awosusi Abiodun, a LEAP Africa Alumnus, founder of PenPreneurs Nigeria, said: “It’s an opportunity to discuss with young leaders about youth initiatives and develop meaningful action plans to promote development in Africa. I expect to heighten self-discovery as an inevitable step towards making lasting impact in the society.”

Also, Grace Yoko, a 21 Cameroonian student, presently running her Masters programme with the University of Buea, said the event would widen her understanding on

youth leadership.

A British student and writer, Annie Emery said the programme would teach her useful skills, which would help in her global awareness group. “One of the aspects I am most looking forward to, is meeting and cooperating with other people from around the world to improve youth empowerment,’’ she said.

Also speaking, Campus Square reporter, Faith Olaniran, said his earnest expectation during the online conference was ‘‘to be inspired, empowered and exposed to views and concepts of leadership, global trends in youth empowerment and the principles of youth development across the Commonwealth.’’

Kittian student and youth parliamentarian, Dennis McCall Jr., said he would share the knowledge gained from the conference with other youths in St. Kitts. He decried the little empowerment given to youths.

•Ishaya is a 300-Level Urban and Regional Planning, FUT Minna, Niger State

Obeahon becomes Face of Blue Storm

student of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, (ATBU) Bauchi, Miss Josephine Ossai, has emerged the chief chef in Nigeria after winning the By OCHEI CHUKS TIMOTHY recent Onga cooking competition.

Ossai, from the School of Environment, got ore blessings are pouring on 25a brand new Kia Rio star prize from the organyear-old student, Obeahon izers.

Fortune, the recent winner of Mr. Campus Square gathered that the lucky Ideal Lagos competition. He has signed a champion now cruise around the campus with juicy deal with Blue Storm Energy Drink, her branded car, much to the envy of some as its brand ambassador. male students.

Obeahon won Mr Ideal Lagos during the Our reporter learnt that Ossai’s victory came as a surprise to most students, who felt she could hardly boil water. One of the students expressed her surprise saying, “ We were surprised to see the Ofrigbogbo on national TV during the last session break taking the first By EJIKE IYERI and PAUL NDUBUISI place position and being presented with a brand new Kia Rio. Some people thought the ational Federation of Catholic girl would burn down a house while trying to Students (NFCS), Delta State boil water. Cheat or no cheat, that babe is flyPolytechnic, Ogwashi-Uku chapter, ing her ride all over the school premises and recently elected new officers for the 2012 sesmaking her parents proud”. sion. The event was preceded by the Holy Mass at St.Patrick’s Catholic Church, •Tamuno is a 200 level student of Ogwashi-Uku. Computer Science, ATBU The officiating priest, Rev.Fr. Augustine Odu,

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last Mr. Ideal Nigeria 2012 showpiece organized for young African men, with outstanding entrepreneurial ability. He was also chosen to represent Nigeria at the Mister Africa International 2012 held in London.

Out of 37 contestants, three Nigerian students won Mr. Lagos, Mr. Akwa-Ibom and Mr. Osun, as they made it to the semi-finals of the competition.

Although 19-year old Obafemi Awolowo

University, Ile-Ife undergraduate, Yomi, emerged the overall winner, Obeahon emerged the first runner- up, while 22-year old University of Nigeria undergraduate, Nnamdi, who represented Akwa-Ibom, came third.

Although details of the recent Blue Storm Energy Drink brand contract were sketchy as at press time, there is no doubt that Obeahon has joined the fast lane to stardom.

Delta Poly: Catholic students elect new officers

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advised the students to pray for diligent hands that would work in the Lord’s vineyard.

He warned the students of the grave consequences of bribing for marks and urged them to be serious with their studies.

The immediate past president of the association, Mr. Alex A. O, urged the students to support the new exco to ensure the continuity of God’s work.

He charged all Catholic students to live

exemplary lives to make them great leaders of tomorrow.

Also speaking, the new president, Mr.Omorogie Michael, thanked God for the success of the election.

Omorogie promised to lead the association in the right direction and make it a model to other institutions in the country.

•Iyeri and Ndubuisi are ND 1 students of Mass Communication, Delta Polytechnic

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DAILY SUN Tuesday, October 9, 2012

CAMPUS SQUARE Where students report happenings on their campuses... with Sam Otti (campuseditor@yahoo.com/08038829740)

“The more corrupt the state, the more numerous the laws” – Tacitus

Students’ parliament seek end to corruption

By AMOSU OLUWASEYI MIYONSE and TOSIN ADESILE

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he fight against corruption got a boost from students of different institutions at the just- concluded Nigerian International Model United Nations Society (NIGIMUNS) conference, held at the Chesbury Hotel, Abuja.

The five-day event was organized by the Nigerian International UN model Society Abuja. Participants were drawn from the universities of Uyo, Lagos, Ilorin, Federal University of Port-Harcourt, Federal Polytechnic, Nekede, Owerri, Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education, Ijanikin, Usman Dan Fodio University, College of Education, Ikere -Ekiti, Nwafor Orizu College of Education, Federal College of Education, Obudu, among others.

The conference was centered on harnessing

creative ideas from youths to drive the campaign for the attainment of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

Discussions revolved on the theme, “Fighting corruption; Promoting peace and responsible citizenship”, with proceedings split into The General Assembly and Committee Sessions.

The Faculty Adviser, Mr Chuka Nwaozuzu, who advised participants to follow the rules of proceeding and interact with other students from other higher institutions, declared the conference open.

“It is advisable to adhere strictly to the rules of proceeding using United Nations standards, it will make you a better person wherever you find yourself”, he said.

The Secretary-General of the General Assembly, Mr Adetola Onayemi, also advised participants to avail themselves of the benefit of learning from the conference.

He announced the various committees and

their topic of discussion, which included: The General Assembly (GA) to discuss on tackling money laundering and strengthening global arms control and non-proliferation regime; Security Council (SC) to dwell on threats of nuclear terrorism and piracy and sustainable peace in post Arab Spring States, while the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) brainstormed on promoting sustainable economic and social development and effect of corruption on economic growth.

Another group, United Nations on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) deliberated on combating corruption, organized crime and fighting cybercrime, while the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) looked at the role of information communication technology in promoting social integration and global peace and a look at promoting culture of peace through education. The Human Right Council

(HRC) equally discussed corruption as a threat to human right and promoting tolerance and diversity in globalized societies.

Speaking with Campus Square, Nwaozuzu, explained that the conference was informed by his passion for capacity building among youths from different institutions.

He said his participation in other models of the United Nations conferences had inspired him with the vision to create a similar platform at home. He expressed his desire to see the conference grow in the nearest future to accommodate more students from other schools as participants.

The conference ended with the adoption of various committee reports and donation of two new Hewlett Packard laptops to the best male and female delegates, donated by the immediate past Switzerland ambassador to Nigeria.

UNIBEN: Day gospel music healed troubled students

By OLORIOKE DELE

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musical show tagged: “Thanksgiving Concert” was held at the Akin Deko Auditorium of the University of Benin UNIBEN), with thousands of students in attendance.

The event, which was graced by Pastor Nosa Omoregie, Victor Ehikwe, Jude Sax, Pastor Theo (the Victorious Voices fame) and the host, Dr. Olorunfemi and wife, as guest artistes, was a day to remember.

Campus fellowship choirs also joined forces with the invited guest artistes in the event, which lasted over three hours. Even with the tension mounting on the campus over the forthcoming examinations, many students returned to their hostels with smiling faces.

A lecturer, fondly called Uncle ‘Dan’, said the essence of the praise event was to thank God through music. He said the occasion was to catch students young especially those who want to become Christian artistes or writers.

Hear him, “This ministry has transformed lives that have taken students away from cultism. They’re now annexing their talents to the glory of God. There are two ways to receive from God- through request and giving. The programme will enable us to give to God through worship and praises.”

Participants at the ceremony especially

students expressed excitement, describing the event as worthwhile. “It’s indeed worth attending. I thank God I participated. It also ease our tension, my day has been made,” Gabriel Osadolor, a student of Science Laboratory told our reporter.

•Dele is an HND 1 student of Mass Communication, Auchi Polytechnic, Edo State and President of Critique Press Club.

•Dr. Femi and his wife on stage

American University equips students with study techniques

By EBUKA UKOH WILLIAMS

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tudents can improve the quality of their work, grades, social life, and save a lot of time by adopting the SQ3R (Survey, Question, Read, Recite and Review) study technique.

In recognition of the merits of this study tool, the Career Services office of the American University of Nigeria (AUN) organized a workshop recently for some students, who will in turn act as SQ3R trainees for the AUN community.

Ms Jelena Zivkovic, from the School of Business and Entrepreneurship, moderated the workshop.

Zivkovic said the study technique would enhance study and encourage students to stick with the best. The interactive session started with an introduction of participants. The moderator told participants that the first step in academic reading was to survey the material.

Surveying includes scanning book pages for topics, captions, graphs, charts, maps, review questions or study guides.

“There is no rule as to the number of questions to ask. Questions that have no answers should be deleted, as you probably won’t need them on your exam. When you find your answers, underline and highlight them in your book,” she said.

She emphasized reading, noting that students do not have to read everything in their textbooks. She told the participants to always read with the essence of answering the questions. This she said was the “secret of efficient and effective study.”

After reading, recitation is encouraged to store the information one has just read. After reciting comes the last step, which is to review.

Reviewing is an on-going process.

The Coordinator of Career Counseling & Placement, Mrs. Grace Nwokoma, organized the weekly training sessions taught by student

trainers, all students were invited.

Participants at the workshop ranged from students who have trouble reading to those who find reading boring, struggle with reading assignments, and fail to remember what they read, simply want to improve their grades or want to help others develop their reading habits.

In attendance were first-year students, sophomores, juniors and seniors. The Honors Society was also represented at the workshop.

After the workshop, participants were divided into groups to test their understanding of the subject. In the groups, one participant volunteered to instruct, another volunteered to provide the instructor with feedback, while others listened.

The Career Services office organized the train-the-trainer workshop to help improve grades. Trained students will teach other students the study skills they have learned.

CONTRIBUTORS THIS WEEK

Ejike

•Oluwaseyi David Tamuno Timothy Kunle •EDITOR’S NOTE: We welcome reports of happenings on your campus. Send them to the above e-mail address, accompanied by your name and recent photograph, and photographs of personalities/ event you are reporting.

Olorioke

Williams

Tuesday, October 9, 2012

35

Reactiveagents Letters…sms…emails, etc….letters…sms…emails,etc….letters…sms…emails, etc….

The column where you express your opinion through mobile phone text messages (sms), emails, etc on stories/articles published in Education Review. Send your sms, with your full names, address, designation, etc, to the editor at 08034041645 or email your opinion/reaction to abanobichika@yahoo.co.uk and we will get it published.

Dear Editor, We want to express our profound gratitude to your news medium and its entire leadership for the excellent job you have done in focusing in your September 18 and 25, 2012 editions of Education Review, on the moral depravity that has just taken place at the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) in the name of appointing a new Vice Chancellor.

We want to salute your courage for daring to bring out what many had wanted to cover; preferring instead to present a false sense of success when, in fact, the UNILORIN is nose-diving in integrity, a necessary ingredient for an institution training the next level of leaders for our dear country.

As you pursue this course of journalistic courage, we at the Unilorin Stakeholders Forum would like to draw your attention to a few salient issues about the institution over which a reputable and courageous media organisation like your’s should beam its searchlight.

One of these is to let Nigerians know that in fact what is being presented as unbroken calendar at the university has come at a very great price: the detriment of personal relationship among staff. Today, you can hardly find two people discussing at the university freely as it is supposed to be in an institution that is incubator for knowledge.

Another issue is the decision by the outgoing Vice Chancellor to appoint a new set of Deputy Vice Chancellors few months to his exit. Ask anybody familiar with the institution and they will tell you this has never happened before and it is already creating confusion because it is certain a new Vice Chancellor will appoint his own team of DVCs. So what happens to those now on the seat or are they meant to be a means of checkmating the new VC;

Unanswered questions on the UNILORIN crisis becoming the link between the old and the new?

Again we would like you to ask what is happening to the appointment of a new Bursar for the school? The last Bursar has left and the university placed an advertisement calling for applications from qualified candidates. Many applied, but strange enough, the university did not find any of them ‘suitable’. The only ‘suitable’ candidate was someone who had held the same post in a public institution and retired and is now on contract. He is a friend to some top players in the school. We know that the plan is on hold now on the orders of the Governing Council which felt embarrassed that the management could not find a suitable candidate from the horde of those who applied.

We would also like your medium to investigate the last two recruitments done in the university. Many of those employed, at least about 200 of them, got the job without interview.

Many HODs have complained to us that they just see new faces in their departments coming to resume duty when the departments had played no role at all in the process of their employment. They were simply issued letters and sent to their bases! In some instances where there were interviews, candidates were sent text messages inviting them to the interview a day to the event. Yet some candidates from very far

distances were able to be at the interview even when ordinarily they would have needed more than a day to travel down to the university. We should also ask about the religious background of those employed.

Five or seven deadly sins?

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n your report entitled: ‘The Story of My Life’ published on page 40 of the Education Review of Daily Sun, Tuesday, September 25, 2012, you focused on how Miss Olubunmi Oyewole, the best graduating student of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), made the audience cry with her recount of her life as an indigent student.

Her story, we were told, suddenly turned Governor Sule Lamido of Jigawa State into a preacher that quoted among other things India’s Mahatma Ghandi’s timeless observation on the seven deadly sins of modern life. But in your last paragraph, you mentioned five of them, namely: politics without principle, wealth without work, commerce without culture and character, pleasure without conscience and

Kwara First Lady adopts 32 school pupils From LAYI OLANREWAJU,Ilorin

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he wife of Kwara State Governor, Mrs. Omolewa Ahmed, has adopted 32 less privileged pupils in Malete and Gbugudu communities in Moro Local Government Area . Mrs. Ahmed announced this during the launch of the first phase of the ‘child adoption scheme’ of her LEAH Charity Foundation.

The programme, which is being organised in collaboration with the Kwara State University’s Malete Centre for Community Development, is expected to cater for the personal needs of the adopted children while they are in school.

At the inauguration of the scheme in Malete, items such as writing materials, school bags, socks, big notes, water bottles and two uniforms each were distributed to them.

Speaking at the ceremony, Mrs. Omolewa Ahmed noted that despite the free education policy of the state, “there is still the need for the well-to-do members of the society to cater for the needs of the vulnerable children in the society.”

She urged parents, especially mothers, to ensure qualitative education for their children and wards. Mrs. Omolewa praised the director of KWASU’s centre, Mr. David Hannis, for his interest in the welfare of vulnerable children.

The Vice Chancellor of KWASU, Prof.

AbdulRasheed Na’Allah, commended Mrs. Ahmed over the laudable projects of her foundation, LEAH Charity, and pledged the cooperation of the University community for her.

The Headmaster of LGEA Primary School, Malete, Mr. Adebayo Martins, also thanked Mrs. Ahmed for adopting the 21 vulnerable pupils.

worship without sacrifice. Please, I want you to clear my confusion: is it five or seven sins?

Anonymous (08037636121) EDITOR’S NOTE: Thanks for your observation and, our apologies for our oversight and mix-ups in the groupings. They are seven, namely: wealth without work, pleasure without conscience, science without humanity, knowledge without character, politics without principle, commerce without morality and worship without sacrifice.

Like many puzzled Nigerians, we are also asking authorities at the university to explain to the public why between the date of the publication of the advertisement for the vacant post of Vice Chancellor for the university till the announcement of Prof AbdulGaniyu Ambali as the new Vice Chancellor on July 26, 2012, the Senate of the university did not meet to elect two of its members to participate in the selection of the new Vice Chancellor as is the norm.

We have been told by those on ground at the university that Senate representatives on the Interview Panel were selected far ahead of the advertisement, contrary to the prescriptions of the enabling Act. From the provisions of the Act establishing the university, the Council is expected to short-list candidates before the Council/Senate Selection Team does the interview. In the present case, that was not done because from May 14, 2012 to July 23, 2012 when the interview was conducted no Council meeting took place.

Another curious thing: the Council/Senate Selection Team met on 27 and 28 of June to shortlist five candidates for interview. Between that date and July 23 when the interview took place, there was no meeting of Council again, yet a fresh candidate, Prof. Mushabu Akanji was ‘cleared’ to come and participate in the interview. At what point did his clearance sail through? Who ordered/approved it?

And finally, sir, please help us find out if it is not true that before the interview, some members of the Council had drawn attention to the existence of some petitions addressed to Council over the crisis for its consideration but that the Vice Chancellor just dismissed the matter with a wave of the hand as inconsequential.

Our members, both Muslims and Christians, have been praying for you since your decision to publish the sordid details about the infamous exercise. And this is our request to the almighty: that the sun of The Sun newspaper will not set prematurely.

May God save Nigeria.

•Ademola Olawale (Chairman) and Tahoeed Salam (Secretary), UNILORIN STAKEHOLDERS FORUM, N0. 3, MV Bello Street, off Tahoeed Road, off Basin Road, Ilorin.

A timely warning to all parents

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read with keen interest, your story about the 15-year-old Megan Stammers, and her mum, Danielle, and her 30-year-old Mathematics teacher, Mr. Jeremy Forrest, published on page 40 of your Education Review of October 2, 2012.

I believe that the teacher acted foolishly by eloping to France with the young, innocent girl. I expected him to have guided this girl entrusted into his care rather than bombarding her with love notes that suddenly turned her mind and heart away from her parents. I am happy that the law eventually caught up with him. My worry is that there are many Jeremy Forrests out there in our country that need to be checked by parents who are in the habit of leaving their innocent girls with them. To avoid this kind of thing, parents should either keep a good record of the integrity of male teachers taking their girls in private lessons or better still employ female teachers to teach them.

I am sure there are many parents with similar cases out there, crying in silence but I want to commend Education Review for

serving as the voice of the voiceless, through this story.

•Innocent Nnaka, (08034724595), Lagos

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DAILY SUN

Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Education Review/NEWS “Formal education will make you a living; self-education will make you a fortune” – Jim Rohn

By GABRIEL DIKE & EBERE EGEKWU

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overnor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State has dropped a bombshell by claiming that the nation’s education system has produced more frustrated youths leading to rise in social vices.

He stated this at the 16th Fafunwa Educational Foundation lecture held at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), Lagos. The lecture which was delivered by an economist, Prof Pat Utomi, was attended by Fafunwa’s widow, as well as stakeholders and former students of Prof.

Babs Fafunwa.

Speaking at the occasion, Fashola noted that, in spite of having the qualifications, youths “cannot find jobs to earn a living from and many of our homes now have overgrown babies who by every standard should be breadwinners in their own right.

This precarious situation has led to more crime and insecurity in our society. Our system has produced more monsters and hardened criminals who are bent on making a living by hook or by crook.”

Fashola who was represented by the Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Olayinka Oladunjoye, said it is time for the nation to tilt its curriculum towards entrepreneurship education in order to achieve national transformation. He said that most successful conglomerates in the country are not owned by professors or academics, but by those who dared to be different by veering into entrepreneurship, warning that so much emphasis had been laid on theoretical aspects of academics and university education leading to the production of graduates who are unemployable.

He noted that “we in Lagos State have long realized the importance of entrepreneurship education and have made conscious efforts to address it squarely by repositioning our technical and vocational education (TVE).”

Our education breeds frustrated youths –Fashola

•Fashola Fashola challenged government and stakeholders to make a deliberate turn around in the education policies by engaging the idle youths in worthwhile projects like entrepreneurship education. He also tasked the foundation to come up with intervention plans and programmes that would help arrest the ugly situation of paper graduates without skills.

tertiary institutions to embrace entrepreneurship education to enable their graduates acquire skills.

Utomi emphasized that the need for entrepreneurial education arose in order to break the jinx that equips students with paper qualification without requisite vocational knowledge. He called for a review of the nation curriculum like was done in Britain even as he acknowledged the National Universities Commission’s (NUC) push for universities to embrace the culture of entrepreneurship.

Also speaking, Mrs. Doris Fafunwa, the widow, said that the devotion of her late husband to the development of education is evident for all to see even after his demise two years ago, noting that it is heart-rending today to find couples who hail from the same local area or village yet, their children cannot communicate in their mother’s tongue.

However, she expressed her joy over the increase in the monetary prize award for the indigenous language to N500,000 with the support of MacMillan as its sponsor. But she added that, “there would be no winner for that star prize this year. This is because none •Utomi of the works presented met the standard set The governor appreciated the Board of by the award. The late call for nominations Fafunwa Educational Foundation for keep- was also a factor because not many entries ing the flag flying and for promoting the were received.” legacies of the late former education minister.

Delivering the foundation lecture, Prof Utomi, who spoke on “Entrepreneurship Education: Repositioning Nigerian education for national transformation”, taxed the

ESSO, NNPC award scholarships to 10 more students

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ince the inception of its international post-graduate scholarship scheme, Esso Exploration and Production Nigeria Limited (EEPNL), an affiliate of ExxonMobil, in production sharing contract with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), has awarded scholarships to students.

Mr. Jide Ayo-Vaughan, Executive Director, EEPNL, disclosed this recently, while speaking at this year’s award ceremony, held in Lagos. It was an occasion in which 10 young Nigerians were awarded the scholarship. “With today’s awards, a total of 100 persons have now been sponsored for international post graduate studies in engineering and geosciences disciplines in schools located in the United Kingdom and United States,” he said.

The 10 beneficiaries have already secured admissions to study engineering-related courses in universities abroad. The scholarship award covers full payment for tuition, accommodation and other fees as specified by the respective institutions, as well as provisions for personal upkeep.

The purpose of the scholarship, according to Ayo-Vaughan, is to help build the capacities of young and brilliant Nigerians in order to boost the pool of qualified manpower for career opportuni-

ties in the country’s oil and gas industry. He said the gesture was also in line with the company’s philosophy of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), whereby it contributes substantially to the development of the society.

Ayo-Vaughan also used the opportunity to counsel beneficiaries to, by their conduct and academic success at the end of their Masters degree programmes, justify the confidence the company reposed in them.

On the screening and selection process, Mr. Udom Inoyo, the Executive Director, Mobil Producing Nigeria and In-Country HR Manager, who was involved in every stage of the selection, said the exercise was transparent and rigorous. He disclosed that it was not an easy task for the 10 beneficiaries to emerge as winners because about 10,000 applications were received.

Representative of NNPC, Mrs. Iyabo Ayobami-Ojo, said that NNPC was proud to be associated with the project as it provides beneficiaries the rare opportunity to realize their dreams and prepare for a brighter future, in which they would contribute their own quota to the country’s development. She enjoined the beneficiaries to be good ambassadors of Nigeria in their various schools studies.

A major highlight of the event was the vote of thanks delivered, on behalf of the beneficiaries, by the only lady among them, Miss Kelechi Okorafor. She thanked the sponsors for making their dreams come true and promised that they will put in their best in their studies and be good ambassadors of EEPNL. The 10 awardees are all first class engineering graduates from different institutions across the country.

FG boosts education with books

By SIMEON MPAMUGOH

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he Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved the purchase of 16 million textbooks and library resources materials for distribution to all public primary and Junior Secondary Schools nationwide.

Briefing correspondents in Abuja on the outcome of the FEC meeting chaired by VicePresident Namadi Sambo, the Minister of State for Education, Mr. Ezenwo Wike, said that the textbooks would be for core subjects in English Language, Mathematics, Basic Science and Technology, and Social Studies for primaries three, four, five and six.

He said the library resources materials would be distributed to all JSS. “The total number of books Council approved for purchase through Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) is 16 million copies of textbooks in Mathematics, English language, Basic Science and Technology, Social Studies, while 1,010,100 library resource materials were approved for JSS.” He said that 5.7 million textbooks in English Language, Mathematics, Basic Science and Technology would be for primary four; 5.2 million for primary five; 2.6 million for primary six and 3.2 million social studies textbooks for primary three. The primary school materials will cost N17 billion.

Wike said that the distribution of the textbooks would not be based on equality of states, but rather on number of enrolment of pupils in the states. He noted that the library resources materials would be shared equally among the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

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NEWS/Education Review “A teacher that can be replaced by a machine, should be” –Arthur C. Clarke

By GABRIEL DIKE

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he Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) Lagos State wing, recently made history when it distributed over 5,000 customized laptops to members. They were meant for e-teaching/learning aimed at improving their service delivery to students.

At a ceremony held to distribute the customized laptops to teachers, it was encomium galore from key stakeholders, for the body for pioneering e-teaching/learning meant to support the state government’s quest for improved quality education.

In his address at the launch the Lagos NUT Chairman, Comrade Samson Idowu, noted that the union is committed to solidifying the massive investments the state government made in the infrastructural growth of schools by empowering its members on e-teaching.

Said he: “As implementers of education policies, it is our occupation to add value to the efforts of the government to ensure significant improvement in the overall quality of education in Lagos State.”

Idowu explained that worldwide, computers are fast replacing the lesson notes while electronic teaching is relegating the manual method to the background, hence the need for its members to be ICT-compliant.

He appealed to his members to embrace the innovation with open arms and pleaded with government and school authorities to create an enabling environment for the introduction of the system, adding that “electricity must be available and teachers must be encouraged

NUT lifts members with 5,000 laptops for e-teaching in Lagos quest for quality education delivery to students.

The commissioner who was represented by the Tutor General/Permanent Secretary, Education District 1, Mrs. Victoria Peregrino, lauded the e-teaching/learning initiative and disclosed that the state government has introduced measures to improve education in the state.

The National President of NUT, Comrade Michael Olukoya, confirmed that the launch of the customized laptops for eteaching/learning was the first of its kind in the country, stressing that “the Lagos NUT, by its action, has thrown a challenge to other NUT in the states”.

The NUT boss who was represented by the Group Chairman EDOLOOKOE, Comrade Sam Idowu, described the launch and distribution of the laptops as a noble concept and promised to key into the project. Olukoya described Lagos NUT as pacesetter par excellence and observed that with the launch of the R-L: Mrs. Peregrino, Mr. Idowu and other top officials of Lagos NUT hand over one of the laptops, NUT Lagos wing has complemented customized Laptops to a beneficiary Photo: GABRIEL DIKE the efforts of the state government in the provision of quality education to students. The and motivated.” described teaching as a noble profession and Special Adviser to the Governor on Chairman of the event and Commissioner called on the government to be proud of NUT Education, Mr. Olukoga Fatai, spoke in the for Education, Mrs. Olayinka Oladunjoye, members in the state for supporting their same vein at the event.

Soldiers lock out graduating students from farewell party

By SAM OTTI

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his year’s speech-and-prize giving ceremony of Command Secondary School, Ipaja, Lagos, wore the semblance of a wedding feast celebrated without the bride and the bridegroom.

Although the event was graced by senior military officers, including the representatives of the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 81 Division, Lagos, Major-General Kenneth Minimah and the Acting Corps Commander, Nigerian Army Education Corps (NAEC), Major-General Musa Banjiram, lots of students for whom they had gathered to celebrate, were nowhere to be found.

Not even the distinguished presence of His Royal Highness, Oba Sule Suberu, the Oba of Ajasa, the Managing Director, Khatnas Guest House, Lokoja, Alhaja A.A Tanko and the Inspector, Institute of Army Education (IAE), Freeman Chukwuemeka Akpa, could hasten the steps of the out-going students to the venue.

Some of the guests expressed surprise that some of the students decisively took the infamous path of the Biblical foolish virgins.

While they slept and snored, guests from far and near took their seats at the graduation party. Although the party was scheduled to commence at 10, the reporter saw a large number of graduating students, who couldn’t make it to the party loitering at the school gate at 1.50pm, when most of the guests were leaving.

One of the graduating students, who gave his name as Mikky, said the management of the school had insisted on black suit and white inner shirt as the dress code for all out-going

•The locked-out students

students. But most of the graduating students, who came to the venue in multi-coloured dressing, were disappointed.

Acting on the directive of the school’s Commandant, Lt-Colonel A.P Oguntola, sternlooking soldiers ensured full compliance with the order, barring them from stepping into the school premises. To compound the students’ misery, those that dashed into nearby boutiques to buy the required robes only made it to the venue at a time the dignitaries were on their feet sharing the final grace.

When our reporter strolled to the gate, the affected students looked disappointed but casually teased one another to lighten their burden.

More disappointed were the female students, who had spent fortunes in saloon for exquisite hairstyles, apparently in their bid to show off for the last time to their teachers and fellow students. Some of them busied themselves at the gate doing make-up and combing their hair for the umpteenth time in silent pain.

While the disobedient students counted their losses, Master Obineche Chukwudi, was full of joy for emerging the best graduating student of the school. The 16-year-old boy received 13 academic awards and prizes from the management of the school, such that tears of joy coursed down the cheeks of his mother, Mrs Ijeoma Obineche.

In an interview with Education Review, he expressed the hope of studying Medicine and Surgery at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, where he scored 244 in the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) and 88 per cent in the last post-UTME. The young scholar said he was inspired to

pursue a career in Medicine by his father, Mr. Obineche, a pharmacist and by the worldrenowned paediatric neuro-surgeon, Ben Carson. While addressing the students, the Commandant of the school, Lieutenant Colonel A. P Oguntola, said awarding prizes was an integral part of the school system.

“For those staff and students who are privileged to win prizes, they should regard them as tokens of appreciation and garlands for being outstanding among the lot. I encourage you to strive to be the best in all that you do and for others who are not fortunate, such should impel them to boost their potentials,” he said.

Also speaking, the guest lecturer, Mr Akpa, expressed disappointment with the declining status of Command schools in the country.

According to him, Command School was listed in the 1980s among the best schools in the country by the West African Examination Council (WAEC). He tasked the staff and students of the school to return to the glorious era

of outstanding performance. He also advised the graduating students to tread with caution, as they move into the wider world. Akpa urged the students to seek success through diligent labour and warned them against following short cuts, which, he said brings eternal misery at the end.

“You don’t succeed by accident,” he said.

“Success by luck does not last. Many people won huge sums of money or dollars in lottery but they returned to poverty after few years because they had no plans on how to utilise the money.” Speaking about life on campus, he urged the students to resist the temptations of being carried away by social life and other distractions. Above all, he encouraged them to avoid immodest display of affluence.

“Don’t intimidate your lecturer with these your expensive Blackberry phones. You will court trouble displaying your phone worth N80.000 before a lecturer that is using N3000 Nokia phone,” he said.

Don blames decay in university education on lack of moral values From JUDEX OKORO, Calabar

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ormer Vice-Chancellor of the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Prof. Ikenna Onyido, has blamed the rot in the university system on the decline in moral values.

Onyido, who disclosed this in Calabar at a lecture organized by the Calabar zone of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) in honour of Prof. Ukachukwu Awuzie, the immediate past president of the union, said the standard of education at tertiary level is alarming.

Prof. Onyido, who was the Guest Lecturer, regretted that “the university culture is being watered down by the importation and domestication of some toxic values from the larger society.”

He blamed the decay in the system on lack of “value-based education,” lamenting that “universities in the country not only offer admission to students with questionable character, but also award degrees and diplomas to those not worthy in character and learning.

The former vice-chancellor also attributed the problem in the system to the establishment of more universities in the country at a period that existing institutions are grappling with challenges of manpower and infrastructural development.

According to him, “part of the problem is the very rapid expansion of the university system as many people who work in our universities (especially within the academic staff component) have no business working or teaching in universities.

“By the last count, we had 123 universities, federal, state and private, in Nigeria, with most of the recently established ones looking for academic staff.”

He added that “the catalogue of woes” in the university system should be of concern to all, and called on Nigerians to join in building ‘a viable university system that is worthy its name.’

“This confers on all of us the responsibility of ensuring that vices and ethical lapses that smear and stigmatizes us are attacked whenever they are detected in the university system,” he advised.

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DAILY SUN Tuesday, October 9, 2012

NEWS/Education Review “Art is not what you see, but what you make others see” – Edgar Degas

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romasidor Nigeria, makers of Amila drink, has launched an arts competition tagged: ‘Amila Painting Challenge’ for primary school pupils in Lagos State. Making this known in a press briefing, during the launch, the Marketing Director, Promasidor, Mr. Kachi Onubogu noted that the aim of the competition is to encourage the kids to paint and have fun while at it.

“Arts is a field that we want to go into because you all know that the environment is developing.

Growing up, I can remember how we used to love to paint and then we were all encouraged to participate in arts from primary one to three. Art is important in a child’s development. A lot of people think that Mathematics and English are what kids need in primary and nursery schools but they fail to realize that the cognitive skills, social skills and arts skills will go a long way for the child.”

Onubogu said that the ‘Amila Painting Challenge’ is a competition amongst pupils of primary schools in Lagos and will run from October to November.

“Amila Painting Challenge’ is for pupils at the primary school level in Lagos State as we intend to use Lagos as a pilot for the competition. Pupils will compete on the basis of painting different things.

We want to encourage the kids to paint and most especially to have fun. If there’s one thing I want the school to do is to allow the kids to have fun while they paint.”

Manager, Brands Group (Food Enhancement and Beverages) of Promasidor Nigeria, Mrs. Abiola Inawo, said the competition would encourage schools to put more attention on arts and also that the competition will be in three stages.

“We are looking at 200 schools across 20 local government areas in Lagos. The competition will be

L-R: Mrs. Inawo, Manager, Mr. Onubogu, and Mr. Justin Harris, Category Director of the firm at the briefing recently.

Promasidor launches arts competition for primary schools in three stages, the first is at the school level where pupils will paint any art of their choice and the winner will represent the school at the local government area for the second stage. At the second stage, the overall winner from the local government level will get a branded Amila Bicycle and Promasidor goodie bags. Then the 20 finalists at the local government level will compete for the overall winner

who will walk away with N250,000, 1st runner up will get N150,000, and the third runner up will get N100,000 while there will be consolation prizes of N30,000 for the other 17 contestants,” Inawo said.

The representative of the Executive Chairman, Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board, Mr. Alabi Adaramaja, commended the Promasidor team, saying, “We

will like to commend Promasidor Nigeria for this because they have been very supportive in education, through the Cowbell National Secondary School Mathematics Competition (NASSMAC).

Though we had doubts initially when they came to us but coming here now and seeing this, I want to assure you that we will support you in every way we can. We encourage you not to relent in your efforts

in helping the educational sector.”

Amila powder soft drink made its debut in the Nigerian market in March 2009. Launched in four flavours, orange, apple pear, mango appricot and strawberry banana, Amila is targeted at kids but ideal for sharing by all members of the family. Amila currently sponsors the ‘Amila Spelling Bee’ on Cool FM 95.9 anchored by Mannie.

NCCE begins accreditation of NTI study centres, allays fears of witch-hunting

By GABRIEL DIKE o facilitate the production of quality teachers for the basic education, the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE) has begun a nationwide monitoring and evaluation of academic standards in the study centres of the National Teachers Institute (NTI). But at the same time, the regulatory body has assured the NTI and study centre managers that the accreditation exercise is not aimed at witch-hunting people but to ensure quality and production of qualified teachers.

The Executive Secretary of NCCE, Prof Muhammad Junaid, disclosed this in Lagos at the flag-off of the South West zone exercise held at the NTI Ogba, Lagos office and which attracted stakeholders including top officials of NTI, study centre managers, Teachers Registration Council (TRC) and representative of ANCOPSS. Prof Junaid, who was represented at the event by the NCCE acting Director of Planning Research and Statistics, Dr. Alex Maiyanya, lamented that in spite of efforts being made to ensure production of quality teachers, the Colleges of Education and other NCE awarding institutions have often been criticized for low-quality NCE graduates.

He noted that by implication, the regulatory body cannot be exonerated from the blame and thus in 2008, began the monitoring and evaluation of academic standards of all NCEawarding institutions to find out if they are

T

Officials of NCCE and NTI at the flag off of the accreditation in Lagos- Photo: GABRIEL DIKE keeping faith with the policies and programmes of teacher education at the subdegree level or not.

“This exercise in NTI study centres has become expedient because we desire to know the extent to which NTI is keeping faith with teacher education policies and NCCE minimum standard guidelines amidst the public outcry against the NCE graduates by distance learning”, he added.

Junaid disclosed that the exercise would

further provide opportunities for NCCE to clear the widely held misconceptions by the public about the quality of NCE programmes

by Open Distance Learning Students (ODLS) of NTI. According to him, the exercise is starting with the South-West zone but was being carried out simultaneously in the six states of the zone. In his address, NTI DirectorGeneral, Dr. Aminu Sharehu, said the last accreditation exercise was held in all the zones in 2009/2010 except the South-South, due to

lack of funds.

Dr. Sharehu revealed that NTI has put in place internal mechanism for monitoring and evaluation of its study centres and programmes which include the NCE. They are, namely: subject monitoring, administrative monitoring of field centres, monitoring of programmes and study centres by management and monitoring of programmes and centres by independent quality assurance assessors.

Other measures introduced to further strengthen the quality of its students include the establishment of a model study centre in each geo-political zone in 2012, plan to set up a computer laboratory in each of the six geopolitical zones and appointment of qualified and seasoned professionals in education as quality assurance and academic consultant, screening of facilitators at the beginning of each session to ensure quality.

The NTI boss explained that the institute is ready to improve on its programmes and would take whatever observations made during the monitoring and evaluation by NCCE to improve its NCE (DLS).

He also debunked the insinuation that the North does not have enough qualified teachers for the basic education as was revealed by a government agency report recently.

“The country as a whole does not have enough teachers for basic education. It is not fair to pick the North alone that it doesn’t have quality teachers. I don’t know where the results of the survey are coming from,” he argued.

Tuesday, October 9, 2012 DAILY SUN

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Education Review/INTERVIEW “To compel a man to furnish funds for the propagation of ideas he disbelieves and abhors is sinful” -– Thomas Jefferson

The lamentation of Chief Olusegun Osadumo, the Provost, College of Education (Technical), Kabba:

‘Why we have not commenced NCE programmes’ From EMMANUEL ADEYEMI, Lokoja

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he Okun-Yoruba people in the Western Senatorial District of Kogi State are, no doubt, industrious, intellectually mobile and trustworthy. They constitute the bulk of the old Kabba province and were actually the engine room that helped to drive the old Northern region civil service.

They are rated as the most educated tribe in Kogi State. But their major headache is, as educationally-advanced as they are, up till 2010, there was no tertiary institution sited in the area. But concerted efforts made on this score by its elite, led by Senator Smart Adeyemi, was to bear fruit when suddenly, the former governor of the state, Alhaji Ibrahim Idris, because of his political differences with Adeyemi, single-handedly relocated one of the federal universities originally meant for Kabba to Lokoja, where there are still no facilities for the university. In an effort to win the votes of the people of Kabba in the last governorship election, Idris hurriedly approved a college of educational (technical), for the area.

Today, the institution is about one-year old.

Education Review spoke with the Provost recently, to know his vision for the college.

Excerpts: SIR, THIS IS A NEW SCHOOL AND YOU ARE THE PIONEER PROVOST, MAY WE KNOW YOUR BACKGROUND? I am Chief Julius Olusegun Tony Osadumo.

I hail from Jege in Yagba-East Local Government Area of Kogi State. I was born about 63 years ago. I attended St. Augustine College, Kabba, from 1962-1966, St. John’s College, Kaduna, 1967-1968, ABU-Zaria, 1969-1972. I graduated with B.Sc Hon. Chemistry. I worked with Advanced Teachers College, Zaria. In 1973, I went back to ABU, Zaria, for my PGD in Education. In 1977, I went to University of Wisconsin, Madison, USA where I obtained my M. Sc in Science education. I came back to Zaria and was promoted to Chief Lecturer in 1980. Two years later, I went to University of London where I obtained a certificate in Distance Education.

In 1990, I went back again to King’s College to read Integrated Science Education. In 1992, I moved to Federal College of Education Okene and I was there till 2007 where I was retired. While there, I was the HOD (Head of Department), Chemistry Dept and for many years, Dean of Sciences, Deputy Provost and member of the council. In 2010, I was appointed pioneer Provost of Kogi State College of Education, Technical, Kabba.

WHEN WAS COE (TECHNICAL) KABBA ESTABLISHED? It was in 2010. The principal officers here resumed in July 2010. By the time we resumed, we had three campuses, one is the academic section in Egbeda, the others are the student’s hostels in Okedayo and the Administrative Section also in Okedayo. We met empty structures but we were given N50 million take-off grant which we used in providing furniture, beddings, laboratory equipment and to reconstruct some of the buildings to suit our needs. So when we came on board we actually met empty classrooms and hostels.

BUT THE IBRAHIM IDRIS LED GOVERNMENT

SAID IT RELEASED N1 BILLION AS THE TAKE-OFF GRANT… Well, maybe before I was appointed. The contracts in the permanent site were actually awarded before we came in and work is in progress there.

WHEN DID YOU ACTUALLY COMMENCE THE ACADEMIC ACTIVITIES? We advertised for recruitment about October or November 2010. By July 2011, jobs were given, so we are about one year old now, but students did not resume until Nov 2011, we only admitted pre-NCE students for a start. We started the admission with four schools; School of Education, Schools of Science, School of Vocation and School of Technical Education. Among these schools, we have 12 departments.

WHAT WAS THE FIRST STUDENTS’ INTAKE? The first student’s intake was about 196 students WHY HAS THE SCHOOL NOT STARTED THE NCE PROGRAMME? The National Commission for College of Education is our regulatory body. They came for the inspection in August, 2010, and did an assessment on the facilities on the ground. But they observed that while the classroom and hostel building structures were okay, the technical workshops were not on ground, yet. And they now said until we put the technical workshops on ground, they will not give us approval for full NCE programme. We then appealed to Governor Ibrahim Idris, but he was not able to release much money before his term in office elapsed. He only gave N25m to increase the facilities in the classroom, and for us to set up some laboratories and provide furniture to the offices. The present administration under the leadership of Captain Idris Wada, however had been trying its best for the school.

WHAT IS YOUR VISION FOR THE SCHOOL? My vision is to actually make the college one of the best in Nigeria in terms of quality education and facilities on ground. But you know everything depends on funding, this is technical education which is capital intensive.

WHAT IS THE MAIN DIFFERENCE BETWEEN COLLEGE OF EDUCATION (TECHNICAL) AND CONVENTIONAL COLLEGE OF EDUCATION CONSIDERING THE LATTER ALSO OFFER SCIENCE-RELATED COURSES? Yes, College of Education (Technical) puts more emphasis on science education and technological courses while the conventional college of education focuses on arts and may be humanities.

SO, WHAT ARE THE SCIENCE-BASED COURSES YOU HAVE IN YOUR COLLEGE? We have Automobile Technology, Building Technology, Electrical/Electronic Technology, Wood Technology and Metal Work Technology.

ARE THERE ENOUGH LECTURERS TO TAKE THESE COURSES? More than 50% of the staff are on ground, you know the school has just started, so we have no problem with the aspect of manpower. We have over 60 academic staff on ground now, who have first degree, masters degree

•Chief Osadumo and PhD. The emphasis actually is what you want to teach here, we encourage you to have masters degree and in addition, you must have PGD Education or NCE; that is, you must be professionally- trained as a teacher before you can teach, before you can become a lecturer.

And we also encourage you to be a registered teacher with the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria. But if you have your PhD, you have an edge over others.

WHAT ARE YOUR IMMEDIATE MAJOR CHALLENGES? In a rural community as this, where we are bringing in a population of about 400, you will expect some overstretching in terms of power demands and problems of water. Actually, we were given power generating sets and a transformer by government but due to lack of funds they are not yet installed, and that is why for days we don’t have electricity in the school.

WHAT IS YOUR PROJECTION FOR THE SCHOOL, SAY, IN FIVE YEARS TIME? We would have actually graduated the first set of NCE students, all things being equal, if we are given the necessary resources and we expect that all the schools facilities would have been established. And, we expect that some departments like Home Economics, School of Distant Education would have commenced by then.

WHAT IS YOUR APPEAL TO KOGI STATE GOVERNMENT? Well, my appeal is for more funds to be provided so that the schools can go into mainstream education. But I want to give kudos to Gov Wada, he has done marvelously, he has been supporting us and he is actually giving education a priority in the state.

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DAILY SUN Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Education Review “One of the truest tests of integrity is its blunt refusal to be compromised” – Chinua Achebe

SPOTLIGHT: Human Interest Story

Don proffers cure for new form of ‘AIDS’ From LAYI OLANREWAJU, Ilorin.

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n an era of global search for solution to the dreaded Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), a University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) don, Prof. (Mrs.) Felicia Alarape Olabisi Olasehinde-Williams has not only discovered but proffered solution to another scourge with the same acronym afflicting higher education in Nigeria: Academic Integrity Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS).

Making this known during the 112th UNILORIN inaugural lecture which she delivered recently and titled: “Without wax: reformatting tertiary education in Nigeria”, Prof. OlasehindeWilliams, the Director of Centre for Peace and Strategic Studies and professor of Educational Psychology in the university, not only explored the philosophical, psychological, sociological, systemic and spiritual ways by which the concept of higher education had been tilted in Nigeria but also proffered solution.

To avert anarchy in higher education system, she posited that, “each institution should establish and implement distinct academic integrity policy complete with specification of responsibilities, obligations and rights of all stakeholders in education enterprise.” She implored UNILORIN to champion this cause by adopting its already developed Academic Integrity Policy draft.

She advocated that, “government should put definite structures in place to encourage technical education.” She said that “holders of Higher National Diploma (HND) and first degrees should be rated equally in terms of remunerations and status in the workplace to remove the current wrong perception of technical education as being inferior to university education.”

She also advocated that, “virtues like honesty, hard work, transparency and accountability must be publicly acknowledged and rewarded while stringent measures must be put in place to combat vices in the institutions and the larger society. For example, corrupt officers in government, private and civil service must be brought to justice; the ‘get-rich quick’ syndrome must be checked; and persons of doubtful characters must be

…But don’t run with the news yet, until you are sure of which AIDS we are talking about

•Olasehinde-Williams screened from public offices.”

Olasehinde-Williams would want all the stakeholders to be involved in fashioning out viable education policy, curriculum and reform initiatives that is in tandem with the reality of societal needs.

She noted that “more and more tertiary education clients are seeking for graduates with integrity, multi-task ability, creative disposition, high emotional intelligence status, effective communication skill who are skilled in their profes-

sions, good team players, computer savvy and so on. Similarly, in addition to skill competence, the society is yearning for graduates with integrity, entrepreneurial and effective conflict resolution skills.”

Tertiary education, she said,

“must engage in periodic curriculum review to be responsive to such needs, profit from constant feedback from employers of graduates.” She recommended “education policy depoliticization” in order to have “a sustainability of administrative policies and reform initiatives.” This is because “constant change affects the sector.”

On funding, she advised that government must adhere to 26 per cent budgetary benchmark recommended by UNESCO to have any meaningful impact while “existing gaps among the approved and released fund must be bridged if quality tertiary education is to be assured in the nation.”

She bemoaned appointments based on political, religious and ethnic sentiments instead of strict merit, into responsibility positions like “registrars, provosts, rectors, vice chancellors, council members, deans, directors, and heads of departments.” It is only by adhering to merit, she warned, that a waxfree management practices can be instituted.

Other recommendations she made, include adequate provision of top quality teachinglearning facilities, top quality academics, keeping to stipulated number of student intake for a college or university, good character-training for intakes as well as productive measurement and evaluation initiatives.

Olasehinde-Williams regretted the nation’s inability “to achieve a significant shift from its low developmental status because of the yawning gaps in the knowledge, attitude and skills of the generality of graduates of the tertiary education basically on account of infection of the system with Academic Integrity Deficiency Syndrome.”

Thus, she called for “sober reflections if the fundamental values of academic integrity such as honesty, industry, transparency and accountability in all matters relating to the education enterprise are to be promoted, and tertiary education saved from imminent crashing.”

She concluded that Nigeria’s dream of becoming one of the largest economies by 2020 can be realized if tertiary education is reformatted in such a way that shows the end-users that the graduates are not only wax-free but have embraced academic integrity.

•Education Review is published weekly . Editor’s email: abanobichika@yahoo.co.uk Phone Number: 08034041645