Category: Education

The Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu has reiterated his administration’s commitment to reward excellent service delivery in Lagos State Post-Primary Teaching Service, just as he pledged 20 cars to deserving teachers across the six Education Districts in the State.

Sanwo-Olu, who disclosed this today during the virtual training of the teachers tagged “Eko Educators Webinar Performance Series 3.3”, noted that teachers are key change agents, who will be remembered for shaping future generation of leaders, and advised them to embrace technology in improving the quality of teaching to enhance their productivity.

He said, “This is the era of technology and it is working well for us. Technology has become a very strong tool that we cannot do away with, in our everyday lives. With technology, we can think locally and act globally”.

Mr. Governor averred that great teachers are always remembered for the lives they shaped, just as they derive satisfaction in seeing their students become role models and future leaders.

On her part, the Honourable Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Folasade Adefisayo, emphasised that any school system thrives on the quality of teaching and learning, which is exhibited through the quality of teachers with a multiplier effect on the students.

While appreciating all Lagos State teachers for indulging in self-development to complement the government organised training, Adefisayo commended TESCOM board for the idea of the virtual training, which is vital to the progress of the education sector in the State.

She noted that, as the present administration’s battle against the COVID-19 continues, teachers are expected to put in their best in guiding the children aright, especially those who might have gone through different forms of abuse and trauma during the lockdown period.

Earlier in her welcome address, the Chairman, Teaching Service Commission, Mrs. Elizabeth Olabisi Ariyo, said that the webinar was a conscious effort of the Commission to improve teaching styles, optimise the teaching profession and enhance the lives of the children, and ultimately, the future.

She explained that the webinar was organised for Post-Primary School Teachers in Lagos State as a way of elevating their level of preparedness and pro-activeness in teaching and learning in order to meet the challenges of the ‘new normal’.

“The platform intends to address teachers’ wellness and well-being, as well as update them on new trends to improve their teaching skills. Notable facilitators and personalities of interest in the public service and society will also be available to speak and discuss issues with them”, Ariyo stated.

She also appreciated the generosity of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for the approval of the Teachers’ Exit Replacement programme with over 1,000 new appointees; the Retrospective Course approval for over 700 Teachers which had lingered since 2013; Digital training of all Post-Primary Schools Teachers on Microsoft Teams platform; and Capacity Enhancement of Teachers in Lagos State among other initiatives, which have boosted proper integration of TESCOM in the “new normal”

The Permanent Secretary, TESCOM, Mrs. Toyin Awoseyi, while applauding the presence of Mr. Governor at the webinar, affirmed that it was an attestation of his commitment to education and enjoined the participants to put in their best for the development and progress of the sector in the State.

The Federal Government has fixed September 21, 2020, as a date for the reopening of Tertiary Institutions, Primary and Secondary schools in the country.
According to an information gotten by OduduwaNews from Campus Mata, the federal government disclosed this in a statement by the Minister of Education Adamu Adamu at the end of this week’s federal Executive Council meeting.
Adamu Adamu also said stakeholders were expected to continue to put protocols in place towards the reopening of schools according to the guidelines set by the Federal Ministry of Education.
According to him, all schools in the country are set to resume in phases with effect from Monday, 21 September for a completion of first semester examinations for tertiary institutions and abridged third term of the 2019/2020 academic session for Primary and Secondary Schools.
The statement read in part: “Having conducted an assessment of schools within the country to ascertain the level of preparations for general reopening of schools in the country, the federal government has scheduled schools to resume from the COVID-19 break on September 21st for a completion of first semester examinations for tertiary institutions and abridged third term of the 2019/2020 academic session for Primary and Secondary Schools, which is expected to end on October 30, 2020.
The Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu also added that a televised broadcast will be made by Boss Mustapha, the chairman of Presidential TaskForce (PTF) on Saturday on the current phase of lockdown and for schools to resume from the COVID-19 break.
Lastly, he further revealed that the ongoing industrial Strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) will be resolved within the remaining weeks before the scheduled resumption date.
Stakeholders are engaging with the Union to bring an everlasting solution to the menace, he said.

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), University of Ibadan Chapter, has warned against the reopening of schools without provisions for schools to meet COVID-19 precautionary guidelines.

Its chairman, Prof. Ayo Akinwole, stated this in a release he made available to newsmen in Ibadan on Sunday.

Akinwole stated that the negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on schools could  be enormous if responsibility was not taken to ensure safety.

He warned that no pecuniary gains would be more than the lives of lecturers and their students.

Akinwole noted that before COVID-19 pandemic, public varsities were overcrowded with students and hostel facilities took more than its capacity.

He then warned parents not to jubilate at the news of a possible reopening of schools.

However, they should ask the government to put measures in place so as not to have a surge in COVID-19 that might  happen as a result of ill-thought out reopening, he said.

“What we are simply saying is that the Federal Government should adhere to their own set guidelines.

The Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board, LASUBEB, has expressed its readiness to resume classroom academic activities in compliance with the directive of the State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, adding that it has completed a two-day capacity building workshop on post-COVID-19 and Classroom Management for its school administrators.

Speaking about the workshop, the Executive Chairman of LASUBEB, Mr. Wahab Alawiye-King, said the training was supported by the Universal Basic Education Commission, UBEC, for School Managers, Administrators, Guidance Counsellors and Teachers.

He added that the programme was designed to further reinforce COVID-19 guidelines and regulations, psychosocial support services and classroom management techniques, while also preparing teachers for the new phase in the Education Sector.

The Chairman assured parents and pupils that LASUBEB has prepared the teachers to adapt to the new reality and adopt relevant hygiene protocols in other to curtail the spread of the deadly virus as schools reopen, describing the COVID-19 era as “a new normal, that we all must learn to live with, accept and be willing to overcome”.

Noting that the re-opening of schools is a process with different stages, namely: pre-opening, re-opening and post-re-opening stages that need to be adequately planned for, Alawiye-King stressed that the Board is not in a rush to resume schools but more focussed on the health and safety of the pupils.

He, however, stated that LASUBEB is prepared for the resumption of academic activities having provided all necessary facilities and infrastructure needed to maintain and comply with COVID-19 safety protocols.

“LASUBEB is ready to enforce and ensure that both public and private schools maintain physical distancing and other safety guidelines”, the Chairman restated.

Not less than eight per cent of candidates that sat for the Oyo State Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM) Computer Based Test (CBT) sails through to the recommended pass mark, the consultant for the test has said.

The consultant, Dr Muyiwa Bamgbose, said this in an interview with the Newsmen in Ibadan on Thursday.

He explained that more than eight per cent of the candidates scored 50 per cent and above to pass the test.

According to him, candidates in the sciences do not do well in Biology and Chemistry, describing the performance as worrisome, especially in the two subjects.

“I know that in some of the public discussion fora, some people are complaining; some of them said that the Mathematics questions were too many for them.

“There are a set of questions of which the Mathematics questions are just four questions out of 50, but there were some reasoning questions that some of them call Mathematic questions that are not.

“You tell somebody that there are four rooms and there are eight people, how do you want to distribute them? That is a reasoning question and not Mathematics, for instance.

“The reasoning questions were of two types — qualitative and quantitative — those are about eight out of 50 questions.

“Nobody should complain about the results, as a matter of fact, if we are to restrain the test to the subject areas of the teachers, it will not be far from the results we have now.

“Some of them would prefer to be tested in their subject only but that would not make a good teacher.

“A teacher is a leader, so about 40 per cent of the questions are formed from their subject competence.

“If you are a Government subject teacher, then you should be able to teach the students about life’s skills because you’re likely to be more than a teacher such as becoming a principal or vice-principal.

“Then, there are questions on pedagogy; which is the way you teach; and that again is eight questions

The students of Tai Solarin University of Education, TASUED, Ijagun, Ogun State have taken to the streets today to demand the reversal of the recently increased fuel price to the previous price.

The President of the Students’ Union Government, Abdul-Azeez Lekan Soneye, said the Nigerian Government had declared war on Nigerian students and it was time for them to fight back or lose it all.

He said, “War is coming. And it will consume everyone of us here if care is not taken. Electricity fee has been hiked by 300%. Petrol is now #160. I mean 160 in some places and not 150 as reported.

“It means landlords would increase house rent to meet up with electricity bills. We shouldn’t forget we were still envisaging problem that will arise as students won’t find it easy to pay for house they didnt occupy for several months after a pandemic that has affected their sponsors’ income.

“With increase in fuel price, shuttle fare on campuses would increase. Price of food items has also increased. It means, cost of living would be so high that it won’t be reasonably affordable to students.

“This is a declaration of war against the generality of the masses and we must confront it now or never.”

The Chairman of Oyo State Post-Primary Teaching Service Commission TESCOM, Pastor Akin Alamu has said that only 10% of the 67,000 applicants for Oyo State teaching service got 50% and above.

He made the statement today while speaking on a live radio programme on FRESH FM. Pastor Alamu said the cut-off mark would be determined by the level of performance of various applicants and that anybody who scored 30% and below may not be considered for the next stage.

He also ascribed the allegation of christianization of the CBT process by MURIC as a deliberate and calculative attempt to render the exercise useless.

OduduwaNews just learnt that Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has ordered the reopening of tertiary institutions effective September 14. Details later.

The Oyo State Post-Primary Teaching Service Commission has released the results of the recently held Computer Based Test CBT for applicants into the state teaching service.

TESCOM hereby implores applicants to log into their respective portals to check the results. Details later.

Nigerian Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Thursday said the country is planning a survival fund and payroll support for artisans, private school teachers and small businesses.

“Through the Economic Sustainability Plan, the FG’s focus is to save jobs and create new ones,” Osinbajo said while taking questions at the ongoing Nigerian Bar Association Conference.

“Similarly, there is a survival fund and payroll support for artisans, private school teachers & small businesses,” he added.

The impact of coronavirus has really affected the country’s economy causing a spike in unemployment, inflation amongst several others.

Nigeria’s economy is facing collapse as it largely depends on oil exports. The oil markets have been on a downward trend as COVID-19 has crippled demand. Fuel prices fell and recorded 18-year low trading at less than 22 dollars per barrel and expected to go lower.