Education

98 million children still out of school in Sub-Sahara Africa — UNESCO

Published

1 year ago

September 2, 2022

Advocate News Nigeria

UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) says new data shows that 98 million children and youth between the ages of six and 18 worldwide are still out of school in Sub-Sahara Africa.

This is as the new school year begins in many parts of the world.

UNESCO, in new data published online on Thursday, shows that Sub-Saharan Africa remains the region with most children and youth out of school, with a total of 98 million children.

“It is also the only region where this number is increasing, out-of-school rates are falling more slowly than the rate at which the school-age population is growing.

“The region with the second highest out-of-school population is Central and Southern Asia, with 85 million,’’ it stated.

Globally, the new UNESCO data shows that 244 million children and youth between the ages of six and 18 worldwide are still out of school.

“No one can accept this situation,” Ms Audrey Azoulay, the UNESCO Director-General said, underlining the need to respect every child’s right to education.

“In view of these results, the objective of quality education for all by 2030, set by the United Nations, risks not being achieved,” she warned.

“We need a global mobilisation to place education at the top of the international agenda.”

Azoulay will renew her call at the landmark Transforming Education Summit on Sept.19, at UN Headquarters in New York.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres has convened the Summit to mobilise action and solutions, including to reverse learning losses due to the COVID-19 pandemic

On a more positive note, the UNESCO data has confirmed that the difference in the rate of girls and boys out of school has closed worldwide.

Back in 2000, the gender gap was 2.5 percentage points among primary school age children, and 3.9 percentage points among their upper secondary school counterparts.

These gaps have been reduced to zero, although regional disparities persist.

Relatedly, four million boys and girls in Ukraine are facing the start of an uncertain school year, the head of the UN Children’s Fund, UNICEF, said on Thursday.

Catherine Russell concluded a three-day visit to the country, where she met students, parents and teachers scarred by the war, now in its seventh month.

“Children are returning to schools – many of which have been damaged during the war – with stories of destruction, uncertain if their teachers and friends will be there to welcome them.

“Many parents are hesitating to send their children to school, not knowing if they will be safe,” Russell said in a statement.

Thousands of schools across Ukraine have been damaged or destroyed due to the fighting, with less than 60 per cent deemed safe and eligible for reopening.

Russell visited a rehabilitated primary school that had been damaged during the early weeks of the conflict.

Only 300 students can attend at any one time due to the capacity of the school’s bomb shelter, representing a mere 14 per cent of the school’s pre-war capacity.

Education

IMT must reclaim its past glory, Gov. Mbah vows as Panel of Inquiry submits report

Published

1 week ago

September 12, 2023

Advocate News Nigeria

Governor of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Mbah, has reiterated the determination of his administration to return the Institute of Management and Technology (IMT), Enugu to its past glory.

Mbah stated this at the Government House, Enugu, while receiving the report of the Committee of Inquiry into the Accounts, Management Practices and Staff Conduct in the institute, which the government set up in August.

The Governor was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, who said the report of the Committee would serve as one of the pillars for the planned reforms in the institution and across all levels of education in the state.

“It is important to state that the essence of this Committee was initially misconstrued, but His Excellency was very clear on what he wants to see in the education sector and it ranges from what happens at the elementary all the way to the tertiary levels.

“This is the first of many processes like this, to make sure that the IMT, which is also a historical institute of excellence, is restored to its glory. But we do not want to speak to the issues subjectively. That was why this Committee was set up to provide guidance for the government to start the process of reform using the empirical data.

“What we want is for IMT to return to its old glory both from the governance point of view and also from the selection point of view and the quality of faculty that is there.

“Faculty quality is very important so that the graduating students are able to meet the level of performance to be competitive locally and globally.

“The IMT was set up with the level of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the US. So, the fact that we have retrogressed over the years should be a thing of concern to every citizen of Enugu State and every parent that hopes that his or her child passes through IMT as a higher institution of education.

“So, I am very happy that you did not just submit a report, but you also submitted a report with evidence to back up every assertion made here. I have not read this report, but I am confident that for you to have brought this report and also brought a pile of evidence to back up every thing that you have said, allows us to verify some of the things here before we start to implement them.

“The governor is determined that as we begin to work on IMT, to change the governance process and address some of the key recommendations here, this report becomes a guidance to other higher institutions in Enugu State”.

Meanwhile, speaking at the event, Chairman of the Committee, Prof. Edd Nwobodo, thanked the Dr. Peter Mbah administration for the steps taken and for finding them worthy to carry out the job.

Also throwing more light on their work after the presentation, Prof. Nwobodo told newsmen that the Committee’s work was essentially centred on pillars of reforms needed at the IMT.

“It is a reform-bias type of work essentially to get things done the right way. It was basically to ask the necessary questions, look at the systems, practices, and consequences for the manifestation of those systems”, he said.

Recall that the Enugu State Government set up the Committee in August to evaluate the legal and policy framework underpinning the constitution of the Business Committee and thoroughly analyse the various categories of fees charged to students, investigating the methods of payment, designated accounts for transactions, and the overall management of fee-related processes.

The Committee was also mandated to assess the degree of adherence to pertinent laws, regulations, and institutional policies in the selection and appointment of staff members, particularly those occupying key positions such as Heads of Department, Deputy Rector, among others; identify and scrutinise all streams of revenue generation for the institution, delving into the mechanisms for revenue collection, proper accounting practices for remittances, and the overall management of these financial resources.

They were also to investigate any instances of undue financial demands imposed on students either by lecturers or the administrative body, regardless of the pretext used; explore any other relevant areas that may emerge in the course of addressing the aforementioned issues: and to conduct a comprehensive examination leading to well-founded conclusions and recommendations concerning the matters outlined.

Education

Gov Mbah inaugurates 8-man investigative panel on IMT

Published

1 month ago

August 21, 2023

Advocate News Nigeria

The IMT Enugu

Governor of Enugu State, Dr Peter Mbah, has inaugurated an eight-man committee to look into the affairs of the state-owned polytechnic, Institute of Management and Technology (IMT), Enugu.

The probe panel tagged Committee of Inquiry into the Accounts, Management Practices and Staff Conduct, has Prof. Ed Nwobodo as the Chairman and Chinenye Angela as Secretary, while Osita Onuma, Dr Ada Nwonye, Barr. Lilian Ikwueze, Amb. Judy Nweke, Dr. Moses Otiji, and Vincent Onyeabor were named as members.

Inaugurating the Committee at the Government House, Enugu, Monday, Governor Mbah said the Committee was constituted to ensure there is a level of credibility in the institution, expressing confidence in the capacity of the leadership and members of Committee to deliver on their mandate.

The Governor, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, reminded the Committee that the State was counting on their experience to do a credible job.

“The work you are going to do will set a new course for that institution and for the rest of the action the government will take in the Higher Education space in Enugu state”, he stated.

He said the Committee’s terms and reference were to evaluate the legal and policy framework underpinning the constitution of the Business Committee and thoroughly analyse the various categories of fees charged to students, investigating the methods of payment, designated accounts for transactions, and the overall management of fee-related processes.

They are also to investigate any instances of undue financial demands imposed on students either by lecturers or the administrative body, regardless of the pretext used; explore any other relevant areas that may emerge in the course of addressing the aforementioned issues: and to conduct a comprehensive examination leading to well-founded conclusions and recommendations concerning the matters outlined.

Responding on behalf of other members, Chairman of the Committee, Prof. Nwobodo thanked Governor Mbah for the opportunity given to them to serve, and assured that the Committee would acquit itself creditably.

“I am confident that this Committee is going to do a thorough job, such that we should in the next years, look back and say that this was good.

“We are bound to do a good job and I am confident that the men and women you have selected, will do a good job”, Nwobodo said.

The Committee has two weeks to submit its reports.

Education

UNICAL suspends Dean of Law over alleged violation of extant laws

Published

1 month ago

August 17, 2023

Advocate News Nigeria

• Vice Chancellor of UNICAL, Prof. Florence Obi

The Management of the University of Calabar (UNICAL) has suspended Prof. Cyril Ndifon, Dean, Faculty of Law, for alleged violation of the institution’s extant laws and policies.

The letter, which conveyed the suspension, was signed by the university’s Registrar, Mr Gabriel Egbe.

It stated that the suspension took effect from Thursday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Ndifon was suspended on the heels of a protest by some law students in the institution.

The protesters accused him of “high-handedness and improper behaviour toward female students”.

It would be recalled that in 2016, Ndifon was also suspended after being accused of sexually assaulting a 20-year-old 400 level student in 2015.

The suspension was validated by the National Industrial Court in 2016.

Egbe stated Ndifon’s latest suspension came as a follow up to the his response to a query issued to him by the management, which the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Florence Obi, was reportedly not satisfied with.

The letter stated that Obi suspended Ndifon while the matter was referred to a panel to be set up to investigate the allegations levelled against him.

“Please refer to our letter Ref. UC/REG/DISC.45A dated Aug. 14, 2023 on your alleged violation of the provisions of the extant laws and policies of the university and your response to the said letter dated 16th August, 2023.

“The vice chancellor has gone through your written representations and is not satisfied with your explanations.

“She has, therefore, directed that you should be relieved of your position as Dean, Faculty of Law and placed on suspension, while the matter is referred to a panel that will be set-up to investigate these allegations,” it said.

According to the letter, the vice chancellor directed the dean to hand over all university properties in his possession, including all official responsibilities to the Sub-Dean of the faculty before vacating office.

The letter added that the dean was to stay away from the university premises except while responding to invitation from the panel investigating the allegations leveled against him. (NAN)