By Funmilayo Adeyemi

Dr Vivienne Rwang, a lecturer at the University of Southampton, UK, has called for the establishment of monitoring structures to strengthen the implementation of Nigeria’s Universal Basic Education (UBE) policy for displaced populations.

Rwang made the call on Tuesday during a virtual seminar themed, “Improving Educational Access and Quality for Displaced and Marginalised Learners in Nigeria: A Policy and Practice Approach”.

It was hosted by the Southampton Education School, University of Southampton, UK.

She said findings from her academic study revealed the severe challenges faced by internally displaced children in accessing quality basic education in camps across North Central and North-East Nigeria.

“Education is more than a right, it is a tool for stability, healing, and hope. We owe these children that much,” Rwang stated.

Citing global statistics, she noted that Sub-Saharan Africa accounts for 46 per cent of conflict-induced displacement worldwide, with Nigeria representing a significant portion due to prolonged insurgency and communal violence.

Rwang called for urgent reforms to Nigeria’s UBE framework, including the formal recognition of IDP camps by federal and state governments, dedicated education budgets for displaced children, and curriculum reforms in teacher training to integrate emergency education.

She further advocated for free education for IDP children, including the waiving of Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) fees, and the provision of uniforms and learning materials.

“In spite of Nigeria’s UBE policy mandating free and compulsory basic education, many IDP children remain excluded,” she said.

According to her, many IDP camps lack functional schools, while displaced children who attempt to enrol in neighbouring schools often face rejection, high fees, or non-absorption due to overcrowding or lack of documentation.

She also highlighted the shortage of trained teachers capable of addressing the psychosocial and educational needs of traumatised children, noting that most IDP schools operate without special budgetary allocations.

“Teachers working in and around camps often lack the training, motivation, and resources to meet the needs of displaced learners.

“Without education in emergencies training, we risk losing an entire generation, ”Rwang added.

In her keynote address, Prof. Nana Tanko, Co-founder of the African Policy Research Institute, called for urgent action to support the education of children in conflict-affected states.

She stressed that collective efforts are needed to lift them out of their current circumstances.

Prof. Rahila Gowon, Deputy Vice Chancellor, University of Jos, alongside other academics from the institution, also emphasised the need for a complete overhaul of Nigeria’s education system to better accommodate marginalised learners.

Also speaking, Mr Simon Katu, Assistant Director of Disaster Risk Reduction at the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), advocated for the integration of education in emergencies into national and state disaster management frameworks.

He said this would help institutionalise the Safe School Initiative and ensure more consistent interventions.

NAN reports that Rwang’s research is titled “Quality Basic Education and Provision for Internally Displaced Children in Internally Displaced Persons Camps: A Case Study of IDP Camps in North Central and North East Nigeria”.

It was motivated by her volunteer work in IDP camps and findings from her master’s dissertation on public primary education in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Representatives from the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), International Organisation for Migration (IOM), Hope for All Foundation, Lovatt Foundation, and various school administrators also participated in the seminar. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Tosin Kolade

By Uche Bibilari

The Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) has approved an increase in the admission quota for the Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) programme at the University of Abuja (UniAbuja).

The quota has been raised from 75 to 200, following a rigorous re-accreditation process and in line with efforts to expand access to medical education in Nigeria.

This is contained in a statement issued on Saturday in Abuja by the Acting Director of Information and University Relations, Dr Habib Yakoob.

Yakoob said the announcement was made by the Registrar of the Council, Prof. Fatima Kyari, following a rigorous and objective re-accreditation exercise conducted at the university by a 17-member MDCN team.

Kyari commended the university’s efforts in improving its facilities while emphasising the need for further development in several critical areas.

She highlighted areas requiring attention, including the number and capacity of academic staff, pathology laboratories, transportation, and clinical skills support.

Kyari noted that the increase in quota was based on a resource-based carrying capacity model.

“When we talk about quota, we are referring to the resource-based carrying capacity.

“For a quota of 150 students, you need 450 bed spaces for clinical training. You currently have 360.

“For 200, you need 600. However, we want to align with your growth aspirations.

“The nation needs more doctors, and as Abuja is the capital, it should rise to the occasion. So, we are giving you 200,” she explained.”

She added that the council would continue to monitor the university’s compliance and provide support as it built further capacity and infrastructure.

“We are not just here to point out what is available or lacking. We are here to encourage the university to keep striving toward meeting all required standards,” Kyari said.

She also noted that the quota upgrade aligned with the Federal Government’s broader goal of expanding access to medical education and addressing the national shortage of doctors.

“The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare has laid out a bold four-point agenda under the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative (NHSRII).

“At the heart of this agenda is the strengthening of our healthcare workforce, from training to retention, as a critical driver for achieving universal health coverage and improved health outcomes,” she said.

The re-accreditation process, she emphasised, was guided by standards such as infrastructure adequacy, faculty strength, student-to-resource ratio, clinical training exposure, and governance of the medical school.

Responding to the announcement, the Acting Vice-Chancellor of the University, Prof. Patricia Lar, expressed gratitude to the MDCN.

“The joy we feel regarding this announcement is boundless. We opened all our doors, there was no cover-up.

“We did our best, and the constructive feedback from the MDCN will push us to aim even higher,” she said.

Lar affirmed the university’s commitment to continuous growth and excellence in medical education.

“We have been working tirelessly to grow the university and ensure our College of Health Sciences meets global standards.

“I am proud to be leading the university at this critical moment.

“Even if I am no longer in office when my tenure ends, I am confident that a solid foundation has been laid and progress will continue,” she added. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Dorcas Jonah/Abiemwense Moru

By Funmilayo Adeyemi

Education stakeholders on Thursday converge on Abuja to brainstorm on challenges to effective promotion of inclusive, safe and gender-sensitive learning environments in the country.

The event was organised by National Senior Secondary Education Commission (NSSEC) to boost the capacity of Special Education Desk Officers from all the 36 states of the federation and FCT.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the theme of the workshop was: “Promoting Inclusive, Safe and Gender-Sensitive Learning Environments for All”.

The Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Ahmad, called for collaboration from school owners, development partners and state governments to promote inclusive and gender learning schools to enhance national development.

Ahmed, represented by Mr Kehinde Osinaike, Deputy Director, Science and Technology Department of the ministry, urged participants to make use of the opportunity provided to carry everyone along.

She explained that the workshop was a critical step to translating gender and inclusive education policies into tangible and everyday practices.

“The National Policy on Inclusive Education was developed to remove barriers to learning, ensure equity and improve access to quality education for all, especially learners with disabilities and those facing systemic disadvantages.

“Alongside this, the National Policy on Gender Education provides a framework for eliminating gender disparities and ensuring that both girls and boys have equal opportunities to access, participate in and benefit from education.

“But as we all know, policies are only as effective as their implementation and we must go beyond the rhetoric,” she said.

The minister, however, pledged the President Bola Tinubu-led administration’s committed to advancing inclusive and equitable education in the country.

Also, the Executive Secretary, NSSEC, Dr Iyela Ajayi, said that the workshop was aimed at equipping the desk officers with modern trends in implementing inclusive practices that would address gender-based violence (GBV).

Ajayo said that for there to be meaningful change, the frontline officers must be empowered, as they were the direct link to schools and communities.

“Our goal is to transform our senior secondary schools into true sanctuaries of learning, where every child, irrespective of his/her abilities, gender or background, feels valued and safe.

“As Special Education Officers, you are the architects of inclusion in our educational system. You are the advocates, the monitors and the support systems that ensure our policies translate into meaningful actions.

“Your role is central to dismantling barriers, fostering a culture of acceptance and ensuring that no learner is left behind,” he said.

On his part, the Executive Secretary, National Commission for Persons with Disabilities, Ayuba Gufwan, said that statistics showed that 35.5 million persons were living with disabilities, hence the need to address critical issues affecting them.

Gufwan said that in reality, every individual is living with one form of disability or the other and must, therefore, not ignore their challenges.

He expressed worry over the challenges faced by persons with disabilities (PWDs), noting that most schools do not have ramps for their easy access. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by ‘Wale Sadeeq

By Mustapha Yauri

The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), Nuhu Bamalli Polytechnic, Zaria Chapter, has raised alarm over alleged poor salaries earned by the polytechnic lecturers as the union continues its strike.

The union alleged that the lecturers earned less than the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members, which according to it, is sparking concerns over educators’ welfare.

The Chairman of the union, Malam Usman-Shehu Suleiman, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Zaria on Thursday.

NAN reports that the joint staff unions had embarked on a one-week warning strike on June 16, which has grounded academic activities at the two campuses of the institution.

The strike was hinged on the non-implementation of the National Polytechnic and Colleges of Education Salary Structure and implementation of the 65 years retirement age for non-teaching staff among others.

Suleiman, who is also the Chairman, Joint Action Committee of the staff unions of the institutions, said a net pay of an assistant lecturer at the institution was N64, 400, which he said was far below the monthly allowance of NYSC members.

“This, among other reasons, made the institutions to experience drastic brain-drain and many lecturers are on the verge of leaving the institution.

“We lose cohorts of lecturers to Federal University of Transportation Daura, Katsina State; Federal Polytechnic Gombe and Kaduna State University (KASU) among other institutions.

“We have an instance where a lecturer was sponsored to acquire Master’s and Ph.D by the institution upon his return he found the situation unbearable and decided to leave,” he said.

However, the chairman added that the lecturer had signed a bond with the institution, therefore, he had to repay NUBA Polytechnic over N21m.

The chairman described the situation as ‘bad omen’ for the education sector.

Similarly, Abubakar Aliyu-Shika, Chairman, Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Polytechnic (SSANIP), NUBA Polytechnic branch, said the union had been agitating for the improvement of salary since 2009, “almost 16 years ago.

“We had series of agreements with the state government on June 11, 2010, and June 19, 2014 over the matter and nothing was done besides just signing the agreement and complaints of paucity of funds.”

He added that on Dec. 17, 2024, Gov. Uba Sani assured the leadership of the joint unions that the Polytechnic and College of Education Salary Structure (2024) would be implemented by the first quarter of 2025.

“Regrettably, we are in the end of second quarter of the year and no concrete steps have been taken to fulfil this promise,” he said.

Aliyu-Shika noted that one of the excuses was paucity of funds in the state and the government would fully implement the new salary structure when the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) improved.

He added that the total staff strength of the polytechnic was a little above 900, saying, “now, the government has recruited 500 new staff; it means the financial situation has improved, hence our demands.” (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Esenvosa Izah/Muhammad Lawal