By Ahmed Abba

Gov. Mai Mala Buni of Yobe says the state recorded improvement in students’ performance in the 2020 West Africa Examination Council (WAEC).

Buni disclosed this at the presentation of report on ‘Almajiri System of Education and Strategic Plan’ in Damaturu on Thursday.

“A total of 12,042 students were registered for WAEC out of which 725 students scored distinctions and credits in all the nine subjects.

“We also have 2,530 students who scored distinctions and credits in five subjects and above including English and Mathematics.

“There were 8,042 others who scored credits with passes in Mathematics while 7,008 scored credits with passes in English,’’ he said.

The governor described the development as unprecedented, very impressive and encouraging.

“It also shows that we are on course and the declaration of emergency on education is worthwhile and paying,’’ he said.

Buni further highlighted improvements in the Qur’anic education in the state.

“A total of 3,838 schools comprising boarding, day and satellite or ‘Ci-Rani Tsangaya’ schools recorded enrolment of 180,371 Almajiri pupils in the state,” he said.

Buni reiterated his administration’s commitment to do more in the education sector of the state.

“I wish to reassure you that the government will continue to work on measures that will consolidate our drive toward salvaging education to fast track meaningful development in the state,’’ he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that on May 29, 2019, the governor declared a state of emergency on basic and secondary education. in the state. (NAN)

By Funmilayo Adeyemi

The Federal Ministry of Education says it has aligned with the Jan. 18, 2021 date for schools in the nation to resume.

Consequently, schools can resume academic activities on Monday, Jan. 18, 2021.

The ministry,  in a statement on Thursday signed by Mr Ben Goong, the Director of  Press , said that the go-ahead was given after undertaking a comprehensive appraisal of the school resumption proposal.

“After extensive consultations with relevant stakeholders, including State Governors, Commissioners of Education, Proprietors and heads of institutions, staff unions and students, the consensus of opinion is that the resumption date of Jan. 18, 2021  should remain.

“Parents and respective institutions must ensure full compliance with COVID-19 protocols including compulsory wearing of facemasks by all students, teachers and
workers in all schools, temperature checks and hand washing facilities at strategic locations in all schools.

“Also, they must ensure constant supply of water,  hand sanitisers and enforcement of maintenance of social distancing and suspension of large gatherings such as assembly and visiting days. (NAN)

By Bushrah Yusuf-Badmus

Kwara State Government has announced Jan. 18, 2021, as the beginning of second term academic session in the state.

Mrs Kemi Adeosun, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education and Human Capital Development, made this known during the Education stakeholders’ meeting held at the ministry’s headquarters on Thursday.

According to her, Gov. AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara has approved the date as the official beginning of 2020/2021 second term academic session in the state.

She further reminded the schools’ authorities that safety guidelines of COVID-19 should be intact in all schools in the state.

“Nobody should enter the school premises without a facemask on.

“Any school that does not comply with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and the Federal Ministry of Education guidelines will face appropriate sanctions,’’ Adeosun said.

She reiterated the commitment of the present administration in the state to flatten the curve of COVID-19 transmission in state.

In his remarks, the Chairman, Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Mr Olu Adewara, who spoke on behalf of stakeholders, commended the governor for being proactive in decision making, especially on educational development in the state.

He gave an assurance that teachers would abide by the rules and regulations of COVID-19. (NAN)

By Funmilayo Adeyemi

The National Examination Council (NECO) says that 233,000 candidates who could not write the examinations as a result of the #EndSARS protests will join external candidates to write the examinations in February.

Mr Azeez Sani, Head of Information and Public Relations Division of the council told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Wednesday.

He said that the Council Registrar, Prof. Godswill Obioma, while announcing the 2020 results, said that 12 states were disrupted during the conduct of the examinations as a result of the effects of COVID-19 pandemic and the #EndSARS protests.

Sani said that the affected candidates would now sit for those papers missed during the forthcoming SSCE (External) scheduled to hold between Feb. 1 and March 3.

He said that the special arrangement was at no extra cost to these candidates.

He listed the states affected to include Abia, Enugu, Edo, Rivers, Ondo, Osun, Ekiti, Lagos, Oyo, Kano, Ogun States,  and FCT.

Sani also said the affected subjects were Chemistry practical, Economics, Technical Drawing, Food and Nutrition, and Further Mathematics.

According to him, results of the affected candidates will be pending until supplementary exams are conducted for the papers missed. (NAN)

By Aminu Garko

The National Examinations Council (NECO) has released the results of the 2020 Senior Secondary School Examination (SSCE) indicating a 2.3 per cent increase in the number of candidates who scored five credits and above, including English and Mathematics.

The Registrar and Chief Executive of NECO, Prof. Godswill Obioma, announced the results at the council’s headquarters in Minna on Wednesday.

Obioma said a total of I,221,447 candidates registered for the examination, “665,830 males and 555,617 females.”

According to him,”the number of candidates that sat for the examination is 1,209,992, 796 males, representing 55.53 per cent and 550,126 females, representing 45.46  per cent”.

He said that the number of candidates with special needs that sat for the examination was 160.

“Number of candidates who made credit and above in English language is 973,331, representing 82.68 per cent. Number of candidates who made credit and above in Mathematics is 1,060,100, representing 90.08 per cent.

“Number of candidates who made five credits and above including English and Mathematics is 984,101 representing 73.89 per cent; compared to 2019 June/July SSCE figures of 829,787,there is an increase of 2.3 per cent.

“Number of  candidates who made five credits and above irrespective of English Language is 1,112,041, representing 91.91 per cent; compared to 2019 June/July SSCE figures of 1,04,989 there is an increase of 2.01 per cent

“Number of candidates involved in various forms of malpractice in 2020 is 33,470, representing 2.61 per cent, and 40,630, representing 3.53 per cent of such cases, were recorded in 2019″, the registrar said.

He said that the council had a long tradition for zero tolerance for malpractice.

“Twelve schools – four in Adamawa, two in Kaduna State , two in Katsina, one in Taraba and one in FCT were recommended for de-recognition for two years for their involvement in mass cheating.

“While 24 Supervisors were blacklisted for various offences ranging from poor supervision,aiding abetting and connivance with non-candidates to write answers on chalkboard,” he said.

Obioma said that candidates could now access their results on NECO website: WWW.neco.gov.ng using their examination registration numbers.(NAN)

By Polycarp Auta

University of Jos has announced Jan. 22 as its resumption date for the 2019/2020 academic session, Mr. Abdullahi Abdullahi, the Deputy Registrar, Information and Publications of the university, said in a statement on Tuesday, in Jos.

The statement said the decision was reached and approved by the Senate of the university, at its 4th special meeting on the 2019/2020 session, held on Monday.

“The Senate of the University of Jos has considered and approved an amended Academic Calendar for 2019/2020 Session of the University. The Senate approved the calendar at its 4th Special Meeting on the 2019/2020 Session held on Monday, Jan. 11.

“Senate approved that students are to resume for the continuation of the session as from Friday,  Jan. 22, with the reopening of the various campuses of the University.

“According to the amended academic calendar, lectures would continue as from Monday, Jan. 25,” the statement said.

Abdullahi advised students and staff of the university to adhere to all COVID-19 safety protocols put in place by Presidential Task Force on Covid-19.

“This include the use of face masks, regular hand washing under running water, use of hand sanitizers, as well as social distancing,” he said.

He said that anyone caught violating the protocols, within the university premises, would not be spared. (NAN)

By Hillary Akalugwu

Some non-academic staff of the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN) on Tuesday embarked on a peaceful protest over an alleged Federal Government failure to meet their demands.

The workers under the aegis of Joint Action Committee (JAC) comprising Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) and Senior Staff Union of Universities (SSANU) of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) walked around some major roads in UNN campus singing solidarity songs with placards.

Some placards carried by the protesters read “FG pay us the arrears of the new minimum wage”, FG correct inconsistencies in the IPPIS”, Enforce FG/NASU/SSANU 2009 agreement and Constitute visitation panels of public universities”.

Addressing newsmen shortly after the protest, Comrade Paul Eruah, Chairman of UNN-JAC said they embarked on a three-day protest to urge government to address some of its demands contained in the 2009 agreement with the union.

According to him, the 3-day protest was in compliance with directive from the JAC national leadership to members nationwide.

“This three-day protest will last from Jan. 12 to Jan. 14, and if government does not meet our demands, we will embark on an indefinite strike when public universities resume,” he said.

The UNN-JAC chairman listed some of the demands to include inconsistencies in the Integrated Personnel Payment Information System (IPPIS), nonpayment of earned allowances and arrears of new minimum wage.

Others are delay in renegotiation of FG/NASU/SSANU 2009 agreement, Nonpayment of benefits to retirees and delay in constituting of visitation panels to public universities.

It would be recalled that, the national JAC had last week directed its members nationwide to embark on a 3-day protest starting from Jan. 12 to Jan. 14, 2021 to press home their demands.

Comrade Clifford Amoke, NASU Chairman in UNN, was among those that participated in the protest. (NAN)