NEWS AGENCY OF NIGERIA

FG reverses 18-year admission age for tertiary institutions

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By Funmilayo Adeyemi

The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa has reversed the decision of the past minister of education on the 18-years admission benchmark into tertiary institutions.

Alausa spoke at his inaugural press briefing in Abuja on Tuesday.

According to him, what led to that initial decision was the way the National Policy on Education was designed.

”We will not be going forward with the 18-years admission benchmark. We will go with 16 years and we are going to meet with JAMB and others on that.

”There will also be exception for the gifted students. 18-years is not part of our policy again,” he said.

Addressing the withdrawal of certificates obtained from Benin Republic and Togo, Alausa stated that the policy would remain in place to help eliminate fake certificates from the system.

Regarding the out-of-school children issue, he noted this as a key priority for the ministry, adding that various solutions would be considered to reduce their numbers.

He said the ministry will collaborate with the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs to provide conditional cash transfers as incentives for students to increase school enrollment.

He also mentioned that nutritional programmes would be introduced to support students’ health, thereby enhancing human capital development.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the Minister, along with the Minister of State for Education, Dr Suwaiba Ahmad, was officially welcomed by the Permanent Secretary, Dr Nasiru Sani-Gwarzo. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Tosin Kolade

NASS committee seeks enhanced security, power infrastructure in tertiary institutions

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By Naomi Sharang

The National Assembly joint committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFund has called for urgent measures to address security and power challenges in tertiary institutions in the country.

Chairman of the joint committee, Sen. Muntari Dandutse, made this known in a statement in Abuja, as a fallout of a retreat organised by the National Assembly in collaboration with the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund).

The retreat had as its theme “Security and Energy Challenges in Nigeria’s Tertiary Institutions”.

According to Dandutse, the rising tide of insecurity and the persistent energy crisis in tertiary institutions demand immediate and focused attention.

He said that the landscape of our educational institutions was fraught with challenges.

“These challenges threaten not only the safety and well-being of our students and faculties, but also the very integrity of our educational mission.

“As a committee that is saddled with the responsibility of oversight of tertiary institutions, we cannot fold our hands and watch idly, the deteriorating state of our institutions.

“We feel legally, morally and conscientiously obligated to rise up to occasion with a view to addressing this menace.

“However, the recent surge in violence, kidnapping, and other security threats has created an environment of fear and uncertainty thus undermining the core functions of these institutions.

“Our students and educators deserve an environment conducive to learning and research, free from the spectre of insecurity.

“And this, we are poised to achieve by providing an enabling environment through legislative frameworks that would guarantee a level playing ground”.

Chairperson, House Committee on TETFund and other Services, Rep. Miriam Onuoha called for improved measures to tackle the security measures on campuses.

Also, Chairman of the Board of TETFund, Aminu Bello Masari, said that the fund would create a new budget intervention line aimed at addressing the pressing issues of security and power in Nigeria’s higher education sector.

Masari underscored the pivotal role that education played in the nation’s development and the urgent need for improved funding in the sector.

“Threats to security and inadequate power supply pose significant risks to the stability and success of our higher institutions.”

“These issues not only jeopardise the safety of students and staff but also negatively impact academic performance and the overall functioning of institutions”.(NAN)

Edited by Sadiya Hamza

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