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Education 1200 benefit from law maker’s free JAMB registration
From Femi Oyelola, Kaduna
S
enator representing Kaduna Central Senatorial District and Chairman Senate Committee on Local and Foreign debt, Senator Shehu Sani at the weekend gave 1200 students free JAMB forms in the state. The first phase of the beneficiaries were selected from ;Kawo, Hayin Banki,Kakuri, Ungwar shanu ,Ungwar Muazu, Tudun-Nupawa, Zango ,TudunWada , Ungwar sanusi,Kinkinau, Badarawa and Ungwar Kagi, Addressing the beneficiaries at his Tudun-Wada campaign office during the presentation of the free JAMB forms, Senator Sani said the decision to pay the registration fees was to encourage children of the poor to attain higher education. According to him, education unarguably is the power and it is only with sound education that any individual can be independent minded , acquire knowledge to break shackles of poverty and become self reliant. He also identified education as the panacea for addressing societal ills such as Boko Haram insurgency, armed robbery, prostitution and other degrading jobs. He however, described as regrettable a situation where young secondary leavers with good results besiege his campaign office with applications when they are supposed to proceed for higher education. “I don’t believe is fair to get job for a secondary school leaver when we as leaders can support them to advance educationally”. He emphasized. Though Senator Sani admitted that the number of beneficiaries is inadequate, he promised to increase the number before the registration closes. He therefore urged leaders across all tiers of governments in the country to consider sponsoring children of less privileged to write JAMB and other relevant national examinations adding that it helps reduce crime rate and youth restiveness, particular in the north. In an interview with our correspondent shortly after the presentation of free JAMB forms, a beneficiary, Salisu Abubakar, commended the gesture and gave assurance that he and other beneficiaries will ensure they read hard to pass the exams.
PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2015
Distance education will eradicate illiteracy ,says Minister
From Mohammad Ibrahim, Kaduna
M
inister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu has said open and distance education is the fastest means of eradicating illiteracy through mass education as being practiced by the National Teachers Institute (NTI), Kaduna. He disclosed this at the weekend during the 4th convocation ceremony held at the institute headquarter in the Kaduna. The minister lauded the teaching and learning approaches of NTI which is aimed at deepening quality education in
Nigeria and beyond. Represented by Mallam Musa Ibrahim, the Minister urges the institute to sustain the tempo. He said conventional tertiary institutions do not have the carrying capacity to admit all the candidates that often apply for admission into it, hence the need for NTI and National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN). He applauded the annual convocation ceremony introduced by the current management, saying it is an avenue to bring students together for social interaction and sensitise the general public on its activities. Earlier, Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir Ahmad El-rufai, represented by his
deputy assured of government continues support and patronage. He said his administration placed great premium on education and would do all within its power to make it a priority. In his remarks, Director General and Chief Executive of NTI, Dr. Aminu Ladan Sharehu, reiterated that the institute has the professional and academic development of teachers at heart. He said the institute hopes to expand its academic activities to the construction of Micro teaching laboratories in the six geo_ political zones for use by teacher trainers under its employment, school of Agricultural Education Studies and construction of Sport Complex and Recreational Centre.
He said teacher education is an important enterprise that could not be toyed with. In another development, the NTI boss at a book presentation, called for teachers training and retraining. “ This is what makes open and distance learning the major alternative, viable option that could guarantee continuous teacher professional development in the world today. “ It is a learning option that allows learners to learn at a distance from their colleaques, tutors and even institutions while mediation takes place through the profession of various learning packages and support services,” he said
Over All Best Student Advance, Jimoh Sadia Omowunmi (left), receiving a prize and certificate from representative Minister for Education, Dr Mohammed Umar (middle), during the 4th national convocation ceremony of National Teachers Institute, at the weekend in Kaduna. With them is Director General, National Teachers Institute, Dr Ladan Sharehu (right).
Gombe Police command to enroll 400 youths in school From David Hassan, Gombe
T
he Gombe State Police Command is taking a pro-active measures in preventing crime as it initiate programme of returning over 400 street miscreants back to school. According to the state Police Commissioner, Mr. Austin Iwar, the initiative is taken based on the fact that Policing is not all about punitive measures or incarceration but also helping criminals make meaning out of life through being responsible citizens.
He said Gombe State is known for the activities of the notorious Kalare political thugs who are mostly school drop-outs or youths who never went to school. He said they are gangsters who maim, steal, terrorize and even kill innocent persons by making major towns in the state insecure. The Commissioner stated this during his second periodic stock taking meeting with senior officers of the Command and major stakeholders to review strategies, evaluate achievements, challenges and determine next course of action.
He said the Command plans to sustain the programme adding that already, workshops have been scheduled to take place soon with many of the school drop-outs agreeing to return to schools. Iwar further said “while we strive to engage our children by making sure that they are in school, the Command equally appreciate the fact that our schools need to be safe enough for both the students and the teachers to enable smooth learning process. Therefore, the Command developed the Gombe State Safer Schools Programme”.
He said the State Ministry of Education and heads of schools in the state have shown keen interest in this strategy and that their cooperation and response had been fantastic. He gave kudos to his men and officers for their doggedness and steadfastness as well as the public for their cooperation in ensuring that the state did not record any major security breach to warrant deep worries despite the disturbing happenings in some State where Boko Haram terrorists have resurrected their threats.