EDUCATION: A MIRROR OF THE SOCIETY : November 2013

BREAKING ASUU ?

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A handful of university managements seems to be having enough of the over four months old ASUU strike and are taking steps at breaking the ranks of their university's ASUU members. <br />
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This has become obvious following calls for resumption of academic activities by at least three (3) university managements, which has largely been heeded by both lecturers and students. In all instances of call for resumption, hardline ASUU members of the respective universities have condemn their management's action to unilaterally call-off their ASUU chapter's strike without regards for and permission of the union's National Executive Council.</div>
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At Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, where the management called off the lingering ASUU strike with an alleged support of "70%" of the university's lecturers, the ASUU Chairman Dr. Aliyu Badeggi described the directive of Vice Chancellor Prof Ibrahim Kolo as mischievous. He said there was no decision on the strike from the NEC and there is no way IBBU would pull out of the action it was a party to.</div>
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He was quoted as saying “How can IBBU pull out of the strike when the NEC has not ordered it should be called off? You should have known that the Vice Chancellor is being mischievous and playing to the gallery. There is no final decision on resumption because we voted to be part of the strike and we will remain a party to the action, until NEC meeting decides we should resume. So, don’t believe what the management has said; IBBU is in full strike.”</div>
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Just like his counterpart at IBB University, Prof. Gab Agu, the ASUU chairman of Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT) also protest the call for resumption by the university management. A statement by Prof. Agu, in Enugu on Sunday read :</div>
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<br />"The union's attention was drawn to the announcement by authorities that students would resume academic activities on Monday. The academic staff of ESUT dissociates itself from the above announcement. While ASUU-ESUT mourns the demise of Prof. Festus Iyayi, a former President of ASUU, it awaits the directive of the NEC on the ongoing strike.”</div>
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<br />At both universities, academic activities appear to have largely  commenced, though, lecturers flaunting their union's order are being queried by their respective union's chapter. At ESUT, four professors spearheading the management's interest for an end to the strike were queried by the chapter's executive. According to the chairman : </div>
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“Four professors are involved and we have issued them with queries and when they reply, we know the next action to take. We are forwarding the query to ASUU national, so that next time people should not arrogate to themselves what is not their duty. Nobody sent them. They don’t have the mandate of ASUU.” </div>
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<br />Also following in the steps of ESUT and IBBU is the Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko<br />
(AAUA) in Ondo State which also recently announce a resumption date for its students in effect, pulling out of the nationwide strike of ASUU. In a statement issued and signed by its Registrar, R.B Olotu, the school ordered its students to resume for the second semester on November 25th, 2013.<br />
The statement reads :</div>
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<br />“All Students of AAUA are hereby informed that academic activities of the 2nd semester of 2012/2013 session truncated as a result of the ASUU national strike are to resume on Monday, 25th November, 2013 with the continuation of registration on the University portal, while lectures are to start on Mon, 2nd December, 2013."<br />
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Its yet unknown how many more universities will for suits in the near future as the strike appears to be unending. </div>
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BREAKING ASUU ?

A handful of university managements seems to be having enough of the over four months old ASUU strike and are taking steps at breaking t...

NSCIA CONDEMN'S NERDC EDUCATION POLICY

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The Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affair (NSCIA) has reacted to the revised Basic Education Curriculum (BEC) set to be implemented in the next academic session for both primary and junior schools across the country, according to the council's publicity secretary, the new curriculum if implemented would deprive children their right to receive religious knowledge. The council called for immediate reversal of the policy, stating that, the action is ill-advised and unacceptable :</div>
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“The new curriculum which relegates Islamic Studies/ Christian Religious Studies (IS/CRS) to a part of a subject (up to Junior Secondary School) and which made the subjects optional at the Senior Secondary level be reversed so that the two are made independent, core and compulsory up to the Senior Secondary level,” </div>
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According to Nigeria Education Research and Development Council (NERDC), some subjects have been merged into a single subject - <a href="https://www.blogger.com/www.akomst.blogspot.com/2013/11/basic-education-curriculum-revised.html?m=1">read summary here</a> - in the revised BEC in effort to reduce the number of subject offering by students from about 13-15 subjects to between 6-10 subjects.<br />
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The merger of Islamic Studies, Christian Religious Studies, Civic Education and Social Studies subjects into a new subject, Religion and National Studies (RNS) now appear to be controversial. </div>
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NSCIA CONDEMN'S NERDC EDUCATION POLICY

The Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affair (NSCIA) has reacted to the revised Basic Education Curriculum (BEC) set to be implemented i...

BASIC EDUCATION CURRICULUM REVISED, COMBINES ISLAMIC STUDIES AND CHRISTIAN RELIGIOUS STUDIES

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The first Basic Education Curriculum (BEC) was produced and distributed nationwide in 2007. Its nationwide implementation commenced in Primary 1 and JSS 1 classes in September of 2008 under the banner of Universal Basic Education (UBE). However, a review of the curriculum because paramount in order to address new development in the education and political landscaped of the country, in specific, is the subject offering overload of the 2007 BEC. The 2007 BEC listed 20 subjects, of which students are expected to offer a minimum of 12 and 15 subjects in primary and junior secondary schools respectively. Recommendations by education stakeholders however suggested a reduction of subject offering to between 6 and 13 subjects.</div>
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The NERDC hence had the mandate to review the 2007 BEC, and the review process commenced in 2011. After consultations and meetings with stakeholders and policy makers in the education sector, NERDC produced the first revised BEC which was approved for use in Nigerian schools by the National Council on Education (NCE) at its 59th meeting held between  24th and 28th of June, 2013. </div>
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The revised curriculum implementation will commence September 2014, as approved by NCE.<br />
Unlike the present structure of the 2007 BEC, which comprises of 20 subjects’ listings, the reviewed basic education curriculum comprises of a ten (10) subjects framework.</div>
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The Framework identifies and groups related disciplines, thereby achieving a reduction in subject listings. For instance, Pre-Vocational Studies is a new subject that combines Home Economics and Agricultures, while Religion and Nationals Values (also a new curriculum subject) combined Islamic Studies, Christian Religious Studies, Social Studies, Civic Education, and Security Education.</div>
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Summary of New Subject Listing in Revised Curriculum </h3>
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Primary 1-6</h4>
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English Studies<br />
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Mathematics<br />
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Nigerian Languages (One Nigerian Language i.e of the immediate community)<br />
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Basic Science and Technology (BST) combinations of Basic Science, Basic Technology, Physical & </div>
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Health Education and Information Technology.<br />
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Religion and National Values (RNV) which combines Christian Religious Studies / Islamic Studies, </div>
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Social Studies, Civic Education and Security Education.<br />
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Cultural & Creative Arts (CCA)<br />
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Arabic Language  (Optional)<br />
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French Language : primary 4-6<br />
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Pre-Vocational Studies (PVS) : primary 4-6</div>
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NOTE</h4>
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A minimum of 6 subjects; Maximum of 7 subjects is reguired for primary 1-3 while a minimum of 8 and a maximum of 9 subjects are required for primary 4-6. Separate classes should be run for Christian Religious Studies theme and Islamic Studies theme of RNV.</div>
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JSS 1-3</h3>
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English Studies</div>
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Mathematics<br />
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Nigerian Languages (One Nigerian Language)<br />
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Business Studies <br />
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Basic Science and Technology (BST)<br />
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Pre-Vocational Studies (PVS)<br />
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Religion and National Values (RNV)<br />
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Cultural & Creative Arts (CCA) <br />
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French Languages<br />
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Arabic Language (Optional)</div>
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NOTE</h4>
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A minimum of 9 subjects; Maximum of 10 subjects. Separate classes should be run for Christian Religious Studies theme and Islamic Studies theme of RNV.</div>
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Implications </h3>
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The new curriculum certainly holds many challenges to its implementation. Firstly, the production of standard textbooks for the revised/combined subjects and selection of relevant contents from bulk of content in the now old contents. Secondly, availability of specialized teachers for these subjects. Thirdly, availability of resources for teaching the subjects, particularly in the rural schools. And lastly, its slow/partial implementation, particularly due to the cost to procure book, materials and infrastructures in both private and public schools.</div>
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BASIC EDUCATION CURRICULUM REVISED, COMBINES ISLAMIC STUDIES AND CHRISTIAN RELIGIOUS STUDIES

The first Basic Education Curriculum (BEC) was produced and distributed nationwide in 2007. Its nationwide implementation commenced in Pri...

TOEFL AND GRE TESTING SUSPENDED IN NIGERIA.

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Sad news for potential candidates of the upcoming TOEFL test in Nigeria as the testing in Nigeria has been suspended indefinitely. TOEFL made the announcement on its <a href="http://www.ets.org/toefl">website</a> citing insecurity in Nigeria for its decision, the statement read</div>
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"Due to security concerns in Nigeria, GRE® and TOEFL® testing in the country has been suspended for an indefinite period. Candidates who have appointments to take the TOEFL or GRE Tests will be contacted by ETS to process a refund."<br />
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Some commentators have however attribute suspension of testing to the "colossal malpractices" taking place in the numerous testing centres scattered around the country. TOEFL decision to suspend testing would now force Nigerians to take the test abroad, particularly in a neighboring country as Ghana. <br />
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TOEFL is an English-language test often taken as a test of proficiency and use of English mostly in countries where English isn't spoken or used as a second language. For many institutions, TOEFL score is used to satisfy admission and visa requirements, which is why this decision is a blow to Nigerians seeking admissions into universities abroad such as in UK, Australia and USA. </div>
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TOEFL AND GRE TESTING SUSPENDED IN NIGERIA.

Sad news for potential candidates of the upcoming TOEFL test in Nigeria as the testing in Nigeria has been suspended indefinitely. TOEFL m...

STUDY ONLINE FOR A CERTIFICATE AT HARVARD UNIVERSITY FREE OF CHARGE !

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edX is an online education platform founded by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Harvard University in May 2012 to host online university-level courses in a wide range of disciplines to a worldwide audience at no charge. </div>
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STUDY ONLINE FOR A CERTIFICATE AT HARVARD UNIVERSITY FREE OF CHARGE !

edX is an online education platform founded by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Harvard University in May 2012 to host ...

ASUU STRIKE : UNIVERSITIES MAY REMAIN CLOSED AFTER ASUU STRIKE IS CALLED OFF - UNIONS WARNED !

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The Non Teaching Staff in Nigeria universities under the aegis of Non-Academic Staff Union of<br />
Education and Associated Institutions (NASU), National Association of Academic Technologists(NAAT), and Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) is advising the Federal Government to implement the 2009 agreements it entered with the unions and simply not the MoU it signed with ASUU. A joint statement titled  ‘Our stand on the on-going ASUU strike’, was released to journalists by the unions. It read :<br />
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“We sympathise and solidarise with our sister union, ASUU over their long drawn struggle for the welfare of their members. We urged the government to build more confidence in governance, at all times, by respecting agreements it freely enters into with unions. However, we caution that any settlement of the current dispute must take into account the interests of all the university-based unions (NAAT, SSANU, NASU and ASUU). The three Non-Teaching Staff Unions of NAAT, SSANU and NASU are opposed to any extraneous demands by either ASUU or any group in the university which are prejudicial to the welfare of our members. Our stand is that government should jettison the so called ASUU’s Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and concentrate on full implementation of the 2009 FGN/Unions agreements which border on staff conditions of service and welfare, and increased funding to universities. The MOU being referred to by ASUU is for their selfish end and it is bound to generate more crises in the university sub-sector. The Non-Teaching Staff Unions in<br />
the universities will stoutly resist any attempt to sell the universities to ASUU."<br />
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The unions therefore warned of a relay strike action capable of paralysing the university system even for a longer duration if only the ASUU's MoU was honored. <br />
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”All university based unions signed agreements in 2009 with the government, it is therefore advised that all contentious issues in all the agreements be settled holistically to avoid a ‘relay race’ in strike actions in the universities. The implementation of any union’s MOU should not come in between<br />
the period of implementation of signed agreements rather, such items in the MOU should wait to be re-negotiated in another agreement(s).” The statement read.</div>
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ASUU STRIKE : UNIVERSITIES MAY REMAIN CLOSED AFTER ASUU STRIKE IS CALLED OFF - UNIONS WARNED !

The Non Teaching Staff in Nigeria universities under the aegis of Non-Academic Staff Union of Education and Associated Institutions (NASU...

EDUCATION: A MIRROR OF THE SOCIETY