Education

SUBSIDY: NUT, PARENTS FAULT REDUCTION IN SCHOOL DAYS

Published

11 months ago

June 12, 2023

Teachers and parents have expressed reservations about moves by some state governments to reduce the number of school days in a week from five to three because of the high cost of living occasioned by the removal of subsidy on petrol, saying it would be counterproductive in the end.

They have therefore called on the government to look for other means of alleviating the sufferings of parents, teachers and students in the face of the high cost of living.

The teachers, under the aegis of the Nigeria Union of Teachers, NUT, spoke through the National Secretary, Dr Mike Ene, while the parents spoke through the National President of the National Parent Teacher Association of Nigeria, NAPTAN, Alhaji Haruna Danjuma, in different chats with Vanguard newspaper.

They were reacting to the decisions of Edo and Kwara states to reduce the working days for civil servants to three in the face of the new dispensation of no subsidy for petrol.

The Edo State government, specifically on Friday, through the Head of Service, Anthony Okungbowa, said the reduced office workdays would not affect the productivity and efficiency of the service.

The Edo SUBEB Chairman, Mrs Ozavize Salami, said the three-day work week would commence in the basic and junior secondary schools in Edo State on June 13, adding, “Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays have been chosen to be the days for our children to go to school while the school will be closed for the other two days.”One opined that while the government might see the reduction in school days as a leeway to curb the challenge of the high cost of transport, there was no way virtual class could replace physical classes.“Teacher-student relationship allows for people to understand better.

When a student sees the gestures of a teacher while being taught, he can learn better and moreover, students learn at different rates.

I think the government is looking for ways of compensating teachers, but that is not the best way.

“If they say virtual class for two days, what about internet connection for teachers and students in remote places? Also, what about the cost of data? Is is every student or teacher that has an internet-enabled computer or Android phone?” From experience during the COVID-19 pandemic, if 40 students log on to the virtual class and make their presence noticed at the beginning, by the time the lecture is over, you may be lucky if 15 followed up throughout the exercise. Some students will just make their presence known and go off to do other things,” he said.

Speaking in the same vein, Danjuma noted that it would be difficult for teachers to cover their syllabi within the time frame remaining..“Apart from being able to sustain the interest of students throughout a virtual class, how many parents can afford computers and Android phones for their children and wards?“If teachers are now compelled to compress their workloads into three school days, they will just be over burdened and the same goes for their students,” he stated.

The way outThe NUT scribe suggested that since the intention is to compensate teachers in view of recent developments, there are other ways of putting more money in their pockets.

“Let the government give teachers that will be going to work five days a week some incentives and allowances.

Even those that are to work virtually should be given money for data. No good teacher wants to render services that will be termed under-productive.

Surely, teachers must be assisted this time around, but we must do it in a way that will not bring the quality of our education down,” Ene noted.

On his part, Danjuma stated, “Since the main issue here is transport for teachers and students, the government should float special transport service for teachers and students.

If they can be taken to and fro schools at relatively cheaper rates, then, that is okay.”

Education

1ST NIGERIAN TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS CONFERENCE ON UN SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS (SDGS) ESSAY COMPETITION

Published

3 months ago

February 29, 2024

Eniola sanni

The 1st Nigerian Tertiary Institutions Conference on UN SDGs presents the SDG Youth Essay Competition, offering undergraduates in Nigerian tertiary institutions a chance to contribute to the discussion on achieving SDG4, Quality Education.

Competition Overview:

1st Nigerian Tertiary Institutions Conference on UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Essay Competition

The SDG Youth Essay Competition offers a grand prize of N1 million for the top three winners, along with free sponsorship to attend the 1st Nigeria Tertiary Institution Conference on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in April 2024 in Abuja.

Competition Requirements:

1. Eligibility:

– Open exclusively to undergraduates in Nigerian tertiary institutions.

2. Entry Guidelines:

– Topic:The Role of Students in Attainment of SDG4

– length: Essays should be 1500 words.

– Entry Period: Thursday, February 1, 2024 – Thursday, February 29, 2024

– Referencing: APA Style (6th Edition).

– Font: Times New Roman, 12-point font size.

– Documentation: Typed in 1.5 line spacing, MS Word format only.

– Plagiarism: Only original content is accepted; plagiarized entries will be disqualified.

Benefits:

– Prizes:

– 1st Prize: N500,000

– 2nd Prize: N300,000

– 3rd Prize: N200,000

– Winners will also receive free sponsorship to attend the 1st Nigeria Tertiary Institution Conference on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in April 2024 in Abuja.

Required Documents:

– Student’s Institution ID Card

– Copy of Student’s Admission Letter

– One recent passport-size photograph

– WhatsApp telephone number and email address

Application Procedure:

– All entries and submissions (essay and required documents) should be scanned and sent to nigeriaessay@sdgyouth.org before the deadline.

For Further Inquiries:

– Call: 08068931151, 08133846739, 07067772964

– Email: nigeriaessay@sdgyouth.org

Deadline: February 29th, 2024

Don’t miss this opportunity to contribute to achieving SDG4 and win exciting prizes. Submit your entry and required documents before the deadline. For any inquiries, feel free to contact them via phone or email.

Education

PENTAGON PARTNERS NATIONAL ESSAY COMPETITION FOR UNDERGRADUATE LAW STUDENTS

Published

3 months ago

February 29, 2024

Eniola sanni

Are you an undergraduate law student in Nigeria eager to explore the intersection of law and Artificial Intelligence (AI)? Pentagon Partners presents a unique opportunity for 400-level and 500-level undergraduate law students to participate in the National Essay Competition.

Competition Overview:

Pentagon Partners National Essay Competition for Undergraduate Law Students

The National Essay Competition invites undergraduate law students to showcase their expertise and contribute to the discourse on AI, privacy, and data protection. In addition to cash prizes, participants have the chance to intern with Pentagon Partners, gaining valuable hands-on experience.

Competition Requirements:

1. Eligibility:

– The competition is open to 400-level and 500-level undergraduate law students in Nigerian universities.

2. Essay Requirements:

– Length: Essays should not exceed 1500 words.

– Format: Double spaced, 12pt Times New Roman font.

– References: OSCOLA format for citations with 10pt font size for footnotes and endnotes.

– Submission Format: Essays must be submitted in PDF format.

– Entrant Details: Include full names, school, level, phone number, and email address in both the body of the email and on the last page of the essay.

– Single Entry: Each entrant is allowed only one submission.

– Originality: Plagiarism will result in automatic disqualification.

Competition Benefits and Timeline:

1. Prizes:

– Winner: N200,000

– 1st Runner Up: N150,000

– 2nd Runner Up: N100,000

2. Internship Opportunity:

– In addition to cash prizes, winners have the exclusive opportunity to intern with Pentagon Partners, enhancing their career prospects.

Application Procedure:

– Interested participants should submit their essays to essay@pentagonpartnerslp.com during the submission period.

– The subject of the email should be the Essay topic

For additional information and updates, visit www.pentagonpartnerslp.com.

Deadline: March 22nd, 2024

Don’t miss this chance to showcase your legal expertise, contribute to important discussions on AI and law, and vie for enticing cash prizes. Pentagon Partners looks forward to receiving your submissions.

Education

SYSTEMSPECS CHILDREN’S DAY ESSAY COMPETITION (CDEC), 2024

Published

3 months ago

February 29, 2024

Eniola sanni

The SystemSpecs Children’s Day Essay Competition (CDEC) is an annual event aimed at fostering innovative thinking among primary and secondary school students in Nigeria. It provides a platform for young minds to propose technological solutions to national challenges.

Purpose:
Inaugurated in 2020, the CDEC is part of SystemSpecs’ Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) commitment to promoting capacity development in the Nigerian ICT industry. By encouraging young Nigerians to tackle everyday issues, the competition contributes to intellectual growth and societal progress.

SystemSpecs Children’s Day Essay Competition (CDEC), 2024

Topic:
The theme for the 2024 competition is “Protecting the Nigerian Child from the Dangers of Online Technology.” Participants are tasked with exploring strategies to safeguard children in an increasingly digital world.

Eligibility:
– Open to primary and secondary school students in Nigeria aged 9 to 16.

– Junior category (ages 9 to 12) essays must not exceed 1,000 words.

– Senior category (ages 13 to 16) essays must not exceed 1,500 words.

Prizes:

– Winners will receive generous rewards, including a high-capacity laptop, premium headphones, a portable laptop stand, a smart wristwatch, and one year of internet data, among other items.

– Consolation prizes will be awarded to other participants.

Application Process:

– Interested candidates should access the application page

– Essays must be written in English and reflect original thought.

– Each participant is limited to one entry.

– Entries must be endorsed by an accredited school official, parent, or legal guardian.

– Deadline for submissions is April 12, 2024.

Submission Guidelines:

– All submissions must be in PDF format and include the student’s name, home and school addresses, email address, and contact phone number.

– Double entries will result in automatic disqualification.

– Submissions must be received by March 15, 2024, at 5:00 p.m.

Notification of Winners:

– Successful students and schools will be contacted in the second quarter of the year.

– Updates on winners will be announced on @nercng social media platforms.

The SystemSpecs Children’s Day Essay Competition offers a unique opportunity for Nigerian students to demonstrate their creativity and problem-solving skills. By addressing the theme of online child protection, participants contribute to building a safer and more secure digital environment for all. We encourage eligible students to seize this opportunity and showcase their talent and ingenuity.