VC resigns over Ogun controversial bond

The Crescent University Abeokuta,

The Vice-Chancellor of the Crescent University Abeokuta, Prof. Sherifdeen Tella, has resigned his appointment as the institution‘s helmsman, allegedly on the account of the Ogun State controversial bond saga.

Tella, who confirmed this on Saturday, said the resignation takes effect from Monday.

He said, ”You will recall that I sent a letter to Ogun State House of Assembly on May 24, 2010 to the effect that the House should not approve the request for N50bn loan for government to offset existing loan unless for development.

“I have since been facing threats and intimidation from government officials. My employer, Prince Bola Ajibola, made public apology on behalf of himself and his university. I refused to do the same, hence, the pressure that he should sack me; but I now opt to resign.”

He stated that he was given a choice between public apology and renouncing his position on the bond issue or keeping his job in the university and at the State University, Ago Iwoye.

He said, “The choice was between public apology and renouncing my opinion on the bond issue to keep my job in Crescent University and OOU; or maintain my stand and lose the two.

”I opted to resign from Crescent University and return to OOU where Governor Gbenga Daniel is the Visitor and get ready for battle of survival.”

Efforts to get the reaction of the founder of the university, Prince Ajibola on the VC‘s resignation failed, as he did not respond to the many calls and text message sent to his phone by our correspondent.

The state, it will be recalled, wanted to obtain a N50bn bond, an action that attracted strong criticisms from citizens of the state, including the vice-chancellor.

Source: http://www.punchng.com

Education standard has not fallen — Onifade

Onifade

Prof. Demola Onifade is the immediate-past Director, Institute of Education, Lagos State University, Ojo, and now the Director of the institution‘s General Studies Unit. In this interview with SEGUN OLUGBILE, Onifade argues that the standard of education in the country has not fallen, adding that teaching will not attract the nation‘s best brains until teachers‘ reward system is improved upon by their employers, particularly government Education programmes in higher institutions no longer attract the best hands, as over 80 per cent of students of education in our universities view courses in education as programmes of last resort. What can be done to attract the best brains to take up careers in teaching?

Education programmes in higher institutions no longer attract the best applicants because the price is not right. By this, I mean the course does not bring the prestige and honour it should. Teachers are poorly paid and their welfare package, generally, is nothing to cheer. To attract the best products of the nation‘s school system into taking up career in teaching, there must be a very attractive salary package and welfare programme. In developed countries, university graduates teach in both pre-primary and primary schools because they are well remunerated; they also have attractive welfare packages. The same could happen in Nigeria if teachers are well paid in terms of salaries and welfare packages. It is also extremely very important for the Nigerian society to begin to accord teachers the necessary respect, dignity and honour.

The issue of free education, up to the university level, has been politicised. Do you think free education is still practicable in Nigeria?

Free education is practicable, provided the government is serious and totally committed to it and also if we can reduce the huge amount of money invested in running the government. The key to our social, political and economic development lies with adequate and proper education of the youth. However, federal, state and local governments, parents and guardians, can contribute to education funding.

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E-registration: Court dismisses suit against JAMB, NECO

Abuja High Court

An Abuja High Court has dismissed a suit by a consortium of firms, the Converged Examinations Management Technology Platform Consortium, , seeking to compel the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board to uphold an agreement for e-registration of candidates.

In his ruling Justice Sylvanus Oriji held that the court lacked jurisdiction to entertain the suit.

A copy of the ruling was obtained by our correspondent on Sunday.

The judge further held that the breaches complained about by the plaintiffs were administrative actions of the defendants which could only be challenged at the Federal High Court.

He said, “I do not, with due respect, agree with the submission of the learned senior counsel for the plaintiffs that the subject matter of this suit is a simple contract in respect of which this court has jurisdiction.”

CEMPT Consortium had filed the action and joined the Minister of Education, JAMB, the National Examinations Council, the National Business and Technical Examinations Board and the Attorney-General of the Federation as co-defendants to the suit.

The plantiffs also accused the defendants of breaching an agreement for the introduction of CEMPT e-registration.

The plantiffs claimed that their registration system was aimed at delivering best breed solutions of designated examinations in biometrics technology, registration and validation and data capture management.

The plaintiffs accused the Minister of Education of interfering with the CEMPT agreement in breach of the agreement duly entered into.

Accusing the minister of delaying the take-off of the e-registration on the CEMPT platform, the plaintiffs also accused JAMB of abandoning the e-registration on the CEMPT platform and commenced registration of its applicants on the old process by which it charged N3, 650 for its registration alone as against the N850 approved for all the examinations on the CEMPT platform.

The plaintiffs also accused JAMB, NECO and NBTEB of breaching the terms of agreement when they refused to implement the terms of the principal agreement on the grounds that the paper based biometrics e-registration was not acceptable to them.

Justice Okechukwu Okeke of a Federal High Court in Lagos had earlier restrained JAMB from retaining the services of Sidmach Technologies Limited and Electronic Test Company Limited for the registration of candidates for the 2011 examination.


 Source:http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art2010110814205868

Lagos, Harvard Kennedy School sign MoU on education

Lagos State Government on Friday said it had signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Harvard Kennedy School of Government in the United States for the conduct of executive education programme for the state.

It said the move was aimed at strengthening the capacity development of the state.

The state Commissioner for Establishments, Training and Pensions, Mr. Jide Sanwo-Olu, disclosed this during a meeting with top management staff of the ministry.

Read more:http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art20101026045242