Education in 2012: Between predictions and outcomes

With just three days left for the year to come to an end, MOTUNRAYO ABODERIN, brings to fore some of the major events that characterised the education sector in 2012

In January this year, the pioneer Vice-Chancellor, Redeemer’s University, Mowe, Ogun State, Prof. Oyewale Tomori, predicted that education would fare worse in 2012. He based his predictions on the deteriorating standard of education in Nigeria.  During the same period, a former Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission, Professor Peter Okebukola, identified wasteful spending as a major challenge in the education sector. However, unlike Tomori, Okebukola said there would be a slight improvement in the sector this year.

The former NUC boss said there would be a 2 per cent gain in literacy rate, 1.5 per cent increase in primary net enrolment, 1 per cent rise in higher education participation rate and 0.5 per cent increase in all quality variables. Though there are no statistics to assess how far these predictions have come to pass, the major visible events that characterised the section this year are killings, strikes and protests.

January

Subsidy protest

The removal of the subsidy on petrol brought about an uprising across the nation. Protests broke out in different parts of the country. Almost every sector, including education was affected. Pupils were stranded as transportation was halted.

Asuu strike

As at January, the Academic Staff Union of Universities strike had begun. The strike rocked the nation’s education system as academic activities were crippled at several higher institutions.

ASUU had directed all its members in public universities to embark on total, comprehensive and indefinite strike over the refusal of the Federal Government to implement an agreement reached with it in 2001.

March

FG spent N3trn on education

The Federal Government made a statement that it had spent N3trn on education but that there had been a little impact. This statement stirred up negative reactions as critics said the Federal Government could not have spent such an amount, especially with the various challenges still befalling the sector.

Battle between NUC and part-time programmes

The battle between the National Universities Commission, the universities regulatory and part-time programmes began.

The body had announced guidelines for the operation of part-time programmes in Nigerian universities. The commission also outlawed over-enrolment, limiting admission for part-time programmes to 20 per cent of regular student intake.

April

Bayero University

Bayero University was hit hard when members of Boko Haram attacked the university.

It is alleged that two professors – Jerome Ayodele and Andrew Leo Ogbonyomi and 13 other Christian worshippers were killed in coordinated attacks at the university.

The attacks took place at the Indoor Sports Hall, where the Catholic faithful in the university had their Sunday mass, and an open air theatre where Protestants worshipped.

Expatriates take over private school leadership

Private schools had come under spotlight as expatriates had taken over leadership of a large percentage of private schools in the nation. Some people attributed this development to the high demand from parents, as they preferred schools run by expatriates. Others attributed it to the falling standard of education in the country, claiming that a lot of Nigerian teachers lack confidence.

15 pupils injured in school bus accident

About 15 pupils of Divine Wisdom Group of Schools, Amosun area in Lagelu Local Government Area of Oyo State were injured in a fire outbreak as the school bus conveying them to school suddenly caught fire.

The affected pupils, who were said to be between ages five and 11, were rushed to the Accident and Emergency Unit of the University College Hospital, Ibadan. They were said to have suffered various degrees of burns.

May

UNILAG VC dies

The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos, Prof. Adetokunbo Babatunde Sofoluwe, died of heart attack. The news came as a shock to many.

UNILAG re-naming crisis

Academic activities were crippled at the University of Lagos after President Goodluck Jonathan came out with a directive that the 50-year-old University of Lagos be renamed after the acclaimed winner of the 1993 presidential election, the late Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola.

Students were deeply angered by the President’s decision. They resorted to protests and road blocks.

June

Floods shut schools, delay NECO exams

Some parts of the country, especially Lagos State, were affected by floods.  The Floods disrupted the Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination organised by the National Examination Council in Lagos. Some schools were also shut.

Court orders suspension of UNILAG name

An Ikeja Federal High Court ordered the suspension of the decision by the Federal Government to rename the University of Lagos to Moshood Abiola University, Lagos. The court, presided over by Justice Stephen Adah, ordered that the status quo of the 50-year-old UNILAG be maintained pending the determination of two suits challenging the name change as announced by President Goodluck Jonathan on May 29.

NUC suspends part-time programmes in universities

The National Universities Commission announced the suspension of all part-time Programmes run by universities in the country. The Executive Secretary of the commission, Prof. Julius Okogie, said the suspension of the part- time programmes was to enable the regulatory body “streamline’’ them

NYSC posting to troubled states

There was crisis behind the National Youth Service Scheme’s decision to post corps members to troubled states. The fear of these young Nigerians and their parents seemed genuine and understandable as these were states that had come under incessant attacks by Boko Haram.

NUC suspends seven universities

The National Universities Commission suspended the operational licences of seven private universities for violating its guidelines in physical facilities and academic programmes.

The affected universities are Achievers, Caritas, Joseph Ayo Babalola, Lead City, Madonna, Obong and Tansian.

August

ESUT VC kidnapped

The Vice-Chancellor of Enugu State University of Science and Technology, ESUT, Professor Cyprian Onyeji, was abducted by heavily armed young men suspected to be kidnappers after ambushing him and his police escort at the main gate of the university in Agbani, Nkanu West Local Government Area of Enugu State. Three policemen attached to him were seriously wounded during a gun battle with the kidnappers, which created panic and sent many students and workers running into the bush to avoid being hit by bullets. The vice-chancellor was finally released in Anambra State by his kidnappers.

2012 WASSCE results out, best in three years

There was a record performance in the results of the May/June 2012 West African Senior School Certificate Examination.

The candidates for this year’s examination performed better than their counterparts in the last three years.

September

FG approves N18bn for 9 new universities

The Federal Government approved N18bn for the take-off of the nine new federal universities

Prof Rukkayyatu Rufai, the Minister of Education, who made this known said that the sum of N2bn  each was approved by Mr. President to assist them in developing their campuses as well as the provision of administrative blocks, libraries and ICT centres,” she said.

She said that the Federal Government had earlier approved N1.5bn for each of the universities as take-off grant to enable them to establish physical infrastructure.

NUT threatens strike over TSS

The National Union of Teachers, Lagos Chapter, threatened to go on an indefinite strike if their demand for 27.5 per cent increase in salary in line with the new Teachers Salary was not met.

October

Gunmen massacre 23 students in Adamawa

Twenty-three students of the Federal Polytechnic, Mubi, Adamawa State were shot dead by gunmen. Also, three other persons, including a retired soldier, a guard and father of a student, lost their lives in the orgy of killing with a total of 25 felled victims. The murdered students were said to have been called out by their killers. As a replacement for one of their targets, the gunmen killed the father.

UNIPORT killings

On October 5, this year, the quartet students of the University of Port Harcourt, Biringa Chidiaka Lordson (year two, Theatre Arts), Ugonna Kelechi (year two, Geology), Wike Loku (year two, Civil Engineering) and Tekena Erikena – were lynched and their corpses burnt for allegedly stealing mobile phones and laptops. The heinous act took place in Omuokiri-Aluu in Rivers State. All the victims were aged below 22 years.

Death of a rare gem, Sheila Solarin

Sheila Solarin, 88, widow of the late renowned social critic, Dr. Tai Solarin, died at the Babcock University Teaching Hospital, Ilishan Remo, Ogun State.

She had reportedly slipped while going to bed some months back and was rushed to the hospital where she was operated upon.

Some people said that she played the role of mother to thousands of people across the world and that her love and service to humanity were exemplary and legendary.

Teacher flogs 12-year-old to death

The death of a 12-year-old pupil of a secondary school in Awka, Anambra State, Miss Chidimma Ukachukwu, who was allegedly flogged by her teacher for failing to do her homework, sparked angry feelings amongst parents. However, a report on status of the teacher is yet to be unveiled.

November

JAMB introduces Computer-based test

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board made public its decision to end its paper and pencil based examinations by 2015. Minister of Education, Prof. Ruqayyatu Rufa’i, stated this in Abuja.

December

Principal conducts virginity test on pupils

News about the Principal of Ajuwon Senior High School, Ajuwon, Ifo Local Government Area, Ogun State, Rev. Olufunke Oladeojobi, who was suspended for allegedly conducting virginity tests on the pupils, is still making front headlines in both print and electronic media.

Members of the public have expressed dissatisfaction at the misconduct of the principal. The Commissioner of Education, Ogun State, said that a five-man panel had been set up to conduct further investigations.