i stand for education - Stephen Adams Social Reformation Foundation (SASRF)

For quite a while now, the issue of the Nigerian education system and standards has generated heated debate and controversy. Many Nigerians are concerned.

The issues have repeatedly been
forced to the front burner with recent mass failures in national examinations and the inability of Nigerian graduates to measure up to employment standards required by the job market.

Stephen Adams Social Reformation Foundation (SASRF), an NGO based in Lagos, has taken the issue of educational standards as its key area of focus, promoting Train-the-Trainer programs for Teachers in public schools under its
Teachers4Change program in order to impact student outcomes and the development of Teachers in Nigeria.

Its new campaign, “istandforeducation”, is another initiative to focus the attention of the general public on Education matters. Mrs. Nike Akerele-De Souza is a Director of SASRF and outlines the concerns of the Foundation and tells us how to get involved.

1. Tell us how SASRF was founded and the motivation behind the establishment.

The  Foundation was launched several years ago to address and proffer solutions to various societal needs for the disadvantaged. SASRF took on educational and health sector issues as well as correctional centers for children and old people’s homes. The Foundation has also provided school infrastructural assistance as well as materials to public secondary and primary schools.

2. What are the ambitions of SASRF?

SASRF’s mission is to affect the lives of the disadvantaged. We aim to reform environments that we get involved in. We wish to make an impact on our community and the nation by effecting positive change. Over time, we have developed a focus on the Education sector because we believe there is a crisis and urgent transformation is needed in Education.

3. What initiatives have been established in the area of Education?

There is a clear challenge in Nigeria and
indeed a crisis with the quality of our education and the educational structure itself. Our children are not learning what they should and the way they should to become effective 21st century citizens.

Teachers generally lack the requisite skills and knowledge to transfer to the children and, our teaching methodologies and materials are out-dated for the world of today. Teachers are no longer valued in society as they should be, and the Education sector is not an attractive career option for our youth.

Consequently, we introduced a Teachers4Change Project which involves a one (1) year continuous school development program focusing on Teacher Training & Development and Mentoring for Public Primary school teachers which commenced in Lagos State. Teachers are provided with class room instructions for 3 terms, practical knowledge transfer and school visits to best practice private schools.

4. You have just launched a new campaign on education. What is this campaign about?

We have just launched the istandforeducation campaign and project. We aim to create awareness of the crisis in education and generate support for these issues in our capacity as private sector/NGOs. As individuals, we should begin to own and be responsible for the transformation needed in Education.

There are several credible organizations working in this area already. We have just launched the nationwide campaign
and hope to have about one million (1,000,000) signed up individuals on our platform. The target of this campaign is to attract citizens of all walks of life (the populace) who are concerned about what is happening in our education sector.

We will then be able to call on some of the signed up individuals to volunteer
to teach, work on education projects, mentor students and teachers and get active in various education interventions.

With our website/education portal –
www.istandforeducation.org – we will make available to the populace information on education issues and news and begin to sensitize the populace on what is happening with our children in Nigerian schools.

The istandforeducation project will also
showcase key education projects and initiatives undertaken by various organizations & NGOs. The populace will then be able to see and assess private sector/NGO presence in education and be a part of the change process.

We hope that such projects may also receive financial assistance from those interested in helping.
We will work closely with organizations assisting in the education sector.

5. What role can the public play in supporting the istandforeducation project?

The istandforeducation campaign through the social media is targeted at drumming up attention and creating awareness about the education situation in Nigeria. We also hope it will promote discourse and conversations about the important education related issues and their solutions.

Our means of doing this is through an
awareness campaign driven by the internet and social media. The campaign will be driven on Instagram, twitter, Facebook and our portal istandforeducation.org (a purpose built website with ability to take a roll call of individual sign- ups for support and assistance).

Please go online to istandforeducation.org and sign up immediately and also take a decision to
join the cause for action.

You should also upload your photo to your favourite social media site and tag at least 4 people asking them to do the same for Education.

Please don’t forget to include in your social media post  #istandforeducation and www.istandforeducation.org and remind the 4 people you tagged to do the same.

We look forward to your support as we drive changes in our education sector and create a better future for our Teachers and children.

JOIN US ON

istandforeducation.org

istandforeducation Nike’s work in Education is implemented in her
role as a Member of the Human Capital Committee of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG), an appointed Member of the Human Capital Committee of the National
Competitiveness Council of Nigeria.

She is a Fellow of the Aspen Leadership Institute (US)/ Africa Leadership West Africa (ALIWA). As a Director of SASRF, she is active in the education
sector, especially in the area of Teacher
Education and Development.

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Oritamefa Baptist school pupil emerges quiz winner

A pupil of the Oritamefa Baptist Model Secondary School, Oluwasayo Babalola, has emerged the winner of the second Joseph Ayo Babalola University National
Quiz for senior secondary school pupils.

The first and second runners-up went to Olayide Ibrahim of the Straitgate College Ishara Remo, Ogun State and Ifeoluwa Oyelami of the St. Anthony’s High School, Ilesa, Osun State respectively.

For coming tops, Babalola received a scholarship to study at the university and N50, 000. His school also received some library materials and a desktop computer.

Ibrahim also received 50 per cent discount on tuition in the university and N40, 000, while Oyelami got 25 per cent discount on fees and N30, 000.

Schools also got desktop computers among other items.

According to the organisers, no fewer than 80 secondary schools from across the country participated in the quiz.

The Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Sola Fajana, said the competition was to promote healthy competition and academic excellence among pupils.

Courtesy: www.punchng.com

"Girls Should pursue career in ICT" says FG

Federal Government has begun collaboration with Huawei, an information and communication technology solutions provider, to train 1,000 girls in ICT.

The measure is to empower female pupils with basic ICT skills with a view to improving their employment chances.

The initiative, tagged “Huawei 1,000 MCT/Girls ICT Training programme,” is the brainchild of the Federal Ministry of Communication Technology.

The Minister of Communication Technology, Mrs. Omobola Johnson, represented by the Technical Assistant (Research), in the ministry, Olufunke Baruwa, made this known at the inauguration of the ICT Club of the Pyramid of Excellence Schools in Abuja.

Johnson said the programme would help to reduce the imbalance in ICT adoption between men and women in the country.

She added, “The ICT sector is emerging as the fastest growing sector in Nigeria, recording a 30 per cent year- on-year growth with the potential to significantly
contribute to increasing the social welfare of men and women in the future.

“Towards this end, the Federal Government is committed to changing the perception of young people to ICT and encouraging positive interest and engagement in their academics as well as to pursue future careers in ICT.”

The minister explained that the government, in its determination to encourage Nigerian pupils to develop an early interest in ICT, established the ICT club.

According to her, the initiative is an early intervention project to demystify ICTs and project technology as a viable career option that can empower and impact positively on the future of our youngsters.

She further stressed, “The aim of the club is to remove the barriers that discourage students from embracing ICTs through quizzes, ICT games, application
development, animation, website development, blogging, graphics design, computer programming, assembling and dissembling computers and creating short films.

Periodically mentors will be invited to give inspiring talks and participate in various ICT related activities that will interest the students.”

The minister said her ministry being a key partner in the Growing Women and Girls Initiative was empowering women and girls through specific technology initiatives.

Johnson said, “To help overcome digital divide in Nigeria, the Ministry of l Communication Technology has committed itself to setting up various projects such as The SmartWoman Nigeria Project, MCT/Huawei 1000
ICT Girls Training, and The Digital Girls Club.

“Among these projects, the Digital Girls Club which is an extra-curriculum activity has been designed for secondary schools girls across the country.

This curriculum enables the girls to focus on hands-on and practical learning thereby providing opportunities for
practical knowledge.

It also encourages girls to work in teams to build and create technology thus providing learning in a fun and engaging way.”

She explained that the SmartWoman Project of the government was a mobile service conceived to support the advancement, development and education of women via the ICT platforms.

She added, “This disparity in adoption of ICT by women and girls globally reveal a big gulf between women and men in the adoption of ICTs that needs to be bridged.

It is our hope that the effective implementation of these initiatives in schools across the country will go a long way in removing the barriers that discourage girls from embracing careers in ICTs.”

According to Johnson, her ministry will ensure that the Nigerian child has greater chances and opportunities in the ICT sector because of the immense contributions it can bring to their lives.

Courtesy: www.punchng.com

We will boost book industry

Stakeholders in the book industry have said there is a need to create a template where they form a coalition to ensure social, economic and financial stability.

President of the Booksellers Association of Nigeria and member of the Board of Directors, Nigerian Book Fair Trust, Mr. Olusoji Popoola, made this known at the
2015 Academy Press Plc Customers’ Forum in Lagos.

He said, “There is a need to encourage healthy competition among multiple winners, identifying common issues, enemies and interests and pull resources together to further the interest of the trade.”

He said that in bridging the gap there was also a need to discourage betrayal tendencies among stakeholders by rewarding loyalty appropriately and increasing advocacy and participation government activities.

The Chairman, Academy Press, Mr. Simeon Oguntimehin, also urged them to create an enabling environment to make the business thrive in the country.

Oguntimehin said, “A country should consistently strive to make its local establishment to be more efficient. It is only through such a process that organisations can rise to world-class standards,” he said.

The Managing Director, Academy Press Plc, Mr. Gbenga Ladipo, said the 50-year-old firm over the years had followed the trend of retooling and modernising its facilities to meet global best practices.

The company, he added, recently acquired and installed for operation, a new equipment worth over N1.5bn.

Courtesy: www.punchng.com

BRF quiz: and the Winner is...

A 14-year-old pupil of the State Senior High School, Ikeja, Lagos, Habeeb Musa, and 16-year-old, Mariam Lamidi, of the same school have emerged winners of
the Brighter Rewarding Future Quiz.

They defeated Mubarak Mohammed and Qudus Alabi of the Sango Senior Secondary School, Agege by scoring 2 points as against the 10 points scored by their opponents.

In the Junior Secondary School category, Festac Junior College, represented by Michael Abasi-Ifkere and Jimoh Iyanu-Oluwa scored 20 points to emerge winners of the competition.

They beat the pupils of the Government
Junior College, Ketu- Epe represented by Patricia Imarhia and Adetayo Adefarasin.
Community Nursery and Primary School, Ojo represented by Rachael Ayodele and Stella Ogugua emerged winners in the primary schools category beating Chisom Anyigor and Samuel Salami of the Maidan Primary School, Kosofe .

In the Best Individual Mathematics category, Mubarak Mohammed of the Sango Senior Secondary School,
Agege won, beating his schoolmate, Martins Ogundele, and Habeeb Musa of the State Senior High School, Ikeja to the second and third places respectively.

In the Special School category, Modupe Cole Memorial Child Care and Treatment Home, Bariga represented by Jadesola Mogaji and Taiwo Omotosho beat Solomon Omere and Eke Aleshi of the Down Syndrome Foundation of Nigeria and Adaobi Nwobi and Raiwi Uche of the National Orthopaedic School, Igbobi to the second and third positions respectively.

According to the Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Olayinka Oladunjoye, the quiz was to develop the minds of the pupils.

“The competition also aims at creating a healthy rivalry among school children in primary, junior and senior secondary schools in public and private schools across the state and I am happy to report that it has gained ground and become so popular such that the level of awareness among the students and pupil is awesome.”

Oladunjoye also said the competition had brought to the fore areas where teachers need to focus on in the schools’ curricula for improvement and better performance of their pupils.

Courtesy: www.punchng.com

Sporting Activities helps Children

The Director of the Taqwa Private Schools, Lagos, Alhaja Mariam Alimi, has asked parents to allow their children to participate in sporting competition, saying it is good for their mental and physical development.

Alimi spoke at the sixth inter house sports of the school held at the Agege Stadium, Lagos on Thursday 12th of February 2015.

According to her, apart from building the children physically, such competition prepares them for challenges ahead.

She said, “Sports help to build mentally and physically and that is why I encourage parents to help build their children’s interest in sport. We also discover talents in our children through sports and this helps to build their future.”

The administrator, while stating this also urged the government and school owners to provide sporting facilities in schools.

She added, “Sports play an important role in the lives of the children and events like inter house sports showcase talents in the pupils.

We hope to have a private mini stadium soon.’ The institution’s Board of Governors Chairman, Sikiru Alimi, explained that parents should not force their children to choose a particular profession.

He added, “Encourage your children in exhibiting their talents in sports and other areas of life. Again, there is no need to force children into choosing a particular profession.

“We participated and won the Lagos State Table Tennis ‘Talent Hunt’ in 2014 and won the first edition of the Dansol High School Soccer Competition, so we are bent to showcase the school as a place where all round education is given.”

Courtesy: www.punchng.com

Cowbell Mathematics Competition 2015

The Cowbell National Secondary Schools Mathematics Competition is an event sponsored by Cowbell Milk (a quality food product from Promasidor Nigeria Limited) and approved by the Federal Ministry of Education.

We have been running this competition nationally for over a decade and it is widely acclaimed as one of the most credible educational competitions in Nigeria that truly seeks to reward excellence.

We wish to express our sincere gratitude for the total support and encouragement given to the competition during the previous editions and to seek your continued support in our efforts to help our students develop an interest in mathematics, science and vocational subjects, in line with the National Curriculum, so that we can together move education forward in Nigeria.

The 2015 edition marks the 15th year sponsorship of NASSMAC by Cowbell. To commemorate this feat, the Second Stage has been modified to include an interactive QUIZ format (Quarter-Final, Semi-final & Final).

Also, the prize money has been improved for both students and teachers. This is part of Cowbell’s effort in rewarding excellence.

There are prizes for Candidates and Teachers both at the State and National levels. Apart from cash prizes, the National Champions and their Teachers will be sponsored to an all expense paid vacation.

The best three schools in each category will receive Mathematics Textbooks and High Class Metal Sign Posts bearing the name of the school. In addition, the Schools producing the first Prize Winner in each category at the National level will receive 5 Desktop Computers and a Printer each.

How to enter

1. The Mathematics Competition is open to students from 10 - 18 years of age attending full time Secondary Education in both Public and Private Schools in Nigeria.

2. Entry into this competition is FREE.

3. Each School is required to present their BEST six (6) students in Mathematics (three from JSS3 and three from SSS2), irrespective of sex, religion, tribe or state of origin, to enhance their chances of qualifying for the next stage of the competition.

4. Each School head should collect six (6) registration forms which must be correctly filled, stamped and signed by the School Principal and presented by the Students to the offcials at the examination centre on the examination day.

School Principals may also download registration forms online at www.promasidor-ng.com.

Forms can also be obtained at the various State Ministries of Education Pan Nigeria and Promasidor Nig. Ltd, depots and offices nationwide. Please note that photocopied forms are allowed, as long as the School Principal endorses it.
5. The organizers would like this competition announced daily at the assembly and the posters conspicuously displayed at all Notice Boards, Assembly Halls and School entrances.

Rules and Regulations

1. The First stage examination will hold in all states of the federation including the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja on Saturday, March 14th, 2015 at 10:00am. However, accreditation of all candidates begins at 8:00am.

2. Candidates must come to their designated examination centres with their Registration Forms.

3. Late comers will not be allowed to write the examination.

4. Candidates are to come along with only a pencil, biro, eraser, ruler and statistical table, NO CALCULATORS WILL BE ALLOWED.

5. Any act of misconduct will lead to disqualifcation of the candidate.

6. All candidates MUST be in their School Uniform.

7. Please refer to examination centre list to check for the centre nearest you.

8. The competition is ONLY open to Students in JSS 3 and SSS 2. Candidates in any other Grade/Class will be disqualifed.

9. The decision of the board of examiners is fnal! We shall not enter into any correspondence with anyone regarding the conduct of this examination.

Second stage Reloaded

The mechanics of Second Stage has been refreshed to include an exciting quiz segment. 54 Students from junior and senior category will qualify for the Second Stage reloaded.

The top 20 students from around the country and representatives from 33 states of the federation and the FCT.

Category a: junior category
This category is made up of students in JSS 3.

Category b: Senior Category
This category is made up of students in SSS 2.

please note

· Candidates are advised to check their results online at www.promasidor-ng.com as from Wednesday, May 20th, 2015.

·We strongly recommend that students sit for the examination at centres nearest to them

· Results can also be obtained from respective State Ministries of Education and Promasidor Nigeria Ltd Offces nationwide.

· Only qualified candidates will be contacted for the second stage of the examination

· The decision of the Board of Examiners is final. We shall not enter into any correspondence with anyone regarding the conduct of this examination

· The Second Stage of the examination would be in an exciting Quiz format – Quarter-finals, Semi- finals and finals.

Multimedia boards are coming into Lagos Classrooms

The Lagos state Government has concluded plans to acquire 2,000 multimedia interactive solutions for all secondary school and Tertiary Institutions in the state to replace the traditional chalkboards.
The state will also host the first Cambridge-Hitachi Virtual Teaching and Learning Center in Nigeria. The state Governor, Babatunde Fashola stated that the government would be partnering with Cambridge-Hitachi to make the dream a reality.

A statement on Tuesday by the Director, Local Organising Committee Cambridge-Hitachi Virtual Teaching and Learning, Ms. Adebukola Oluderu, quoted  Fashola as saying the move was to upgrade the educational sector in the state.

Fashola said, "All tertiary institutions and secondary schools, totaling about 10,000 in Lagos state, will have the multimedia interactive solutions in each of their classrooms to replace the traditional chalkboards which will allow for world-class teaching and learning."

Oluderu said the state's partnership with the company was a result of a roundtable meeting on education in Africa held in October 2014.
According to Oluderu, the decision of the state government was indicated in a bid forwarded to the Hitachi Group for tertiary and the secondary schools in the state. She added that the meeting was yielding result with the Lagos state Government pioneering the hosting of the center.

Oluderu said a team of delegates from the state would meet with the Cambridge-Hitachi team at the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom to sign the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the commencement of the center.

The multimedia solution is vital and important to teaching and learning as it is the hub in which the gains of the Cambridge-Hitachi International Virtual Teaching and learning Center will be transferred and transmitted to all schools," she added.

The Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Olayinka Oladunjoye, said the approval given to Lagos State to host the center was based on Outstanding  performance, availability of infrastructure, and the determination of the state government to improve teaching and learning quality in the educational sector.

Lord’s Chosen Int’lSecondary School wins award

IN recognition of their academic prowess for
excellence both local and international, the
Lord’s Chosen International Secondary School,
based in Mgbidi in Oru West, Imo State, has
been given outstanding private schools merit
award.
Disclosing this before the mammoth crowd
that converged at the Chosen International
Secondary School, Mgbidi, for this year’s Mgbidi
crusade, tagged: “God will make you to rejoice”
the principal of the school, Sister Iheoma
Iwumba said: “this is not the first time that the
school is being recognised for its excellent
performance.”
Before she presented the plaque, which the
school won from the Federal Government, the
principal read out the inscription written on it
and it reads: “House of Representatives
Committee on Education in collaboration of with
Family Affairs Consultancy Services Limited
presents outstanding private schools merit
award to Chosen International Secondary
School, Mgbidi in Imo State, in recognition of
your remarkable standard in knowledge
impartation and effective school administration
this day 21, November 2014.”
She attributed the outstanding performance of
the school based on the declarations made by
the General Overseer of the Lord’s Chosen
Charismatic Revival Ministries, Pastor Lazarus
Muoka.
“This award came to us from the federal
government of Nigeria. It actually did not come
to me as a surprise because each time our
Daddy GO visits us here in the school, he would
declare that we are champions that every where
we go that we must surely excel even above our
equals. He has made several declarations about
us and the entire chosen International
secondary school, Mgbidi community,” she
said.
She added: “in fact, they said: “Chosen so you
made it.” I said yes, we made it because my
pastor has always declared that “where I am
not qualified” that his “God will qualify me” so
having anchored our faith in that declaration we
moved forward. What seemed difficult for others
to receive Chosen people received everything
even in excess.”
The school also participated in several other
competitions and won and their name for more
than two occasions entered into the Guinness
World Records.
According to the principal, “Apart from that,
last year, our school emerged the best school in
physics in the whole of Imo State. We also
emerged the best schools in junior science here
in Imo State. There are a whole lot of other
awards at the local government level.”

The Chosen International Secondary School is
a boarding school; where students are trained in
the best academic standard, instill discipline and
fear of God.

My Curriculum in my phone !

The National Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) and award winning ICT Company of the year, Titan of Technology Award, Beacon of ICT (BOICT Award), just to mention a few - SIDMACH Technology has now made available our 9 year Senior Secondary School Curriculum available in our Smart Phones in digital form which is browser based teachers accessible for all teachers, students and the General Public anytime anywhere.

Digitalization of this Curriculum is to : Create a new culture of learning in Nigeria Provide contents to help teachers in preparing scheme of work and Lesson plans Make available easily the indispensable teaching-learning tool Reduce the incidence of mass failure in Public Examinations Make the Curriculum more accessible to both teacher, students and general Public at large.

The portal was launched at Abuja on Tuesday 2nd of September 2014 called NERDC E-Curriculum portal is said to help teaching and learning easier, faster, better, anywhere and anytime. It will provide a platform for an interactive, analytic and collaborative learning environment for both the Teachers and Students.

Will our Secondary School TEACHER'S make good use of this new innovation? Will this really reduce the mass failure of our secondary school students in Public Examinations? Will this really improve teaching? Well, it is up to us Stakeholders of the Nigerian Education System.