News
Nigeria scraps JSS, SSS school system
…as 20m children drop out of school after primary
The Federal Government, Tuesday, directed the overhaul of Nigeria’s education structure.
Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, announced this during the inauguration of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) Ministerial Implementation and Monitoring Committee in Abuja.
Nigeria operates a formal education framework generally referred to as the 6-3-3-4 system, which consists of 6 years of primary education, 3 years of junior secondary, 3 years of senior secondary, and a minimum of 4 years of tertiary education.
The system is broken down into three major tiers: Basic Education, Post-Basic/Senior Secondary, and Tertiary Education.
Dr. Alausa however, stated that the arrangement separating Junior Secondary Schools (JSS), from Senior Secondary Schools (SSS) had failed and contributed to the alarming number of out-of-school children.
He said findings by the government showed that while Nigeria has about 80,000 public primary schools, there are only about 15,000 junior secondary schools, creating a huge transition gap that has left millions of children stranded after completing primary education.
According to him, the policy requiring JSS and SSS to operate as separate institutions has worsened access to education by overcrowding junior secondary schools while leaving many senior secondary schools underutilised.
He said successive governments had failed to adequately address the problem but assured that the Tinubu administration was determined to reverse the trend by expanding access to basic education.
The minister cited evidence from Kaduna and several northern states showing that the disarticulation policy created unnecessary administrative structures at the expense of students.
“About 24million children enrol in our primary schools, but only about 4million of them complete senior secondary. We have over 20 million children dropping out between primary school and junior secondary school. Where are those students?
“The previous governments may have failed in this regard, but this government will not fail. We are fixing this. We need to create more opportunities for children to move seamlessly through the education system.
“We have overflowing junior secondary schools and empty senior secondary schools. I can objectively report today that this disarticulation policy has failed. We will phase it out. We cannot continue creating administrative positions while damaging our education system. It is about doing what is best for every Nigerian child,” he said.
Alausa disclosed that the proposal to abolish the policy would be presented at the next meeting of the National Council on Education for formal consideration.
He also inaugurated a high-powered committee chaired by renowned education expert, Prof. Rashid Aderinoye, to fast-track the completion, handover and operationalisation of hundreds of Smart Schools, Bilingual Schools and Alternative Schools funded by UBEC across the country.
The minister lamented that despite huge public investments, many of the schools remained abandoned, while several completed projects had yet to be handed over to state governments or opened for academic activities.
He described the situation as a waste of scarce public resources and a denial of learning opportunities to thousands of Nigerian children.
“The purpose of these schools is to educate children, not to remain locked up after completion,” he said, charging the committee to eliminate implementation bottlenecks and ensure the facilities begin serving their intended purpose.
Speaking earlier, UBEC Executive Secretary, Aisha Garba, said the Federal Government had recorded significant progress in expanding access to quality basic education through the Smart Schools, Bilingual Schools and Alternative Schools programmes.
She disclosed that 37 Smart Schools had been established nationwide, with 24 already in operation, while the remaining schools were at various stages of completion, furnishing and readiness for academic activities.
Garba added that under the UBEC-Islamic Development Bank Bilingual Education Programme, 30 schools had been established across nine states, with three boarding schools already commissioned and four others substantially completed and awaiting inauguration.
She also noted that the Alternative Schools Programme was expanding access to education for vulnerable and out-of-school children through flexible and inclusive learning models.
According to her, the newly inaugurated implementation committee will oversee project execution, ensure the timely completion and handover of schools, resolve implementation challenges and guarantee that government investments translate into fully functional learning centres.
Dangote Cement Plc, Gboko Plant has awarded multi-million-naira scholarships to tertiary and secondary school students from its six host communities in Benue State.
The company also presented starter packs, working tools and certificates to graduates of its Youth Empowerment Programme to enable them to establish their own businesses, apply the skills acquired during the training and become financially reliant.
The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Henry Dele Alake, lauded Dangote Cement Plc for its community development interventions, calling on other private sector players to adopt similar initiatives to promote socio-economic development in their host communities.
Dr. Alake, who was represented by the Federal Mines Officer of the Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals Development in Benue State, Engr. Achi Gregory, urged the company to sustain its commitment to implementing community development programmes agreed upon with its host communities.
Speaking at the official presentation ceremony, Group Head, Social Performance, Dangote Cement Plc, Mr. Wakeel Olayiwola, said the implementation of the Community Development Agreement underscores Dangote Cement’s commitment to equipping young people with practical skills and resources to promote entrepreneurship, create employment opportunities and improve livelihoods in its host communities.
Mr. Olayiwola, who was represented by the Head of Social Performance of the Dangote Cement, Gboko Plant, Dr. Johnson Kor, said the scholarship and youth empowerment programmes came against the backdrop of several other programmes recently executed by the company, which include farmers and women empowerment programmes.
The Acting Plant Director, Dangote Cement, Gboko, Engr. Arbind Singh, said: “This annual scholarship scheme for indigent students of the host communities is an indication of our company’s commitment to its Corporate Social Responsibilities (CSR).”
Engr Singh, who was represented by the company’s General Manager, Production, Engr Tabershima Soom, said: “The Gboko Plant has already launched 150 Women Empowerment Programme and 50 Farmerss Empowerment Programme where women were provided with cash to support their businesses, and farmers were supported with farm inputs.”
The beneficiary communities for these programs are: Tse-Kucha, Quarry, Amua, Mbazembe, Mbatur, and Pass Brothers.
Speaking on behalf of the Benue State Attorney-General, the Chairman of the Mineral Resources and Environmental Management Committee (MIREMCO), Barr. Dooshima Orosaga, commended Dangote Cement Plc for its compliance with the Community Development Agreement (CDA), urging the beneficiaries and host communities to maximise the benefits of the company’s interventions.
Chairman of the Gboko Local Government, Hon Yina Elias said the government will continue to provide the support needed for the company to succeed, adding that the Dangote Cement Plc is an exemplary company in Corporate Social Responsibilities programmes.
In his remarks, the District Head of Ukpekpe, Chief Tsegba Igbarumun, commended Dangote Cement Plc’s Gboko Plant for its contributions to the community, assuring the company of the community’s continued support.
He said the community valued its mutually beneficial relationship with the company and would continue to serve as its ambassadors.
A beneficiary of the Youth Empowerment Programme, Mr Ignatius Aondohemba, expressed appreciation to Dangote Cement Plc for the support, pledging to put the skills and resources provided to good use and build a business that would enable him to become an employer of labour.
By Prof. Mike Ozekhome, CON
Happy 97th Birthday to a living legend, Aare Afe Babalola, SAN, CON, OFR, FCIArb, LL.D,D.Litt, Founder and Chancellor of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti. A great man was born today, and Nigeria is still blessed by that birth.
When a man turns 97 and is still relevant, still building, still teaching and still healing, his birthday is no longer a mere episode. It becomes a national lesson and a celebration of life.
The man Afe Babalola is resilience clothed in humility,doggedness masked in simplicity. Born today in 1929, in a humble homestead in Ado-Ekiti, without any silver or golden spoon or privilege, he walked through life laboriously as farm labourer, Grade Two teacher, court registrar and became one of Africa’s most celebrated lawyers and educatioists.His life teaches that where you started can never define where you end.
From that humble beginning, he taught himself law by private study, passed all his examinations in flying colours and rose to become a Senior Advocate of Nigeria. Today his name is synonymous with legal brilliance and integrity at the Bar for which he had shone and still shines for over six decades,and till date.
He is a builder in every sense of the word. At 80, an age many have retired from active service, baba founded Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti, ABUAD. What he conceptualized and built is not just a citadel of learning, it is a city within a city — vast farms, fish ponds, factories, industries, potteries, piggeries,electricity grid,and a world-class multisystem teaching hospital that rivals any in Africa.
At ABUAD, shining star shows that education must produce, not just certificate but societal relevance. The hospital has modular theatres, CT scan, MRI, ICU, dialysis and cutting-edge equipment. It is his gift to humanity, a proof that wealth is best measured by impact,not by loads of cash in the bank. .
Today at 97, the Aare still wakes up early mornings and sleeps late at nights,thinking of what to add, not what to take or rest on. That is the first lesson for today’s youths — hard work has no retirement age when purpose drives you.
The second lesson is that education has equally has no age limit. If a man who could not afford secondary school would later become a SAN and founder of one of the world’s leading universities, then no youth has any excuse to give up learning.
The third lesson is vision that works. Youths must learn that dreams must be planted like farms, nurtured like fish ponds,and built like factories. Baba Afe Babalola did not just talk vision, he manufactured,and walked it. He did not just dreamt dreams, he actualized them.
The fourth lesson is humility. With all his glittering array of titles,honours and massive wealth, our nonagenerian ( soon a centenarian, by God’s grace) still personally phones far younger ones like me,calling me “my son”. He still opens his doors, still listens,still advises, still mentors, still helps. Greatness that intimidates is fake;true greatness lifts. The Aare has epitomized the latter.
The fifth lesson is courage to start,even if late. He started his greatest legacy at 80. To every youth who thinks time has passed, Afe at 97 born today says you are still early if you start now.
The sixth lesson is integrity as capital. His name has remained untainted till date. In a world of shortcuts, he reminds youths that a good name is still better than silver and gold.
Today, as we celebrate him at 97, we celebrate more than age.We celebrate relevance. We celebrate patriotism. We celebrate impact. To live long is grace; to remain relevant at 97 is uncommon resilience.
Joining all patriots at home and in diaspora, I wish Aare Afe Babalola,the irrepressible advocate,courtroom gladiator, mentor of a generation, teacher of teachers,and philanthropist extraordinaire,a happy 97th birthday.May his hands be strengthened,his soul lifted, his muscles oiled, and his life prolonged ( Gen 6:3 ).
Born today, celebrated for all times. Happy Birthday, Papa.
-
News2 years agoSenate to speed up conclusion of Nigeria Forest Security Service Bill
-
News1 year agoThe Many Lies Against Bashir Haske
-
News3 years ago“Anytime we want to kill terrorists, President would ask us to take permission from France but they were killing our soldiers-” Niger Republic coup leader
-
News3 years agoBreaking: Tinubu’s authentic ministerial nominees
-
News3 years ago“I’m leaving the Catholic church because Bishop Onah is oppressing me,” says Okunerere
-
News5 months agoSee your state governor’s performance ranking
-
News3 years agoMy nude photo leak was a mistake- lawyer Ifunanya
-
News3 years agoRadio Nigeria’s veteran broadcaster Kelvin Ugwu dies three months after retirement from service