The Executive Secretary National Universities Commission (NUC) Prof Julius Okojie led some officials on a study visit to some universities in the United States of America (USA) as part of the programme towards the implementation of the Nigeria universities portal standardization project (NUPSP) from 30th January to 5th February 2010.
Prof. Okogie said that the visit was sponsored by the world Bank STEP-B project, with the selected institutions that had already implemented similar projects.
The visit afforded the team the opportunity to exchange ideas and learn best practices in the university management, especially in the area of centratized resource sharing.
The NUPSP is aimed at harmonizing the various portals in the universities and to provide a common platform from which vital electronic statistics of students, staff and facilities could be accessed to enable the education sector to consolidate vital information into one manageable delivery.
The institutions visited included a campus of the California state university, Northridge and the University of California, los angels Campus.
The NUC delegation noted the ability of the two university systems to share resources despite their huge number California state university system with 23 campuses, about 450,000 students, and 48,000 faculty and staff while university of California system has a total of 10 campuses with more than 220,000 students and 170,000 faculty and staff.
This cooperation offers best practices that are of paramount importance to the Nigeria university system (NUS) and within NUC's vision of leveraging on partnerships for the portal standardization project, broadband connectivity, and capacity building in information and communications technology.
Other members of the delegation were Prof. C.f. Mafian (Director, Executive sectary's office), Mr. C.J Maiyaki (Deputy Director senior special Assistant to the Executive Secretary), Mr. Joshua Atah (Head, Special projects), Dr. Mrs. Agodi Alagbe (consultant, NUPSP) and Dr. Aboki Samu (liaison manager, Nigeria universities office Washington DC).
Minister Inaugurates 16 Man Committee On Education
The universal Basic Education commission (UBEC) has undertaken another significant activity in a collective approach towards the UBE programme by addressing the commitment to the education for all school aged children especially the Almajirai and other disadvantaged group in the country.
The minister of state for Education Hajiya Aishatu Jibril Dukku, said this during the inauguration of the ministerial committee on MADRASAH Education held at the ministry in Abuja recently.
She said basic education as the bedrock for national development as well as the foundation upon other levels are built, saying his administration is geared towards eradicating illiteracy and enable the realization of full potential of every Nigerian citizen.
“This is in a bid to ensure that no class of people are left behind in the race for the acquisition of functional literacy”, she said.
Hajiya Dukku disclosed that the integration of Qur'anic schools into the UBE program and current efforts towards providing a platform for the enhancement of girl-child education including other disadvantaged group.
She also said that government had empowered and addressed its agencies to work hard in proffering practical solution towards the challenges that inhibit the full potentials of Almajirai especially building on the successes recorded by the Qur'anic schools in imparting knowledge and discipline in school aged children.
“About 7 million Almajirai are roaming about with their plastic plates in the Northern part of the country. Nigeria cannot achieve a truly universal basic education if the Almajira and other vulnerable groups are not given ample opportunity and encouraged to utilize available basic education opportunities”.
“The committee, therefore, is expected to come up with strategies and action plan on Qur'anic Education integration in the country replicating notable best practices and evolving an indigenous MADRASAH programme for Nigeria.
Hajiya Dukku urged the committee to put more effort towards achieving the set out terms of reference and come up with any suggestions or ideas that would facilitate the setting up of MADRASAH Education programme in Nigeria within 3 months.
The chairman of the committee on MADRASAH Education, Prof. Shehu Arabia to find out the similarity and to know all that they are doing in their Qur'anic education which would be initiated in the country.
Prof Galadanci disclosed that it is important to establish office of Qur'anic education in the ministry which would enhance the students assistance and also organize them by bringing the Almajirai together to educate them, notify the children why they should stop roaming about in the streets.
According to the chairman, government should help these groups in both education, social and economic aspect of their life, we have to look into their feeding, accommodation, clothing and other areas that would aid in their social needs.
The permanent secretary Federal Ministry of Education, Prof Oladapo Afolabi said to address the problem of MADRASAH Education in our country it takes different states. Saying that no single Almajirai would have executed for carring plates at any corner that the ministry is out to address their challenges in Nigerian.
Prof Afolabi said that handsome and healthy children roaming about with plastic plates should no longer be allowed in our country.
He explained that many people had spent huge amount of money looking for a child from one place to another but they could not, today government is ready to face the challenges of Almajirai in order to achieve the goal of education for all (EFA).
