Reps – Campus Gist

Prof. Ihonvbere Inspects Blocks Of Classroom In Owan West (Photos)

by admin on August 13, 2020

In a bid to ensure that pupils in Owan Federal Constituency study in a conducive environment, the member representing Owan Federal Constituency at the House of Representatives, Hon. Prof. Julius O. Ihonvbere OON, has embarked on construction and renovation of primary schools in the constituency.

The Lawmaker on Wednesday, 12th of August, 2020 paid a visit to Eguaoje Primary School Oah, Okpuje in Owan West Local Government Area of Edo State to inspect the ongoing construction of the 3-Class room block facilitated by him.

Upon inspection, Prof. Ihonvbere appreciated the quality of job done so far, noting that when completed, the classroom will provide a conducive and habitable learning environment for the students.

The lawmaker who is also the Chairman, House Committee on Basic Education and Services, said he was not comfortable over the dilapidated condition of some of the schools, hence his decision to intervene.

“My interest is the people; our children deserve to study in a good environment, have access to quality education in fulfillment of the promise I made to the people during the electioneering period.

“With the renovation of the School, the teachers and pupils will be happy to study in a conducive environment and this will also increase the enrolment of more students into the school.

“I will continue to do my best to give them good representation and touch their lives in my own little way,” the lawmaker added.

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Eid-El-Kabir: Hon. Ihonvbere Felicitates With Muslim Faithfuls

by admin on July 31, 2020

The member representing Owan Federal Constituency in the National Assembly, Hon. Prof. Julius O. Ihonvbere, OON, has felicitated with Muslims on the occasion of the Eid-El-Kabir celebration.

The Chairman, Committee on Basic Education and Services, in his message forwarded to CAMPUS GIST, urged Muslims to display self-sacrifice and put God first in all facets of their lives as they continue in prayers for the unity, peace and progress of the nation.

Prof. Ihonvbere stated that the Eid-El-Kabir celebration as an Islamic festival to commemorate the willingness and submission of Ibrahim (also known as Abraham) to follow Allah’s (God’s) command to sacrifice his son for mankind is very significant.

“It is important that we emulate Prophet Ibrahim’s ideals and put the Nation first in all we do. I salute the Muslim faithfuls on the occasion of the Eid-al-Adha,” the message read.

“I also want to appeal to all in this Sallah, to adhere to the safety rules of restrictions to gatherings and social distancing as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, it’s my wish that Allah in His mercy would heal our land,” he added.

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2020 WAEC: Reps, minister to seek audience with Buhari, govs

by admin on July 17, 2020

…House Committee on Basic Education to engage govs forum – Prof. Ihonvbere

The House of Representatives Committee on Basic Education and Services, the Ministry of Education and West African Examination Council (WAEC), Nigeria on Thursday met in Abuja and resolved to meet with President Muhammadu Buhari and governors on the WAEC examination, CAMPUS GIST reports.

CAMPUS GIST reports that the stakeholders in a meeting convened by the House of Representatives, however, agreed that if they were to make the September date for the examination a reality, there was the need to get Buhari and the Governors’ Forum involved in order to arrive at a timely and effective decision.

They agreed that in the interest of the 1.6 million candidates registered for the 2020 WAEC examination, there was a need to agree on a date for the regional examination as time was running out for the country.

One of the options was to find a date acceptable as the head of WAEC national office in Nigeria, Patrick Areghan, revealed that it would take quite a while to print question papers and that other convoluted logistic considerations might come into play.

Areghan said that Ghana had wanted to have the examination in June, but had to shelve it because of its election this year.

He also revealed that it took a presidential directive for the Gambia to shelve its desire to have the examination before now.

According to him, Nigeria should decide if it wants to give its candidates what he called a COVID-19 exam certificate or a WAEC certificate in concert with the other countries.

“Getting parents to pay another set of fees might be difficult if the September date is missed. If the November option is considered, someone has to pick the bills,” he said.

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Sonny Echono said that WAEC was one of the institutions that espouses regional cooperation and having a standalone examination will defeat the element of unity it portrays.

He further noted that if there was adequate funding, it should not take more than a week to get the examination ready logistically for the 19,000 examination centres across the country.

In his contribution, Rep. Nnolim Nnaji wondered why that should be a problem pointing out that the Ministry of Humanitarian Affair spent over N13 billion as palliative for the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Minister of State for Education, Emeka Nwajiuba reminded the members and all present that the decision they were to make was for examination date and not the resumption of schools in the country.

The members deliberated on if Nigeria could use its power as a provider of about 60 per cent of the finances in WAEC to dictate a date of its liking.

But stakeholders present eventually agreed that it was better to be democratic in arriving at a decision.

The chairman of the Committee, Rep. Julius Ihonvbere ruled that the committee would approach the state governors via the Nigeria Governors’ Forum so as to be on the same page and get President Muhammadu Buhari to assist in the diplomatic effort to get the other regional countries on Nigeria’s side concerning the yet-to-be-agreed examination date.

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Reverse Your Decision On 2020 WAEC, House Of Reps Tell FG

by admin on July 11, 2020

The House Committee on Basic Education and Services on Friday said the 2020 West African Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (WASSCE) should not be cancelled in Nigeria.

The Chairman of the committee, Julius Ihonvbere (APC-Edo), made the committee’s position known in a statement in Abuja.

Mr Ihonvbere, a professor, said the committee was amazed at the announcement by the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, where he stated that Nigerian students would not be participating in the 2020 WASSCE.

The lawmaker said the minister did not inform the country if the position was in agreement with other West African leaders or in consultation with the examination bodies, the state governments and other stakeholders in the education sector.

Mr Ihonvbere said he recalled that the minister of state for education had on several occasions during live press conferences by the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, assured Nigerians that all steps were being taken to ensure full compliance with all COVID-19 protocols in schools.

“This sudden policy reversal is not good for the country; it is bound to create further confusion in the education sector, create disappointment and suspicion among parents, and frustrate the students.

“It would show our development partners and Nigerians that the distortions and disarticulations in the sector are only getting worse.

“The reversal also shows that our policy makers may just be adopting a laid-back approach to the need to confront the novel coronavirus rather than taking proactive and creative steps to manage and contain it,” he said.

The lawmaker disagreed with the minister, saying that a reconsideration was urgently needed to save the educational system in the country.

“Nigeria is not the only country expected to write the examination in the midst of COVID-19; Nigeria should insist that the examination be based exclusively on the already covered syllabus of schools.

“The Federal Ministry should not chicken out of its responsibilities, but take charge, provide policy direction, engage the states and other stakeholders.

“We recommend that WAEC quadruple its invigilators and use all classrooms and event centres to conduct the examination and comply with COVID-19 protocols.

“The Ministry of Science and Technology as well as the Ministries of Environment and Health should immediately work out an agenda to fumigate all classrooms, provide handwashing buckets with soap and water, and facemasks to all students.

“Students should come from home, write the paper and disperse immediately,” he said.

He urged President Muhammadu Buhari to direct all ministers to return to their states to work with the governors to ensure smooth implementation of the policy and conduct of the examination.

According to the legislator, “we are parents just like the minister and no Nigerian parent would want to delay, distort, even terminate the progress of any child.”

He said that the committee was convinced that if the recommendations were implemented, the WASSCE could be conducted with ease and with no repercussions.

(NAN)