Click here to view MTNF Foundation & Technology Scholarship list
- MTNF Science & Technology Laboratory Project, Phase 1
The successful beneficiary Secondary Schools/States in each geo-political zones are:
South West - Lagos State:
- Vetland Senior Grammar School, Ifako Ijaye
- Oshodi Comprehensive Senior High School, Oshodi
- Newland Senior Secondary School, Tolu
- King Ado High School, Isale Eko
- Idia College, Benin City
- Edo Boys’ High School, Benin City
- Sacred Heart Girls’ Model Secondary School, Ubiaja
- Government College, Umuahia
- Girls’ Secondary Commercial School, Aba
- Girls’ Secondary School, Umuahia
- Ibeku High School, Umuahia
- Government Secondary School, Gwagwalada
- Government Secondary School, Kwali
- Government Science Secondary School, Abaji
- Government Secondary School, Kuje
- Government Pilot Secondary School, Daura
- Government Girls’ Pilot Secondary School, Kankia
- Government Pilot Secondary School, Mani
- Government College Pilot, Funtua
- Government Science & Technical College, Potiskum
- Government Girls’ Science & Technical College, Potiskum
- Government Science & Technical College, Geshua
- Renovation/make-over works and provision of laboratory furniture
- Supply and installation of modern Science & Technology equipment for each of Physics, Chemistry & Biology
- One full year supply of consumables (materials, chemicals and reagents) to the beneficiary Secondary Schools
- Training of 24 Science Teachers and Lab. Attendants across all the beneficiary schools
- Supply of 5KVA generator to each beneficiary Secondary School
- Fuel supply to each school for one year.
- MTN Foundation UniversitiesConnect Project
- Phase 1 : University of Lagos, Akoka, Lagos State
- Phase 2 : Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State
- Phase 3 : University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State
- Phase 4 : University of Benin, Benin-City, Edo State
The following components are provided to each of the benefiting tertiary institutions:
- 128 networked computers, 3 servers, 2 high capacity printers and one 100-KVA generator
- VSAT equipment and internet connectivity bandwidth with 2 years subscription
- 2 years subscription to electronic resources through the NetLibrary network (Journals, Books, etc)
- A conducive study environment/space with good ambience, furniture, and alternative power supply
- Technical training to build capacity for 12 members of the University library staff to work with the Implementing consultant (over the 2 years for the management and maintenance)
- One-week library awareness (interactive session) held annually for 600 students and 120 lecturers to build capacity and to create demand and uptake of services
- Two years comprehensive insurance cover to take care of theft and fire incidences
- 5-year maintenance contract with the University to achieve sustainability of the library
- Installation of components and soft wares with training to enable the inclusion of Blind students at the Universities of Nigeria, Nsukka and Benin.
- MTN Foundation Restructured SchoolsConnect Project
The Computer laboratories were established, in phases, in 62 public secondary schools across 14 State in Nigeria and the FCT and are now being restructured. They are located, by phases, at:
Phase 1 - Lagos, Enugu and Kaduna states
Phase 2 - Abuja, Kwara and Rivers states
Phase 3 - Bauchi, Cross River and Ogun states, and also Kings College Lagos
Phase 4 - Ekiti, Niger and Imo states
Phase 5 - Bayelsa, Kano and Katsina states, and also Demonstration School for
Deaf Children, Kaduna state
The restructuring of the computer laboratories include:
- Infrastructure renovation and refurbishment which entails rreplacement of all 21 computers and 1 Server in 50 Schoolsconnect project sites and repair and refurbishment of furniture
- Change to a better learning and enhanced architecture in 50 SchoolsConnect sites
- Content enrichment at all sites (supply and installation of educational software and subjects curriculum at allocated sites)
- Continual teacher training to empower nominated teachers in the use of the restructured SchoolsConnect facilities
- Setting up and management of a club of students with IT skills in each school etc.
- 1 Server
- 21 computers, fully networked
- 30 KVA generator
- Diesel supply for all the schools for 1 year
- 4 of 1.5 HP air conditioners
- Subject software to serve as teaching aids
- A networkable printer
- Multimedia projector and white board
- Furniture to seat 42 students in the lab
- VSAT equipment and internet connectivity bandwidth subscribed for 1-year
- Teacher training at a selected location in the state for 6 teachers
- Insurance cover for 1-year
- MTNF-MUSON Music Scholars Programme
The programme implemented in partnership with the Musical Society of Nigeria is targeted at students with a flair for music, and it provides them the opportunity to acquire qualitative music education leading to the MUSON Diploma in Music
This programme seeks to create positive impact on the Arts and Culture landscape of Nigeria through the development of musical talents. The annual music scholarship of N250,ooo (Two hundred & fifty thousand Naira) covers tuition fees, books and transport subsidy for talented youths for a 2-year MUSON Diploma in Music. To date, over 130 musically talented students have graduated from the programme, and another 60 are still in training.
- MTNF Science & Technology Scholarship Scheme
The MTN Foundation Science & Technology Scholarship scheme seeks to attract high performing full time second year students studying in public tertiary institutions (universities, polytechnics and colleges of education) in Nigeria. The scholarship provides financial assistance to students who might otherwise be unable to pay for their tertiary education and aims to recognize and reward academic excellence.
A maximum of 500 qualified and successful full-time Nigerian students studying science and technology related courses are awarded the scholarship which covers tuition, book allowance and stipends. The scholarship is renewed every year until graduation for existing awardees provided they have maintained a minimum CGPA of 3.5 or its equivalent (second class upper/upper credit) while new applications, when advertised, are welcome from full time students in their second year of study.
Since 2010, a total of 2,449 scholarship awardees have benefitted from the scholarship scheme; and on an annual basis scholarships worth N200,000.00 (Two hundred thousand Naira) each are awarded to cover tuition, book allowances and living allowances for one academic year.
In phase 1 of the project 500 scholarships were awarded to students from across 43 Federal & State owned tertiary institutions while in phase 2, 934 scholarships were awarded across 81institutions. In phase 3, a total of 1,015 scholarships were awarded to students from 83 institutions across Nigeria; and 1,087 students received the scholarships in Phase 4 of the programme.
- MTN Foundation Learning Facility Supply Project
MTNF, through the Learning Facility Supply Project, aims to assist selected public secondary schools across the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria with learning furniture (branded Desks & Benches, and Tables & Chairs for Students & Teachers respectively). This project will supplement government’s efforts to provide infrastructure and thereby assist to strengthen the quality of education in Nigeria.
In phase 1, a total of 2,250 desks and benches and 325 tables and chairs for students and teachers respectively were distributed to 13 schools across 12 States. In phase 2, a total of 7,400 desks and benches and 520 tables and chairs were distributed to 36 schools across 22 States while in the current phase 3, a total of 16,000 students’ desks and benches and 1,600 teachers’ tables and chairs are being distributed to 80 schools across the 36 States in Nigeria.
- MTN Foundation Learning Support Materials Initiative
Items under the Learning support materials initiative include MTNF branded exercise books; school bags; rain coats; pencil cases; magnetic learning puzzle map, distributed to public and private primary and secondary schools across the six geo-political zones in Nigeria.
In 2010, a total of 9,935 exercise books, 7,185 school bags, 160 pencil cases & 40 blow-up toys were distributed to over 92 Primary & Secondary schools in Nigeria. In 2011, 33,930 exercise books; 9,470 school bags; 16,840 rain coats; 2,615 pencil cases were distributed to over 148 schools and organizations; while in 2012, 75,090 exercise books; 10,075 school bags; 35,235 rain coats; 6,595 pencil cases and 7,870 maths sets were distributed to 368 schools and organizations in Nigeria.
Activist Advocates Girl-Child Education
A human rights activist, Dr. Otive Igbuzor, has advocated girl-child education in order to reduce maternal mortality rate in the society.
He said this in Abuja in a keynote address at the 6th anniversary and award of scholarship to some less privileged children by the Emoeferotu Foundation.
In a statement made available to our correspondent, Igbuzor said there was a correlation between education and maternal mortality rate.
He said, “If a woman is educated, the possibility of dying an avoidable death is reduced. That is why girl -child education must be encouraged.’’
Beyond the encouragement of the girl-child education, Igbuzor added that lack of access to education had kept many Nigerian children out of school, especially, the less privileged ones.
This anomaly, he said, must be addressed for the country to actualise its dreams of becoming a developed nation.
Igbuzor, who decried the under-funding of education by the government, said conscious efforts must be made by all well meaning Nigerians to ensure that every Nigerian child got qualitative education.
He said government must allocate a substantial percentage of its annual budget to education to enable the millions of children that were roaming the streets have access to qualitative education.
He said, ‘‘Access is a big problem. Quality and funding are issues that must be addressed, for every child that is up to school age to be in school and not just receive education but quality education. The quality of education in Nigeria is lamentable.”
The founder of the Foundation, Ms. Pamela Esiri, said she was moved to establish it by the passion to give voice to the voiceless and provide access to education to the less privileged children in the rural areas, who do not have the opportunity to acquire formal education.
According to her, every child of school age must be given access or else the society will pay dearly for it.
She said, ‘‘I went to riverside areas of Niger Delta and discovered that there were so many children out of school. We decided to go back to our communities to work with these children from the trench.
‘‘Everything we do, we try to get the best out of it. The parents are not taking proper care of these children, not to talk about government. We plan to go round the country, including orphanages.
‘‘To address this menace, we should all begin to search ourselves and be the change we want and stop complaining everywhere we go.’’
June 7, 2013 by Samuel Awoyinfa
Source: Punch
Preventing Pupils From Abusing Social Media
The inauguration of
With the recent inauguration of ‘Opon Imo,’ which literally means Tablet of Knowledge, by the Osun State Government, stakeholders have started to appraise the potency of the technology in further expanding the frontier of knowledge.
But on the other hand, some others have also seen the emergence of tablet computer as a major distraction to pupils who use them for purposes other than learning. Many dignitaries who attended its launch lauded Governor Rauf Aregbesola for conceiving and introducing such a learning device.
Dignitaries who spoke at the event, held in Ilesa, Osun State, described the device as a new initiative that is capable of making the impartation of knowledge easier and stress-free for both the teachers and the students.
They submitted that distributing tablet computers containing 17 subjects to all senior secondary school students was a tremendous effort at revolutionising education in the agrarian state.
At the inauguration, the governor stated that the tablet PCs would go a long way in ameliorating the suffering of students who have no textbooks or who lack access to functional library.
Opon Imo is a complete e-library in a single tablet PC that cannot interface or interconnect with any other system. Specifically designed for pupils in the Senior Secondary School, which is now referred to as High School in the state, the tablet computer provides three major content categories — the e-library, virtual classroom, and an integrated test zone.
The virtual classroom category contains 63 e-books covering 17 academic subjects, non-academic life-enriching subjects such as History of The Yoruba, Sexuality Education, Civic Education, Ifa corpuscles on ethics and morals, enterprise education, hints and tips on passing SSCE and ‘How to live a Healthy and Happy life’.
In the integrated test zone of the device, there are more than 40,000 UME and WAEC practice questions and answers, dating back to about 20 years. It also contains mock tests in more than 51 subject areas, which approximates to 1,220 chapters, with roughly 29,000 questions referencing about 825 images.
Yet, as laudable as the project is, Opon Imo, like other similar devices, raises a fundamental question: How should pupils use the Internet or the social media to enhance their education?
Stakeholders in education sector air their views on the roles the parents and even the school have to play in checking the abuse on the Internet or social media by pupils.
The principal, Scholastic Hall Schools, Lagos, Mrs. Pamela Umebuani, says the Internet has a huge potential to advance learning because it affords the pupils opportunity to research any topic.
She, however, warns that it could be subject to abuse. She therefore calls on parents, guardians and even the school authorities to be wary of what their children, wards and pupils are doing on the Internet.
She says, “Essentially, e-learning is good; but pupils must be monitored by their parents, guardians or teachers as the case may be, to ensure that they are not courting sites that promote pornography and other vices.
“There was a case I heard recently, concerning a pupil who was given access to the Internet to research and prepare for an examination. Rather than concentrate on that, she went to Facebook and began to chat with all sorts of people. That is one of those things I am talking about. The pupils need proper monitoring and guidance in using the Internet and the social media.”
On his part, the proprietor, Access International Schools, Magboro, Ogun State, Dr. Jonathan Akpan, also shares Umebuani’s fears but he suggests that the best way to guard against abuse of the Internet and the social media by pupils is for parents and school authorities who provide such facilities to bar them from visiting corrupt web sites by using certain passwords.
While he says e-learning is the way to go in modern times, he adds that it has both its positive and negative sides.
He states, “The best way to go now is the e-learning method. It is what obtains in Canada, United States of America and a host of others, but there is the need for caution. If a school is acquiring a system for e-learning, some sites that are not beneficial to the pupils should be barred from them by use of passwords not known to them. That way, they would be prevented from accessing such sites.”
Both Umebuani and Akpan commend the Opon Imo initiative, since it is exclusively designed for knowledge.
A teacher in Dansol High School, Mr. Oluwole Atobalo, stresses that there is the need to re-orientate pupils on the use of the Internet and social media. Beyond chatting endlessly about mundane issues, he notes, pupils must be made to realise that individually as well as in groups, they could use the Internet for learning purposes.
He argues, “There is the need to re-orientate their minds to positively use the Internet. Individually or in groups, they can use it for their assignments and not visiting those sites that could corrupt their minds.”
A senior tutor at Victory Grammar School, Ikeja, Mr. Sunday Paimo, explains that there are many distractions currently for pupils, all of which prevent them from concentrating on their academics.
He points out that valuable time that should be used for their studies is now spent on listening to music or pinging on their phones.
“If you meet pupils chatting these days, it is usually on mundane issues and not anything related to their studies. They love to chat a lot, forgetting that the lost time cannot be regained. This chatting thing is affecting their retentive memory,” he says.
Performance of many pupils continue to dwindle because, according to him, private study time tables and study groups, which were common in primary and secondary schools, are becoming a rarity among them.
He also points out that the home plays a significant role in how a pupil turns out, whether in examination performance or life after school. “Parents should be much more interested in what their children are doing.
They must check their books to ensure that assignments are done. They must generate private reading time for them and ensure they are adhered to.
“They should exercise control as regards access to television and ensure that their children only watch those programmes that are of benefit to them. The Internet is good, but some of these pupils use it to excite themselves in pornography,” he states.
On her part, proprietress, Agape Bundles Schools, Omole Estate, Lagos, Mrs. Jennifer Okoli, apart from recommending the blocking of pornographic sites, explains that parents and school authorities have crucial roles to play.
She explains that if parents properly groom their children and disabuse their minds from improper use of the Internet and the social media, they will not be tempted to visit corruptive sites.
She says, “If a child is properly groomed to use the Internet for researches, just like they read their books and do research on them, definitely they would not be tempted to visit pornographic and other corruptive sites.
“Again, the school can also monitor and block all those sites that are not beneficial to pupils’ knowledge and education.”
Okoli, who recommends stricter control by the government by blocking corruptive sites, explains that this is what obtains in United Arab Emirates where the government has taken such a decisive action.
She, however, states that in these days in which everyone carries tablet computers around, abuse of the Internet and the social media has become commonplace.
June 7, 2013 by Samuel Awoyinfa
Source: Punch
‘Guard Children Against Sex Predators ’
Worried by the alarming trend of child sexual abuse cases in the society, the founder and chief executive officer, Wonder Minds Workshop, Mrs. Kemi Oluwaseye, has enjoined parents to give their children background education on sex as this is a major way to empower them against sexual predators.
She said this during a workshop with the theme:Raising the 21st Century Child, organised by her organisation and held at the Manufacturers’ Association of Nigeria building, Ota, Ogun State.
She lamented the prevalence of sexual perversion and moral decadence in the society, noting that despite the busy schedules of parents/guardians, reasonable time should be created to get their children/wards informed about sexuality education.
She said, “An informed child is an empowered child. Every member of the society must come together and fight this social menace of child abuse by getting them informed. Silence is not the solution to this global problem.”
Other speakers, including the Publisher of Wonder Minds magazine and wife of the pastor of the Visible Church, Ota, Mrs.Geraldine Abiodun, and the branch manager, Stanbic IBTC Bank in Abeokuta, Mr. Sola Fagbuyi, stated that adequate parenting was a major need of the child.
They stressed that parents should ensure proper upbringing of their children.
Consultant cardiologist, Dr. Folashade Daniel, who spoke on stress management, noted that the condition could not be completely avoided, but it could be managed so that parents could live long to cater for their children.
Wonder Minds Workshop is a platform that reaches out to children and their care givers with the goal of nurturing a well-balanced child so as to build a better society.
The platform partners with schools, religions bodies, NGOS, state and local governments to empower the child and its care giver.
June 7, 2013 by Samuel Awoyinfa
Source: Punch
Real Montessori Education Lacking in Nigeria – Proprietress
The Proprietress, Bencord Montessori School, Lagos, Mrs. Lola Davies, has described the Montessori curriculum being used in the country as shallow and lacking in the ideals behind the global Montessori method of teaching.
She said most Montessori practices exist only on the signage of the schools as they lack the materials, knowledge and experience needed for the curriculum.
Davies stated, “Montessori education is characterised by an emphasis on independence, freedom within limits and respect for a child’s natural psychological development.”
She said unlike the practice in Nigeria where children were separated in different classes based on ages, Montessori was about mixed age classrooms where children between ages two and five were in the same class, thereby encouraging community learning in which the children tapped knowledge from one another.
She added, “The real practice provides an educational environment tailored to basic human characteristics and to the specific characteristics of children at different ages. The environment allows the child to develop independence in all areas according to his or her inner psychological directives.”
Davies said the nursery class was like the foundation and it was the most important stage in a child’s life “as it is in building a house”.
June 7, 2013 by Samuel Awoyinfa
Source: Punch
No comments:
Post a Comment