2016 Budget. Nigeria Votes lion share to education

• Capital expenditure increases from N557bn to N1.8trn
• Recurrent N4.28bn, deficit N2.2trn
• 2016 Budget a joke – Prof Utomi

President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday unveiled the sum of N6.08 trillion as budget estimate for the 2016 fiscal year before a joint session of the National Assembly.
The proposed budget, with a revenue projection of N3.86 trillion, gave critical attention to Education, Defence, Health and the Power sectors, which received the lion share of the appropriation.
In ensuring that the fiscal policy impacts positively on mass of the Nigerian people, Buhari said, “We will devote a significant portion of our recurrent expenditure to institutions that provide critical government services.”
To that effect, the president said the sum of N369.6 billion has been voted for Education; N294.5 billion (Defence) ; and N221.7 billion (Health), adding that, “This will ensure our teachers, armed forces personnel, doctors, nurses, police men, fire fighters, prison service officers and many more critical service providers are paid competitively and on time.”
The budget however indicates a deficit of N2.22 trillion, equivalent to 2.16% of the country’s Gross Domestic Product, GDP.

While delivering his speech, President Buhari explained that the deficit would take the country’s overall debt profile to 14% of its GDP.
He pointed out that after reviewing the trends in the global oil industry, a benchmark price of $38 per barrel and a production estimate of 2.2 million barrels per day were arrived at.
The president hinted that in 2016, oil related revenues are expected to contribute N820 billion, while non-oil revenues, comprising Company Income Tax (CIT); Value Added Tax (VAT); Customs and Excise duties and Federation Account levies, would contribute N1.45 trillion.
In specific terms, the president emphasised that government would focus on non-oil revenues by broadening the tax base and improving the effectiveness of revenue collecting agencies, with a view to diversifying the economy.
Buhari said the 2016 budget was basically designed not only to revive the economy, but to also deliver inclusive growth to Nigerians and create a significant number of jobs.
The President also stated that, as an emergency measure to address the chronic shortage of teachers in public schools across the country, there is plan to partner with state and local governments to recruit, train and deploy 500,000 unemployed graduates and NCE holders.
He maintained that, to deliver its development objectives, government has increased the capital expenditure portion of the budget from N557 billion in the 2015 budget to N1.8 trillion in the 2016 budget.
Explaining further, the President said the increased capital expenditure in the 2016 fiscal policy commits significant resources to critical sectors such as Works, Power and Housing (N433.4 billion); Transport (N202.0 billion); Special Intervention Programmes (N200.0 billion); Defence (N134.6 billion); and Interior (N53.1 billion).
This, according to him, will stimulate the economy and make it more competitive by focusing on infrastructural development; delivering inclusive growth and prioritizing the welfare of Nigerians.

…2016 budget to create half a million teaching jobs
President Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday, said the 2016 budget will create jobs in all sectors of the economy, with education alone employing half a million teachers.
Senate also approved and passed his request to allow capital budget of 2015 to extend to March 2016, meaning that the implementation of the 2016 budget will start from March 2016.
Buhari, who made this known while presenting his 2016 budget estimates at the joint session of the National Assembly, pledged that the federal government will invest to safeguard lives and properties of Nigerians in order for them to operate in secure environments.
Also, he added that the federal government is ready to work in the interest of Nigerians and will fight for the protection of its citizens.
He said: “We assure Nigerians that our 2016 borrowings will be properly directed while N1.36 trillion has been provided for foreign and productive aspects.
“We are here to serve and indeed Nigerians will get a service they have longed for and rightfully deserve.”
However, while assuring Nigerians that the trust bestowed in the government is not breached, he also suggested that the Nigeria economy needs to find other means of revenue apart from oil.
“This budget is a major step in delivering. We have demonstrated a strong will to fight corruption.
“We implemented the Treasury Single Account which has provided greater visibility to revenue and cash flow,” he added.
Bukola Saraki, the Senate President said the 2016 budget must be bold and pragmatic in providing transparent incentives and conducive environment that will prime private sector-led development, encourage local production and promote made-in Nigeria goods.
“The National Assembly has a critical role to play and we recognize this role. On the budget we are willing and ready to provide the scrutiny necessary to pass only a budget that can be implemented comprehensively to the letter,” he said.

…2016 budget, a joke – Utomi
Meanwhile, Nigerian economist, Professor Pat Utomi stated that the 2016 national budget presented to the National Assembly was ‘a joke’.
President Muhammadu Buhari had presented the 2016 national budget which is estimated at over six trillion to the joint session of the National Assembly yesterday.
“Putting it in a very awkward position, I consider the budget process a joke,” he said.
Utomi who spoke on a national Television yesterday said the issue is not about making luxurious budget but argued that the major deterrent is always implementation.
“We somehow do not have the discipline of the budget process, we go through budget as public relations exercises because they are supposed to be done and decision makers go ahead to do whatever they want to do,” he said.
Proffering solutions to the problem of budget implementation, Professor Utomi said that “the goal is to achieve an execution premium, but if those who are responsible for it (the budget) really had no plan whatsoever to follow the budget, then, you are wasting your time.
“When those who are responsible for it do not see long term goals in which the budget is just a piece in an unfolding set of activities that would reach a certain goal, there is no point of it.
“I think, what has happened to us is that we got to a point of disconnect between the leadership elite, the political class, the bureaucratic elite and development aspirations of the Nigeria people,” he said.
Professor Utomi further said that the major reason why the budget isn’t working in Nigeria is ‘leadership’.
“There is low energy in leadership. We are not leading the country in the right direction.
“What the country is dealing with is a huge financing gap; we used to earn so much and now, we are earning this much, if we pretend that nothing has changed, then we would go into an economic spiral,” he added.

• Capital expenditure increases from N557bn to N1.8trn
• Recurrent N4.28bn, deficit N2.2trn
• 2016 Budget a joke – Prof Utomi

President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday unveiled the sum of N6.08 trillion as budget estimate for the 2016 fiscal year before a joint session of the National Assembly.
The proposed budget, with a revenue projection of N3.86 trillion, gave critical attention to Education, Defence, Health and the Power sectors, which received the lion share of the appropriation.
In ensuring that the fiscal policy impacts positively on mass of the Nigerian people, Buhari said, “We will devote a significant portion of our recurrent expenditure to institutions that provide critical government services.”
To that effect, the president said the sum of N369.6 billion has been voted for Education; N294.5 billion (Defence) ; and N221.7 billion (Health), adding that, “This will ensure our teachers, armed forces personnel, doctors, nurses, police men, fire fighters, prison service officers and many more critical service providers are paid competitively and on time.”
The budget however indicates a deficit of N2.22 trillion, equivalent to 2.16% of the country’s Gross Domestic Product, GDP.
While delivering his speech, President Buhari explained that the deficit would take the country’s overall debt profile to 14% of its GDP.
He pointed out that after reviewing the trends in the global oil industry, a benchmark price of $38 per barrel and a production estimate of 2.2 million barrels per day were arrived at.
The president hinted that in 2016, oil related revenues are expected to contribute N820 billion, while non-oil revenues, comprising Company Income Tax (CIT); Value Added Tax (VAT); Customs and Excise duties and Federation Account levies, would contribute N1.45 trillion.
In specific terms, the president emphasised that government would focus on non-oil revenues by broadening the tax base and improving the effectiveness of revenue collecting agencies, with a view to diversifying the economy.
Buhari said the 2016 budget was basically designed not only to revive the economy, but to also deliver inclusive growth to Nigerians and create a significant number of jobs.
The President also stated that, as an emergency measure to address the chronic shortage of teachers in public schools across the country, there is plan to partner with state and local governments to recruit, train and deploy 500,000 unemployed graduates and NCE holders.
He maintained that, to deliver its development objectives, government has increased the capital expenditure portion of the budget from N557 billion in the 2015 budget to N1.8 trillion in the 2016 budget.
Explaining further, the President said the increased capital expenditure in the 2016 fiscal policy commits significant resources to critical sectors such as Works, Power and Housing (N433.4 billion); Transport (N202.0 billion); Special Intervention Programmes (N200.0 billion); Defence (N134.6 billion); and Interior (N53.1 billion).
This, according to him, will stimulate the economy and make it more competitive by focusing on infrastructural development; delivering inclusive growth and prioritizing the welfare of Nigerians.

…2016 budget to create half a million teaching jobs
President Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday, said the 2016 budget will create jobs in all sectors of the economy, with education alone employing half a million teachers.
Senate also approved and passed his request to allow capital budget of 2015 to extend to March 2016, meaning that the implementation of the 2016 budget will start from March 2016.
Buhari, who made this known while presenting his 2016 budget estimates at the joint session of the National Assembly, pledged that the federal government will invest to safeguard lives and properties of Nigerians in order for them to operate in secure environments.
Also, he added that the federal government is ready to work in the interest of Nigerians and will fight for the protection of its citizens.
He said: “We assure Nigerians that our 2016 borrowings will be properly directed while N1.36 trillion has been provided for foreign and productive aspects.
“We are here to serve and indeed Nigerians will get a service they have longed for and rightfully deserve.”
However, while assuring Nigerians that the trust bestowed in the government is not breached, he also suggested that the Nigeria economy needs to find other means of revenue apart from oil.
“This budget is a major step in delivering. We have demonstrated a strong will to fight corruption.
“We implemented the Treasury Single Account which has provided greater visibility to revenue and cash flow,” he added.
Bukola Saraki, the Senate President said the 2016 budget must be bold and pragmatic in providing transparent incentives and conducive environment that will prime private sector-led development, encourage local production and promote made-in Nigeria goods.
“The National Assembly has a critical role to play and we recognize this role. On the budget we are willing and ready to provide the scrutiny necessary to pass only a budget that can be implemented comprehensively to the letter,” he said.

…2016 budget, a joke – Utomi
Meanwhile, Nigerian economist, Professor Pat Utomi stated that the 2016 national budget presented to the National Assembly was ‘a joke’.
President Muhammadu Buhari had presented the 2016 national budget which is estimated at over six trillion to the joint session of the National Assembly yesterday.
“Putting it in a very awkward position, I consider the budget process a joke,” he said.
Utomi who spoke on a national Television yesterday said the issue is not about making luxurious budget but argued that the major deterrent is always implementation.
“We somehow do not have the discipline of the budget process, we go through budget as public relations exercises because they are supposed to be done and decision makers go ahead to do whatever they want to do,” he said.
Proffering solutions to the problem of budget implementation, Professor Utomi said that “the goal is to achieve an execution premium, but if those who are responsible for it (the budget) really had no plan whatsoever to follow the budget, then, you are wasting your time.
“When those who are responsible for it do not see long term goals in which the budget is just a piece in an unfolding set of activities that would reach a certain goal, there is no point of it.
“I think, what has happened to us is that we got to a point of disconnect between the leadership elite, the political class, the bureaucratic elite and development aspirations of the Nigeria people,” he said.
Professor Utomi further said that the major reason why the budget isn’t working in Nigeria is ‘leadership’.
“There is low energy in leadership. We are not leading the country in the right direction.
“What the country is dealing with is a huge financing gap; we used to earn so much and now, we are earning this much, if we pretend that nothing has changed, then we would go into an economic spiral,” he added.

- See more at: http://nigerianpilot.com/2016-budget-education-health-get-lion-share/#sthash.I3A01vTx.dpuf

Nigerian Government Declares Free Higher Education

President Muhammadu Buhari has assured that there will be free eduction for science, technology and education students in tertiary institutions.

 Buhari gave the assurance Tuesday while presenting the 2016 Appropriation Bill to a joint session of the National Assembly.

President Buhari stressed that this would indeed mark a historic milestone for us as a nation.

 Buhari said his administration would unveil a conditional cash transfer programme for the poorest and most vulnerable.

 The president said the full programme would be presented in the coming weeks and that it would include home-grown public primary school feeding.

"Furthermore, through the office of the Vice President, we are working with various development partners to design an implementable and transparent conditional cash transfer program for the poorest and most vulnerable.

 "This program will be implemented in phases. Already, the compilation of registers of the poorest persons is ongoing.

 "In the coming weeks, we will present the full programme which will include our home-grown public primary school feeding and free education for science, technology and education students in our tertiary institutions.

 "Indeed, this will mark a historic milestone for us as a nation", President Buhari said.

 Read more at http://www.dailytrust.com.ng/news/news/buhari-declares-free-higher-education/125583.html#fXGwpRWDLlWTPPQt.99

SHAPING A CHILD'S FUTURE THROUGH READING

By Sina Adelaja-Olowoake

"The more that you read the more things you will know.
   The more that you learn, the more places you will go"  - Dr Seuss

Reading is an extremely powerful tool but many are yet to  realise its potential to literally transform lives. Take a look at world today - great men and women always point to the books they read as part of what helped them to achieve great success.
In Australia a research was carried out on two sets of 8 month old babies. One set was read to regularly while the other set was not. By the time they were ready for preschool, the set that was read to regularly had developed a rich vocabulary than the group that did not engage in any reading.
Therefore it most pertinent that parents and guardians do all in their power to get their children / wards into the habit of reading from an early age.

• Creating a love of reading is one way of improving the academic standards in school. Schools should invest in a variety of books for all ages and tastes. There are many organizations worldwide that can assist schools with the provision of suitable books. 
• Reading aloud develops speaking skills which in turn helps build self confidence. 
• Helps children gain new ideas
• Reading for pleasure is more likely to determine whether a child does well at school. 

Reading is about acquiring meaning, enjoyment, information and understanding. Teachers, Parents and Guardians should always bear this in mind. Reading is not reading unless what is read is understood. 

• Set apart a regular time for reading - usually 20 minutes a day. 
• Ensure the atmosphere is fun not tense. A tense atmosphere will affect the children's composure and focus and is likely to negatively affect the outcome of the exercise. 
• Choose good books to help develop vocabulary which can then be transferred to other areas such as speaking and writing. A child with a rich vocabulary will also exhibit great oratory.
• Listen to the children reading. Show them you are interested. Give them undivided attention
• As the children read, ask them questions about what they are reading to ensure they understand. You can even ask them questions that are outside the text.
• Let them struggle with words. That way they will learn
• Give lots of encouragement. Don't shout at them when they struggle with words or struggle to remember what they read. 

• For children who show a reluctance to read, find out what they like. For example boys are more likely to read football comics, magazines, and action hero books than other types of books. 
• Children have the ability to remember stories depending on how it is presented to them. if you are reading to children, don't just read. Give life to the text. Dramatise. Make it interesting. Teachers / Parents / Guardians, you may even have to dress up as a character in a book to get the children interested. Sing.  Dance. Do anything to create an interest.
• Once is never enough - Encourage your child to re-read favourite books
• Take control of the television. Encourage reading as a distraction free activity. 

If you adopt these measures, the children will quickly fall in love with reading and by so doing will expand their horizons effortlessly and place them at a vantage point . 

4 Arrested for Exam Malpractices

Olaleye Aluko
The Lagos State Police Command has arrested four lecturers of the Lagos City Polytechnic, Ikeja for their alleged involvement in examination malpractice in the institution.

Our correspondent learnt that the State Department of Criminal Investigation, Yaba, arrested the lecturers last Thursday and detained them for about three days before releasing them on bail.
The Police Public Relations Officer, Joe Offor, a deputy superintendent, who confirmed the arrest, noted that the police only released the lecturers on bail, as investigation into the matter was still ongoing.

Offor also did not disclose the names of the suspects.
He added that the registrar of the institution had brought the matter to the attention of the police.

He said, “The registrar of the school reported the case against them. The allegations preferred against them bordered on forgery, theft and manipulation of examination results. Our men at SDCI arrested and detained them at Yaba. Based on issues arising from our findings, the police decided to release them on bail. Meanwhile, we are still investigating the matter.”

A reliable police source told our correspondent that the lecturers were accused of falsifying the results of a student of the institution who had relocated overseas.

The source added that the action of the lecturers elicited a protest from other students.
The source said, “A student of the institution, who travelled out of the country and was unavailable for exams, was said to have made a distinction in the school, while other students had average grades. This led to a protest among the students, and it got to the ears of the management.

“The management then reported the matter to the police, and the concerned lecturers were arrested.”
When our correspondent visited the polytechnic on Monday, the security official at the reception said the rector was unavailable for comment.

The official added that the school authorities would get across to our correspondent on the matter through a phone call.
He said, “The rector is in a management meeting. He is the only one who can talk to you on the matter. You can drop your contact. He will get back to you after the meeting.”

Meanwhile, as of the time of filing in this report, by 6pm on Monday, the rector had not called our correspondent.
One of the students, who identified himself simply as Femi, noted that the arrest of the lecturers’ was the issue at stake in the institution for some days now.

Culled from Punch Newspapers

WATCH OUT FOR A NEW SCHOOL LITERACY PROGRAMME

Parents / Guardians / Teachers. Watch out for our forthcoming article on a new school literacy programme for kids aged 4-11 designed by top British education consultant to create fluent readers, confident speakers, and willing writers.

Britain Wants To Fine Parents To Cut Truancy

Incensed by the rising levels of truancy amongst school kids, the British prime minister David Cameron is now calling for fines to be placed on parents of kids who do not turn up for school. 

Culled from the BBC

Parents in England who refuse to pay a penalty after their children play truant will have their child benefit docked, the prime minister has said.

A civil penalty of up to £120 would be claimed through child benefit if the fine is not paid after 28 days. Currently, 40% of fines go unpaid.

David Cameron told BBC Breakfast it was about making sure children get "the great start in life that they need".

Teaching unions said docking child benefit could end up hurting children.

'Less good prospects'

The existing system sees non-payment of the £60 civil penalty in England being doubled to £120 after 21 days, and subject to prosecution after 28 days. But many parents do not end up in court because councils do not take legal action.

David Cameron said the system must be changed because truancy was harmful to children's life chances.

"All the evidence is that if children consistently miss school, they get a worse education, they get worse results and as a result they have less good prospects for the rest of their lives," he told BBC Breakfast.

"So this is about making sure our children get the great future and the great start in life that they need."

At the Conservative Party conference in Manchester, he is expected to say: "There is nothing responsible about allowing your child to go without an education.

"So for parents who let their child play truant and refuse to pay truancy penalties, we will deduct it from their child benefit."

Care requests

The Press Association says it obtained figures earlier this year which showed 16,430 people in England were prosecuted last year for failing to ensure that a child went to school.

About three-quarters - 12,479 - of these were found guilty, and courts issued 9,214 parents with fines worth an average of £172.

Mr Cameron first spoke of the idea of cutting benefits for parents of regular truants in September 2011.

And a key government adviser on school behaviour called for the same measure in April 2012.

But Chris Keates, general secretary of the teachers union NASUWT, said docking benefits was not the answer.

"For some families all that this will do, of course, is increase the chaos and it will increase the deprivation," he said.

"It won't actually solve the problem and in the middle of all of this is a child who's not getting their entitlement to education..."

Meanwhile, the prime minister will also announce a new right for parents in England to request that schools provide breakfast and after-school clubs or holiday care.

Schools will not be obliged to provide these when asked, but will have to publish reasons why they do not respond to such requests from parents or childcare providers.

This will apply to all state-maintained primary schools, as well as new academies and free schools.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-34450882

Do you think this will work? 

Examination Malpractice In Africa - Who Is Truly Responsible?

Examination Malpractice in Africa...Who Is Truly Responsible?

The West African Examinations Council WAEC in Ghana seized 6812 results  belonging to some of the candidates who sat the June 2015 Basic Education Certificate Examination BECE as part of an ongoing investigation into alleged examination malpractice.

In August  2015, 118,101 candidates who sat the West African Senior School Certificate Examination WASSCE  in Nigeria had their results withheld for similar reasons.

Kenya reported that 1,702 students who sat the Certificate of Primary Education CPE were involved in examination malpractices.

The issue of examination malpractice and the subsequent seizure of candidates results have been part and parcel of the African education scene for over 30 years.  In some instances, the education body has gone all the way to even blacklist some schools thereby stopping students from these institutions from participating in national examinations.  

However what seems to be more baffling is the increase in numbers of candidates allegedly involved and their age range too. For example in Ghana, the BECE is written by students in the third year of junior secondary school and aged 15. In Kenya the students involved were aged around 12.

So how does a 12 year old get involved in examination malpractice?  First it is pertinent to note that there are varying degrees of examination malpractice from candidates asking their colleagues for answers during the examination, to having full access to examination question paper prior to the official examination date and preparing the answers well beforehand.  And this is what makes up over 70% of the cases.

It is plain to see that such an operation is definitely beyond the abilities of the students alone. There are other collaborators who could be but not limited to teachers / invigilators, school owners, examination body staff, security agents, parents – yes parents and the students and even organized criminal gangs. All previous investigations seemed to have focused on the students and the schools only.  This is evident from the penalties often meted out which usually falls on students and schools. For over three decades there has not been a case of a member of the examination board, a parent or security personnel being put on trial for partaking in examination malpractice.  If it’s just the schools and the students alone who seem to be involved going by the investigations, then by now the problem ought to be on the decline and not on the increase.

There is much more than meets the eye in this matter. Government and stakeholders need to work hand in hand to deal a decisive blow to this ugly menace before it eats up the entire African education system.

Africa Needs Free and Qualitative Education

Africa Needs Free & Qualitative Education

By Sina Adelaja-Olowoake

We know politicians the world over make promises some of which they never plan to fulfil once the elections are over yet we still believe them and vote for them based on these empty promises. In Africa, politicians have identified the magic words that gets the young, the old, the strong, the feeble trooping to campaign grounds and polling stations – free education. From Ghana to Uganda, Nigeria to Zimbabwe, African voters are still being wooed with promises of free education by politicians.

With the 2016 elections fast approaching in Ghana, the ruling party last Friday rolled out its “progressive” free education programme which also includes the construction of new classroom blocks across the country.  

Free education in Africa is not a new phenomenon. Many African countries in the period immediately following independence from the colonial masters, embarked on free and in some cases compulsory education programmes to help create a new set of trained administrators to fill the void left by the departing colonialists. During this time, the quality of education from the major providers namely the government, religious bodies and private organizations was at par with what was obtainable in the developed world. Unfortunately the same cannot be said for what passes for free education today.

Today across the continent especially in primary and secondary schools the quality of teaching and teachers leaves much to be desired. Gone are the days when teachers chose the profession for the love of it. A lot of the teaching staff in schools currently are not trained or qualified to teach. Many only became emergency teachers after many years of unemployment.

Closely related to the issue of poor quality of teaching is the state of infrastructure. I am always shocked to see children studying under roofless classes or under trees in Africa in this day and age. In some cases, even the teachers and the school head sit under trees all day long. We have had many cases of schools lacking basic amenities such as water, toilets, etc.  What kind of education are the children receiving?

The role of parents too must come under scrutiny. In the early days, parents worked through the Parents Teachers Association to improve the overall quality of the schools which sometimes using their influence to get good staff posted to their children’s school, erecting buildings, purchasing transportation etc.  A lot of parents are no longer involved in the day to day lives of their children which invariably means they no longer participate in the affairs of the school.

It is very sad to see in the current clime, politician after politician promising free education, with nobody is tasking them on the quality of education they are promising to provide. Not only is the government failing and has failed in providing good quality education, she is also failing to properly regulate private providers. Many private organizations engaged in this sector continue to cut corners by using unqualified staff, unsuitable buildings and environment and charging astronomical fees without any form of regulation from the government.

 

If Africa is to move forward towards realising its full potential then African governments engaged in providing free education must go the extra mile by investing heavily in the quality of education she provides.

·         Schools must be staffed by trained and qualified staff and must commit to further training and re-training programmes.

·         Housed in buildings with basic amenities such as water, electricity, and ICT equipments in a safe environment.

·         Task school heads and teaching  staff with constantly improving performance

·         Equip and empower school authorities to enforce and maintain discipline in schools

·         Increase the education budget and ensure the money voted for the sector is properly managed and disbursed.

·         Promote healthy rivalry and competition amongst schools

·        Seek the cooperation of foreign agencies to improve overall quality.

Sina Adelaja-Olowoake is the creator of the youth mentor app. He is also a youth coach and public speaker. He regularly contributes on matters concerning education in Africa on the blog Chalk, Pen & Boards.

sina@sinaolowoake.com

State School Pupils Do Better At University.....Can You Believe This?

Culled From BBC News

State school pupils do better at university than independent school candidates who have achieved the same A-level grades, a study shows.

The Higher Education Funding Council (Hefce) tracked 130,000 students beginning degrees in 2007, looking at schooling, background and ethnicity.

It found on some measures state pupils were significantly more likely to get a 2:1 than their private school peers.

Private schools said a bigger share of its pupils overall got a 2:1 or above.

The Independent Schools Council highlighted figures in the report showing that 67% of independent school pupils achieved a 2:1 or above, compared with 62.3% of state school and college pupils.

But when students with the same A-level grades were compared, the results were different.

Of those students who achieved ABB at A-level, some 69% of students from independent schools went on to gain 2:1 or a above compared with about 77% of students educated at state schools.

And at three Bs, 61% of independent students pupils got a 2:1 or above compared with 70% of state school students.

'Advantages'

Prof Madeleine Atkins, Hefce chief executive, said the findings confirmed an earlier study by her organisation.

But she stressed that this research, tracking around 80% of English-based undergraduates starting at all UK universities in a single year, was the most comprehensive of its kind.

The findings are important because it adds to the debate about how universities select their candidates.

Nearly all universities use what is known as "contextual data" to decide which candidates should be offered a place.

This is when those from state and other backgrounds are made lower offers, in terms of the A-levels required for entry to courses, than private school counterparts.

The idea behind this is that these pupils have not had the advantages of a private education but still have potential and should not miss out because they did not go to private school.

'Inform debate'

Prof Atkins said the report showed that independent school candidates came into university with better A-levels but that they were performing less well by the end of their degree courses. But she would not offer any explanation as to why this may be the case.

She said: "The study presents a robust and independent set of findings to inform discussion and debate, and to stimulate action. Further work - by Hefce, by the sector and by government - will be needed to understand why these effects are happening, and what sorts of interventions will be most effective in bringing about positive change."

But Barnaby Lenon, chairman of the Independent Schools Council, said: "Dividing the school population into 'state' and 'private' is too crude to yield anything of value.

"The majority of our pupils' A-levels were graded A or A* last summer and we note that Hefce, despite their best efforts, are unable to show that our pupils did less well at university than other groups."

Dr Wendy Piatt, director general of the Russell Group of high-performing universities, said: "As the report reiterates, A-level and equivalent qualifications are still, without doubt, the key source of information about academic ability.

"Students with better A-levels do better in higher education. But Russell Group universities take a range of factors into account when deciding which students are offered a place.

"So the candidate's qualifications are considered in a broader 'context'. The bottom line is we want to give places to the pupils with the qualifications, potential and determination to succeed."

The study also found that students from disadvantaged areas tended to do less well than those from more advantaged areas - even though they had achieved the same A-level grades.

Prof Les Ebdon, director of fair access to higher education, said: "This important research shows that a student's background influences their likely degree outcome.

"This is a worrying finding, suggesting that disadvantage continues to follow disadvantaged young people, even after they have overcome often significant barriers to get into university."

NO NIGERIAN UNIVERSITY IN WORLD'S FIRST 700 INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING

Culled from Daily Times

No Nigerian university is in the first 700 higher institutions of learning in the world and the first 18 in Africa, according to the QS World University Rankings 2015/16.

However, South Africa has nine institutions while Egypt has five. Ghana, Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania have one institution each.

“This is the 12th edition of QS’s annual ranking of the world’s top universities, which uses six performance indicators to assess institutions’ global reputation, research impact, staffing levels and international complexion,” the report said.

In Africa, the University of Cape Town, South Africa, is ranked first on the continent and 171st in the world. The Stellenbosch University, South Africa, is rated second in Africa and 302nd in the world. The University of the Witwatersrand is the third on the continent and 331st globally.

On the global scale, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, United States, scored 100 per cent to retain its top spot in the QS rankings for the fourth year consecutively. Harvard University (US) climbed two places to rank second, followed by the University of Cambridge (United Kingdom), and Stanford University (US) in joint third. MIT came first in the 2012 global rating – a position which Harvard and Cambridge universities had once occupied – and has remained there ever since.

“The primary aim of the QS World University Rankings is to help students make informed comparisons of leading universities around the world,” stated the report. “Based on six performance indicators, the rankings are designed to assess universities in four areas: research, teaching, employability and internationalisation. Each of the six indicators carries a different weighting when calculating the overall scores (see below). Four of the indicators are based on ‘hard’ data, and the remaining two are based on major global surveys – one of academics and another of employers – each the largest of their kind.”

The reports said the universities were placed on 40 per cent scale of academic reputation; employer reputation, 10 per cent; student-to-faculty ratio, 20 per cent; citations per faculty, 20 per cent; international faculty ratio, five per cent; and international student ratio, five per cent.

A total of 82 countries are represented in the QS World University Rankings this year, with the largest shares claimed by the US (154), UK (71), Germany (43) and France (41). Japan has 38 entries; Australia, 33; China, 30; Canada and Italy, 26 apiece; Brazil, 22; and Russia 21. After the US, UK, Switzerland and Singapore, the highest entry is claimed by Australia, with the Australian National University in joint 19th. France makes its first appearance with the École Normale Supérieure (ENS Paris) in 23rd place, followed by Canada’s McGill University in 24th. China’s top entrant, Tsinghua University, climbs 22 places to rank 25th while the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology gains 12 positions to reach 28th

Cost of Education in Ghana Is Too Expensive - Ghanaian MP's Cry Out

University and Senior High school education has become outrageously expensive.

That’s the verdict of the Minority in Parliament on Ghana’s educational system.
They believe astronomical increases in the cost of education are forcing many Ghanaians, especially parents to resort to illegitimate means to make ends meet.

According to the group, whilst fees in the senior high schools have witnessed a 170 percent increase in the last three years, the situation is even worse in the tertiary institutions.

Minority spokesperson on education, Professor Dominic Fobih told journalists at a news conference in Accra today, “the cost of education is becoming unbearable and out of reach of the ordinary Ghanaian”.

He cited for instance between 2008/2009 academic year and 2014/2015 academic year, university fees have increased by 738.2% in Humanities; 732.9% in Administration, Science and Agriculture; and 658.7% in Applied Sciences.

“No wonder most people these days are resorting to illegitimate means to make ends meet. Bribery and corruption are rampant and become the order of the day and the slogan, ‘the end justifies the means’ has become the catchphrase,” he said.

The former education minister also said despite government claims of achieving quality education at the basic level, figures available rather shows a gloomy picture for the sector.

Prof. Fobih also said non-payment of money to the statutory funds is resulting in low enrolment, strikes and inadequate provisions of educational materials.

“Senior High School students’ subsidy for feeding are always in arrears for months and heads of public senior high schools often have to threaten to close down schools before portions of arrears are released to them. Subsidy allocation of GHC8.7 million (38%) out of GHC22.7 million for senior high school students in 2010/2011 academic year was not released.

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