The increasing wave of examination malpractices, especially in Secondary School Certificate Examinations (SSCE) is, indeed, worrisome. In the just released results of May/June SSCE conducted by the National Examinations Council (NECO), there were altogether 615,010 cases of malpractices. A total of 1,143,169 candidates registered for the examination nationwide while 1,132,357 candidates eventually sat for the examination
N.B Visit www.campusflava.com for updates and information related to other schools.
According to the Registrar of the examining body, Prof. Promise Okpala, the commonest malpractices were mass cheating, which recorded 452,027 cases; aiding, abetting, seeking and receiving help from non-candidates, 87,778; while 13,456 cases of cheating were detected at marking venue.
Prof. Okpala also revealed that Rivers State topped the list of malpractices with 45,131 cases. Kaduna State followed with 41,878 cases; Enugu, 36,904 cases; Nasarawa, 35,510; and Lagos, 31,904 cases. Bayelsa State had the least malpractices with 235 cases.
Details of the results showed that 870,305 candidates, who sat for the May/June 2010 SSCE, failed to get credit passes in English Language. This represents 79 percent of the 1,113,177 candidates that sat for the examination. However, the remaining 21 percent of the candidates obtained credit passes in the subject.
Similarly, of the 1,113,177 candidates that sat for the Mathematics examination, 838,031 failed the subject. A breakdown of the results by subjects showed that only 245,890 candidates passed English Language with 1,434 distinctions and 244,456 credit passes, out of the 1,116,195 that sat for the examination. It also indicated that 66,519 candidates that sat for English Language had their results cancelled while 66,260 candidates experienced the same fate in Mathematics.
It is really pathetic that public examinations like SSCE conducted by NECO recorded such massive cases of malpractices. It is also regrettable that corruption in the wider society has crept into our examination system. As a result of this, candidates now want to make it either by crook or hook. The scenario is symptomatic of the general societal malaise. Such is not unexpected in a society where elections are rigged at will and corruption holds sway in the conduct of governmental and public affairs.
It is odd, also, that some of the malpractices were recorded at the marking venue. NECO should do something to prevent such in future. It appears that the body inadvertently recruited some misfits to oversee the marking of examination scripts, hence malpractices can occur at that stage.
The embarrassing development calls for serious concern because cheating is not what Nigeria needs at this period of its development. That our supposed future leaders engage in cheating to pass SSCE is tragic.
We blame the examining body, parents and schools for this frightening development. If the candidates involved in cheating were brought up to appreciate the value of probity, honour and morality, perhaps, they will be more focused and do things properly. While it is good to pass an examination, such a pass must be earned through merit and not cheating.
Parents should desist from assisting their wards to cheat in examinations. The only way to pass an examination is to study harder. Cheating in examinations is a major social problem that requires an urgent solution. Let all religious organisations preach attitudinal change among the youths in order to curb the recourse to cheating as a way out.
There is the need for guidance and counselling in our schools so that students can choose subjects that they have aptitude for. Government should provide well qualified teachers in English Language and Mathematics, the two subjects that always record mass failure. That these subjects are poorly taught is obvious, especially Mathematics. Let teachers of these subjects be creative and make them interesting to learners. NECO should also plug all avenues of leakage in its system by overhauling its internal security
campusflava
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Youths protest govt’s refusal to constitute board
Hundreds of angry youths from Orhionmwon Local Government Area of Edo State, on Tuesday, protested the state government’s alleged refusal to constitute the board of the Edo State Oil and Gas Producing Areas Development Commission (ESOGPADEC).
The placard-carrying protesters observed that the state government had re-constituted some of the boards like the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) and expressed worry regarding the purported delay in the re-constitution of ESOGPADEC.
N.B Visit www.campusflava.com for updates and information related to other schools.
They claimed that with the non-constitution of the commission’s board after about two years of the Governor Adams Oshiomhole-led administration in office, their oil and gas producing communities had been neglected and marginalised in the administration’s development agenda.
A leader of the protesting youths, Osadolor Osegbe, told newsmen that the concerned communities had written several letters to the Government House and the state House of Assembly on the need to reconstitute the commission.
According to him, they were yet to get any response from the relevant authorities, hence the protest to further press home their demand.
Osegbe claimed that Orhionmwon Local Government Area was responsible for 87 per cent of oil production as well as 100 per cent of gas production in Edo State but lamented that “we have been marginalised, exploited and neglected.
“Our people in the communities and villages are suffering from exploitation and environmental degradation as a result of the activities of oil exploration companies,” he added.
The placard-carrying protesters observed that the state government had re-constituted some of the boards like the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) and expressed worry regarding the purported delay in the re-constitution of ESOGPADEC.
N.B Visit www.campusflava.com for updates and information related to other schools.
They claimed that with the non-constitution of the commission’s board after about two years of the Governor Adams Oshiomhole-led administration in office, their oil and gas producing communities had been neglected and marginalised in the administration’s development agenda.
A leader of the protesting youths, Osadolor Osegbe, told newsmen that the concerned communities had written several letters to the Government House and the state House of Assembly on the need to reconstitute the commission.
According to him, they were yet to get any response from the relevant authorities, hence the protest to further press home their demand.
Osegbe claimed that Orhionmwon Local Government Area was responsible for 87 per cent of oil production as well as 100 per cent of gas production in Edo State but lamented that “we have been marginalised, exploited and neglected.
“Our people in the communities and villages are suffering from exploitation and environmental degradation as a result of the activities of oil exploration companies,” he added.
Mass failure: Fg summons NECO boss
AGAIN, Federal Government, on Tuesday, summoned the Registrar and Chief Executive of the National Examination Council (NECO) Professor Promise Okpala, over what it described as unacceptable poor results of the June/July 2010 Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) released on Monday.
Minister of State for Education, Mr Kenneth Gbagi, who said this while briefing newsmen in Abuja, in commemoration of the 2010 Year of Peace and Security, said he was sad and never satisfied with the results released by NECO on Monday, in which only 21 per cent of the candidates that sat for the examination passed English Language and Mathematics at credit level.
N.B Visit www.campusflava.com for updates and information related to other schools.
He also spoke of a plan for another summit on examination barely four months after hosting an elaborate examination summit in response to mass failure recorded in Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) conducted by the National Examination Council (NECO) and West African Examination Council (WAEC).
Reacting to the poor performance of candidates in the examination, the minister while briefing newsmen alongside the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Professor Dapo Afolabi, disclosed that the ministry was neither happy nor satisfied with the recent result released by NECO and as such would be convening another examination summit.
The results released indicated another huge failure rate as less than 22 per cent of the total 1,132,357 of the students that sat for the exam passed English Language and Mathematics at distinction and credit levels.
Fielding questions from journalists the minister said that already the Registrar of NECO, Professor Promise Okpala, had been summoned to the ministry over the issue, adding that unlike before, teachers would now be recertified every three years rather than every five years.
Minister of State for Education, Mr Kenneth Gbagi, who said this while briefing newsmen in Abuja, in commemoration of the 2010 Year of Peace and Security, said he was sad and never satisfied with the results released by NECO on Monday, in which only 21 per cent of the candidates that sat for the examination passed English Language and Mathematics at credit level.
N.B Visit www.campusflava.com for updates and information related to other schools.
He also spoke of a plan for another summit on examination barely four months after hosting an elaborate examination summit in response to mass failure recorded in Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) conducted by the National Examination Council (NECO) and West African Examination Council (WAEC).
Reacting to the poor performance of candidates in the examination, the minister while briefing newsmen alongside the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Professor Dapo Afolabi, disclosed that the ministry was neither happy nor satisfied with the recent result released by NECO and as such would be convening another examination summit.
The results released indicated another huge failure rate as less than 22 per cent of the total 1,132,357 of the students that sat for the exam passed English Language and Mathematics at distinction and credit levels.
Fielding questions from journalists the minister said that already the Registrar of NECO, Professor Promise Okpala, had been summoned to the ministry over the issue, adding that unlike before, teachers would now be recertified every three years rather than every five years.
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Minister calls for stakeholders’ support to salvage education
THE Minister of Education, Professor Ruquayattu Ahmed Rufai, has called on education managers to put their acts together in combining efforts to salvage the Nigerian education sector, which has suffered from serious neglect over the years with results of several indices of measurement of standard indicating poor achievements.
The minister who gave the indication at a two-day workshop on Effective School Management for principals of senior secondary schools in Dutse, said the challenge must be taken care of in a collective manner by all stakeholders if Nigerian products are to measure on equal terms with their peers in other climes.
N.B Visit www.campusflava.com for updates and information related to other schools.
She indicated that the workshop has come at an appropriate time going by the hopeless situation in the education sector as indicated by various development partners’ findings.
According to her: “Situation analysis on the condition of schools across the country prior to the Universal Basic education (UBE) programmes indicated that schools were lacking in almost all the measures that contribute to school’s effectiveness and quality.”
“Reports from our development partners project and Nigerian government initiative just before the implementation of the UBE, as contained in the project implementation plan also revealed that most teachers and managers who headed our schools’ systems and managed our resources did not receive any training beyond those acquired at the university degree and pre-degree level,” she noted.
She pointed out that the revelation tallies with the report at a stakeholders’ roundtable on the state of education in Nigeria.
Explaining further, she said the Monitoring and Learning Achievements (MLA), which is saddled with assessing the performances of the Nigerian pupils and students, has reported that their performance is lower compared to other sub-Saharan African countries in numeracy, literacy and life skills.
The minister revealed that their national average from the World Bank report indicated below 50 per cent in all the three areas of assessment as national average.
“Available records also indicated that, on the average and at national level, the proportion of qualified teachers in primary and secondary schools were 61 per cent and 51.68 per cent respectively. The issue must be addressed collectively, if our products are to compare favourably globally,” she reiterated.
Professor Rufai urged the participants to take part in the workshop dutifully as experienced, versatile and knowledgeable resource persons have been invited to treat the topics properly.
The Chairman of the Governing Board of the National Institute for Educational Planning and Administration (NIEPA) Nigeria, organisers of the workshop, indicated that the workshop was taken to Jigawa as a mark of honour to the minister. He charged the participants to reciprocate by being committed to their duties.
The minister who gave the indication at a two-day workshop on Effective School Management for principals of senior secondary schools in Dutse, said the challenge must be taken care of in a collective manner by all stakeholders if Nigerian products are to measure on equal terms with their peers in other climes.
N.B Visit www.campusflava.com for updates and information related to other schools.
She indicated that the workshop has come at an appropriate time going by the hopeless situation in the education sector as indicated by various development partners’ findings.
According to her: “Situation analysis on the condition of schools across the country prior to the Universal Basic education (UBE) programmes indicated that schools were lacking in almost all the measures that contribute to school’s effectiveness and quality.”
“Reports from our development partners project and Nigerian government initiative just before the implementation of the UBE, as contained in the project implementation plan also revealed that most teachers and managers who headed our schools’ systems and managed our resources did not receive any training beyond those acquired at the university degree and pre-degree level,” she noted.
She pointed out that the revelation tallies with the report at a stakeholders’ roundtable on the state of education in Nigeria.
Explaining further, she said the Monitoring and Learning Achievements (MLA), which is saddled with assessing the performances of the Nigerian pupils and students, has reported that their performance is lower compared to other sub-Saharan African countries in numeracy, literacy and life skills.
The minister revealed that their national average from the World Bank report indicated below 50 per cent in all the three areas of assessment as national average.
“Available records also indicated that, on the average and at national level, the proportion of qualified teachers in primary and secondary schools were 61 per cent and 51.68 per cent respectively. The issue must be addressed collectively, if our products are to compare favourably globally,” she reiterated.
Professor Rufai urged the participants to take part in the workshop dutifully as experienced, versatile and knowledgeable resource persons have been invited to treat the topics properly.
The Chairman of the Governing Board of the National Institute for Educational Planning and Administration (NIEPA) Nigeria, organisers of the workshop, indicated that the workshop was taken to Jigawa as a mark of honour to the minister. He charged the participants to reciprocate by being committed to their duties.
Minister calls for stakeholders’ support to salvage education
THE Minister of Education, Professor Ruquayattu Ahmed Rufai, has called on education managers to put their acts together in combining efforts to salvage the Nigerian education sector, which has suffered from serious neglect over the years with results of several indices of measurement of standard indicating poor achievements.
The minister who gave the indication at a two-day workshop on Effective School Management for principals of senior secondary schools in Dutse, said the challenge must be taken care of in a collective manner by all stakeholders if Nigerian products are to measure on equal terms with their peers in other climes.
N.B Visit www.campusflava.com for updates and information related to other schools.
She indicated that the workshop has come at an appropriate time going by the hopeless situation in the education sector as indicated by various development partners’ findings.
According to her: “Situation analysis on the condition of schools across the country prior to the Universal Basic education (UBE) programmes indicated that schools were lacking in almost all the measures that contribute to school’s effectiveness and quality.”
“Reports from our development partners project and Nigerian government initiative just before the implementation of the UBE, as contained in the project implementation plan also revealed that most teachers and managers who headed our schools’ systems and managed our resources did not receive any training beyond those acquired at the university degree and pre-degree level,” she noted.
She pointed out that the revelation tallies with the report at a stakeholders’ roundtable on the state of education in Nigeria.
Explaining further, she said the Monitoring and Learning Achievements (MLA), which is saddled with assessing the performances of the Nigerian pupils and students, has reported that their performance is lower compared to other sub-Saharan African countries in numeracy, literacy and life skills.
The minister revealed that their national average from the World Bank report indicated below 50 per cent in all the three areas of assessment as national average.
“Available records also indicated that, on the average and at national level, the proportion of qualified teachers in primary and secondary schools were 61 per cent and 51.68 per cent respectively. The issue must be addressed collectively, if our products are to compare favourably globally,” she reiterated.
Professor Rufai urged the participants to take part in the workshop dutifully as experienced, versatile and knowledgeable resource persons have been invited to treat the topics properly.
The Chairman of the Governing Board of the National Institute for Educational Planning and Administration (NIEPA) Nigeria, organisers of the workshop, indicated that the workshop was taken to Jigawa as a mark of honour to the minister. He charged the participants to reciprocate by being committed to their duties.
The minister who gave the indication at a two-day workshop on Effective School Management for principals of senior secondary schools in Dutse, said the challenge must be taken care of in a collective manner by all stakeholders if Nigerian products are to measure on equal terms with their peers in other climes.
N.B Visit www.campusflava.com for updates and information related to other schools.
She indicated that the workshop has come at an appropriate time going by the hopeless situation in the education sector as indicated by various development partners’ findings.
According to her: “Situation analysis on the condition of schools across the country prior to the Universal Basic education (UBE) programmes indicated that schools were lacking in almost all the measures that contribute to school’s effectiveness and quality.”
“Reports from our development partners project and Nigerian government initiative just before the implementation of the UBE, as contained in the project implementation plan also revealed that most teachers and managers who headed our schools’ systems and managed our resources did not receive any training beyond those acquired at the university degree and pre-degree level,” she noted.
She pointed out that the revelation tallies with the report at a stakeholders’ roundtable on the state of education in Nigeria.
Explaining further, she said the Monitoring and Learning Achievements (MLA), which is saddled with assessing the performances of the Nigerian pupils and students, has reported that their performance is lower compared to other sub-Saharan African countries in numeracy, literacy and life skills.
The minister revealed that their national average from the World Bank report indicated below 50 per cent in all the three areas of assessment as national average.
“Available records also indicated that, on the average and at national level, the proportion of qualified teachers in primary and secondary schools were 61 per cent and 51.68 per cent respectively. The issue must be addressed collectively, if our products are to compare favourably globally,” she reiterated.
Professor Rufai urged the participants to take part in the workshop dutifully as experienced, versatile and knowledgeable resource persons have been invited to treat the topics properly.
The Chairman of the Governing Board of the National Institute for Educational Planning and Administration (NIEPA) Nigeria, organisers of the workshop, indicated that the workshop was taken to Jigawa as a mark of honour to the minister. He charged the participants to reciprocate by being committed to their duties.
Buhari’s party slams S’East governors over ASUU strike
The Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) on Wednesday, slammed the South-East governors for non-challance over the current strike by members of the Academic Staff Union of Nigerian Universities in state universities in that region.
The party said in a statement by the national publicity secretary, Mr Aghanya Dennis sent by email to the Nigerian Tribune in Lagos that their attitude could have a dire consequence, because of the importance of education in the lives of the younger generation.
N.B Visit www.campusflava.com for updates and information related to other schools.
The party, which parades a former Head of State, General Muhammadu Buhari, as one its stalwarts, stated that the current situation was disheartening that, at a time when the catch phrase across the world was capacity building, coupled with knowledge-based paradigm, the governors were unperturbed by strike.
The party added that such attitude was also deplorable, because the region was one of the most disadvantaged in the education of the youth.
According to the CPC, when other Nigerians pursued education, the south easterners pursued trade apprenticeship, giving rise to a class of illiterate and semi-illiterate adults in businesses.
The party said in a statement by the national publicity secretary, Mr Aghanya Dennis sent by email to the Nigerian Tribune in Lagos that their attitude could have a dire consequence, because of the importance of education in the lives of the younger generation.
N.B Visit www.campusflava.com for updates and information related to other schools.
The party, which parades a former Head of State, General Muhammadu Buhari, as one its stalwarts, stated that the current situation was disheartening that, at a time when the catch phrase across the world was capacity building, coupled with knowledge-based paradigm, the governors were unperturbed by strike.
The party added that such attitude was also deplorable, because the region was one of the most disadvantaged in the education of the youth.
According to the CPC, when other Nigerians pursued education, the south easterners pursued trade apprenticeship, giving rise to a class of illiterate and semi-illiterate adults in businesses.
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
UNIBEN medical students protest non-accreditation
Tuesday paralysed at the University of Benin, Edo State and the entire Ugbowo area for several hours, as students of the School of Medicine protested the non-accreditation of the faculty’s programmes and that of School of Dentistry by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria.
The students, who were in a large number, refused to speak to journalists until they were addressed by their Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Oyuki Oshodin.
N.B Visit www.campusflava.com for updates and information related to other schools.
Some were overheard saying that “those who are to graduate in a few weeks’ time will not get a licence to practise as medical doctors and dentists, despite having spent over seven years in the school.”
They said that their future was being threatened, adding that UNIBEN authorities appeared nonchalant to their plight.
Vehicular and human traffic was blocked on the long stretch of the Ugbowo-Lagos Road while road users laboured to find their way out of the city.
The school entrance gate was closed even as the VC was prevented from coming out of the premises. A cameraman attached to DBN Television was manhandled by some of the students.
When contacted, the institution’s spokesman, Mr. Osaze Osarenren, said the protest was misplaced as the institution was already trying on meeting the MDCN’s requirements.
He said, “It was suspension of accreditation and they gave us 12 months to put those things rights and if we didn’t do they can now sanction us. We have been meeting with the Federal Ministry of Education on this matter and things are being put in place.
Before the end of the ongoing examination, which is not even the finals, all these things will be done. In fact, the vice-chancellor and some senior officials are air airborne (3.05 pm) to Abuja on the same matter.”
Meanwhile, the state chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association in a statement signed by its chairman, Dr. Philip Ugbodaga, its secretary, Dr. Emmanuel Ighodaro and Publoic Relations Officer. Dr. Kennedy Alohan urged the council of the university and that of Igbinedion University, which was also affected to quickly meet the demands of the MDCN in order not to create vacuum in the profession.
The statement read in part: “As a responsible association, we support efforts by the Council at ensuring the maintenance of standards in medical education in Nigeria universities.
“The loss of accreditation by these universities to train doctors has very serious implications for the already comatose health sector in our state and country.
“We therefore call on the authorities of the affected universities and the respective heads of the Colleges of Medical Sciences to work very closely with the MDCN with a view to quickly addressing the issues that led to this unfortunate situation.”
The students, who were in a large number, refused to speak to journalists until they were addressed by their Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Oyuki Oshodin.
N.B Visit www.campusflava.com for updates and information related to other schools.
Some were overheard saying that “those who are to graduate in a few weeks’ time will not get a licence to practise as medical doctors and dentists, despite having spent over seven years in the school.”
They said that their future was being threatened, adding that UNIBEN authorities appeared nonchalant to their plight.
Vehicular and human traffic was blocked on the long stretch of the Ugbowo-Lagos Road while road users laboured to find their way out of the city.
The school entrance gate was closed even as the VC was prevented from coming out of the premises. A cameraman attached to DBN Television was manhandled by some of the students.
When contacted, the institution’s spokesman, Mr. Osaze Osarenren, said the protest was misplaced as the institution was already trying on meeting the MDCN’s requirements.
He said, “It was suspension of accreditation and they gave us 12 months to put those things rights and if we didn’t do they can now sanction us. We have been meeting with the Federal Ministry of Education on this matter and things are being put in place.
Before the end of the ongoing examination, which is not even the finals, all these things will be done. In fact, the vice-chancellor and some senior officials are air airborne (3.05 pm) to Abuja on the same matter.”
Meanwhile, the state chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association in a statement signed by its chairman, Dr. Philip Ugbodaga, its secretary, Dr. Emmanuel Ighodaro and Publoic Relations Officer. Dr. Kennedy Alohan urged the council of the university and that of Igbinedion University, which was also affected to quickly meet the demands of the MDCN in order not to create vacuum in the profession.
The statement read in part: “As a responsible association, we support efforts by the Council at ensuring the maintenance of standards in medical education in Nigeria universities.
“The loss of accreditation by these universities to train doctors has very serious implications for the already comatose health sector in our state and country.
“We therefore call on the authorities of the affected universities and the respective heads of the Colleges of Medical Sciences to work very closely with the MDCN with a view to quickly addressing the issues that led to this unfortunate situation.”
Unilorin DVC stresses importance of post-UME test
The Deputy Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin , Professor Kolade L. Ayorinde at the weekend disclosed that of the 27,847 candidates that sat for the post-UME test this month at the university, about 16,225 scored the average of 50 per cent and above.
Ayorinde added that though of the 73,392 candidates that applied to UNILORIN either as first, second or most preferred choice institution, for the 2010/2011 admission exercise, only 27, 847 ultimately sat for the pre-registration screening.
N.B Visit www.campusflava.com for updates and information related to other schools.
The Professor of agriculture stated this in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, saying that in the screening exercise that took place between August 16 and 23 at the Ilorin, Lagos and Minna centres, 58.2 per cent candidates scored 50percent and above. He added that about 11,622 candidates scored lower than 50 in the exercise.
Prof Ayorinde added that the outcome of the screening exercise justified the necessity of post-UME.
According to the deputy vice-chancellor, “if candidates that scored 280 (out of 400) or more in Unified Tertiary Institutions Matriculation Examinations (UTME) could score far below 50 per cent in the pre-admission screening as the recent experience has shown, it clearly indicates that ‘JAMB’ is not enough,” he said.
“While the questions asked were to test the general aptitude of the candidates and determine their suitability for university education, rather than competence on specific subjects, the 41.74 per cent failure recorded is a wake-up call that better measurements need to be developed to test the academic competence of students,” the deputy vice-chancellor academic said.
On what parents and candidates should expect after the screening, Prof. Ayorinde said that a phase in the admission process had just been completed while other phases would immediately follow. He added that “what we have done is a phase. The next phase is to generate a list. Then, Senate would take a decision on the cut-off mark. Afterwards, the Admission Committee would sit to work and successful candidates would be admitted.”
On what it takes to be offered admission, the professor said “admission depends on the number of students that applied for a particular course, the nature of the course applied for and the weighted average score of a candidate.
“Courses have carrying capacities and there is no way having 50percent or more can automatically guarantee admission. Using the experience of last year as a case study, Prof. Ayorinde said candidates that score less than 70percent would not be admitted.
Ayorinde added that though of the 73,392 candidates that applied to UNILORIN either as first, second or most preferred choice institution, for the 2010/2011 admission exercise, only 27, 847 ultimately sat for the pre-registration screening.
N.B Visit www.campusflava.com for updates and information related to other schools.
The Professor of agriculture stated this in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, saying that in the screening exercise that took place between August 16 and 23 at the Ilorin, Lagos and Minna centres, 58.2 per cent candidates scored 50percent and above. He added that about 11,622 candidates scored lower than 50 in the exercise.
Prof Ayorinde added that the outcome of the screening exercise justified the necessity of post-UME.
According to the deputy vice-chancellor, “if candidates that scored 280 (out of 400) or more in Unified Tertiary Institutions Matriculation Examinations (UTME) could score far below 50 per cent in the pre-admission screening as the recent experience has shown, it clearly indicates that ‘JAMB’ is not enough,” he said.
“While the questions asked were to test the general aptitude of the candidates and determine their suitability for university education, rather than competence on specific subjects, the 41.74 per cent failure recorded is a wake-up call that better measurements need to be developed to test the academic competence of students,” the deputy vice-chancellor academic said.
On what parents and candidates should expect after the screening, Prof. Ayorinde said that a phase in the admission process had just been completed while other phases would immediately follow. He added that “what we have done is a phase. The next phase is to generate a list. Then, Senate would take a decision on the cut-off mark. Afterwards, the Admission Committee would sit to work and successful candidates would be admitted.”
On what it takes to be offered admission, the professor said “admission depends on the number of students that applied for a particular course, the nature of the course applied for and the weighted average score of a candidate.
“Courses have carrying capacities and there is no way having 50percent or more can automatically guarantee admission. Using the experience of last year as a case study, Prof. Ayorinde said candidates that score less than 70percent would not be admitted.
Mbamalu, 20, dares scientists to evaluate his invented jet
The name of Chinedu King Mbamalu may not ring a bell. But the young man from Anambra State thinks it is only a matter of time, and the world will know what he has to offer.
He is just a school certificate holder. But Mbamalu has a tall ambition to be a great inventor. He has performed the rare feat of inventing “a jet propelled engine system which offers a better efficiency at sub-sonic and hypersonic speed.”
Mbamalu is only 20, but his thinking process is far beyond his age. He supplies all answers to questions with effortlessly. But his intellectual prowess did not reflect so much in his academic performance. This, he said, was because of his obsession with inventions. According to him, much of his time was spent on his project rather than in his books.
N.B Visit www.campusflava.com for updates and information related to other schools.
His passion put him at cross-purposes with his relations, especially his father who feels that he should further his education. But Mbamalu says he is not perturbed because at the end of the day both those for and against him will be better for it. He spoke with Daily Sun: “I am from Anambra State. I am a researcher and inventor. I am the inventor of an engine system that I call the VCCFIJ which is short for Varying Combined Circle Fuel Internal Jet.
“It is a jet proportioned system. Jet engines are in accordance with Newton’s laws of motion, and emit gasses that generate thrust. As a jet proportioned system, it offers a better efficiency, at sub-sonic and hyper-sonic speed that is designed for VCCFIJ. It doesn’t have the inherent problems of the current jet proportioned systems like overheating and some other problems that they face.
“I have been working on the VCCFIJ for two intensive years. I have been able to come up with something of international credence. The stage which I am now, which is the calculation and calibration stage, I have to work with someone. We have been able to come up with something reasonable enough in the calculations.
That is where I am currently.
“I have been trying to get people convinced about what I have been able to come up with. I am a school leaver and I have always had this obsession for jet proportioned systems from my secondary school days. In fact, I have been finding it hard to concentrate during classes while in school because I basically began my research in secondary school.
“My obsession with deep science or the higher science began from when I was in secondary school. It affected my performance considerably, but that did not hold me back. I have been researching and applying the laws of physics and utilizing my knowledge, using research materials from the internet and experts. I have been able to come up with something that will meet the standards of any system in the world.
“That is exactly why I want evaluators, sponsors, experts. People who could actually look at this proportioned system and understand what I am talking about. Basically, people cannot understand how a school leaver would come up with something as complex as a jet proportioned system, claiming that it is better than any other systems in most areas like efficiency, specific impulse, thrust to weight ratio, being able to operate from sub-sonic, to super-sonic, to hyper-sonic speed now. People are very skeptical about it.
“I don’t have a patent right yet, but I wanted to file for a patent here in Nigeria with NOTAP, the agency that is responsible for patents in the country. For some technical reasons I dropped that bid for patent. Actually, I am looking at a situation whereby I would have able sponsors who would be able to subject the jet proportion systems to professional evaluation, and then be able to give reasonable conclusion on it.”
Fear of being shortchanged
“I have a lawyer whom I have been working with. I want to have sponsors who are willing and ready to evaluate this, with the promise of taking it up, and sponsoring the project and developing it. Then we will sign a disclosure agreement with them before we procure a patent. In the meantime, during the evaluation, it will remain under that agreement which states that the contents of the signed agreement will not be disclosed. I think that is enough protection before a patent.”
Sponsors needed
“Sponsors are good-will people who want to develop young minds and talents. When they come, and we have these evaluators around, they would look at this engine because I don’t have a prototype. Prototyping this engine will be very expensive, something that I cannot handle financially. I would need these experts to come in and see the work that I have been able to do. I have engineering drawings and working principles. If they go through all these documents, as experts, they should be able to tell whether what I have done so far is making a meaning.
“What I have been able to come up with is the theoretical part, the part which experts study in schools. When we subject this engine to test, we would be able to have a prototype and then tell that this is what it is able to do. Any expert in the field, given an engineering drawing and working principles should be able to tell the performance of an engine.”
Poor educational system
“The educational system is poor. It goes down to a lot of things in the country. It takes the person to go an extra mile, and take unethical routes to break through. There are a couple of people who have been able to break through, and have been able to come to limelight. “I have met so many difficulties on the way. I have been under immense pressure to return to school, to higher institution. Even if I were able to do that, because of my choice, I would not have been able to study in the country. It takes one to go an extra mile to get into the market because on a general note, inventors are not taken seriously.
“Even in the US they are never taken seriously. They are always seen as clownish and eccentric persons. To succeed, an inventor must be ready to be a risk-taker. An invention might look good on paper, but when you do the prototype, you might realize that it is not what it is. It is a very risky venture. It is something that if you get it right, you are a winner, but if you get it wrong, you have lost. I am only trying to be a professional, but there is another part to the issue. I have certain convictions that I am doing the right thing. I understand what I am doing and I am very confident that I have a system that will beat all other systems in existence. That has been proven by me, and will soon be proven by experts.
“I am not a material scientist. Until we have experts like material scientists coming in, and other experts who know what the market costs of engines, we would know what the price is, and get an estimate. But now, I might not be able to get an estimate because jet engines are quite expensive systems. We are looking at something that will be in millions of dollars, not in naira. As for evaluators coming into the country, it is the issue of having a sponsor because this is a business opportunity. Anyone who understands that there are economic benefits that he, or she could get from this system, wouldn’t want to let others cash in on it before them. At the stage where I am now, I am willing to work with ready investors. People who are ready to talk to me, and develop this invention.
“We have people who are gifted. It is like someone who goes to music school, and another who is a gifted musician. Someone who goes to music school, is someone who goes to learn the in and out of music. Now a gifted musician comes up and produces a track that is far better than that produced by someone who went to music school. This, he does without even going to music school.
“I believe that gift is credible. Something you can count on to reach certain conditions. Certain people are gifted and can create certain things. This has nothing to do with certificate. It is in them naturally. You can look at the Wright brothers who invented an aircraft. They didn’t go to any school of aero dynamics to study aerospace engineering but they were able to come up with something that worked. So, my educational qualification is immaterial. In fact, it doesn’t bother me because if I have people who understand what it entails, and are able to come down and evaluate what I have.”
He is just a school certificate holder. But Mbamalu has a tall ambition to be a great inventor. He has performed the rare feat of inventing “a jet propelled engine system which offers a better efficiency at sub-sonic and hypersonic speed.”
Mbamalu is only 20, but his thinking process is far beyond his age. He supplies all answers to questions with effortlessly. But his intellectual prowess did not reflect so much in his academic performance. This, he said, was because of his obsession with inventions. According to him, much of his time was spent on his project rather than in his books.
N.B Visit www.campusflava.com for updates and information related to other schools.
His passion put him at cross-purposes with his relations, especially his father who feels that he should further his education. But Mbamalu says he is not perturbed because at the end of the day both those for and against him will be better for it. He spoke with Daily Sun: “I am from Anambra State. I am a researcher and inventor. I am the inventor of an engine system that I call the VCCFIJ which is short for Varying Combined Circle Fuel Internal Jet.
“It is a jet proportioned system. Jet engines are in accordance with Newton’s laws of motion, and emit gasses that generate thrust. As a jet proportioned system, it offers a better efficiency, at sub-sonic and hyper-sonic speed that is designed for VCCFIJ. It doesn’t have the inherent problems of the current jet proportioned systems like overheating and some other problems that they face.
“I have been working on the VCCFIJ for two intensive years. I have been able to come up with something of international credence. The stage which I am now, which is the calculation and calibration stage, I have to work with someone. We have been able to come up with something reasonable enough in the calculations.
That is where I am currently.
“I have been trying to get people convinced about what I have been able to come up with. I am a school leaver and I have always had this obsession for jet proportioned systems from my secondary school days. In fact, I have been finding it hard to concentrate during classes while in school because I basically began my research in secondary school.
“My obsession with deep science or the higher science began from when I was in secondary school. It affected my performance considerably, but that did not hold me back. I have been researching and applying the laws of physics and utilizing my knowledge, using research materials from the internet and experts. I have been able to come up with something that will meet the standards of any system in the world.
“That is exactly why I want evaluators, sponsors, experts. People who could actually look at this proportioned system and understand what I am talking about. Basically, people cannot understand how a school leaver would come up with something as complex as a jet proportioned system, claiming that it is better than any other systems in most areas like efficiency, specific impulse, thrust to weight ratio, being able to operate from sub-sonic, to super-sonic, to hyper-sonic speed now. People are very skeptical about it.
“I don’t have a patent right yet, but I wanted to file for a patent here in Nigeria with NOTAP, the agency that is responsible for patents in the country. For some technical reasons I dropped that bid for patent. Actually, I am looking at a situation whereby I would have able sponsors who would be able to subject the jet proportion systems to professional evaluation, and then be able to give reasonable conclusion on it.”
Fear of being shortchanged
“I have a lawyer whom I have been working with. I want to have sponsors who are willing and ready to evaluate this, with the promise of taking it up, and sponsoring the project and developing it. Then we will sign a disclosure agreement with them before we procure a patent. In the meantime, during the evaluation, it will remain under that agreement which states that the contents of the signed agreement will not be disclosed. I think that is enough protection before a patent.”
Sponsors needed
“Sponsors are good-will people who want to develop young minds and talents. When they come, and we have these evaluators around, they would look at this engine because I don’t have a prototype. Prototyping this engine will be very expensive, something that I cannot handle financially. I would need these experts to come in and see the work that I have been able to do. I have engineering drawings and working principles. If they go through all these documents, as experts, they should be able to tell whether what I have done so far is making a meaning.
“What I have been able to come up with is the theoretical part, the part which experts study in schools. When we subject this engine to test, we would be able to have a prototype and then tell that this is what it is able to do. Any expert in the field, given an engineering drawing and working principles should be able to tell the performance of an engine.”
Poor educational system
“The educational system is poor. It goes down to a lot of things in the country. It takes the person to go an extra mile, and take unethical routes to break through. There are a couple of people who have been able to break through, and have been able to come to limelight. “I have met so many difficulties on the way. I have been under immense pressure to return to school, to higher institution. Even if I were able to do that, because of my choice, I would not have been able to study in the country. It takes one to go an extra mile to get into the market because on a general note, inventors are not taken seriously.
“Even in the US they are never taken seriously. They are always seen as clownish and eccentric persons. To succeed, an inventor must be ready to be a risk-taker. An invention might look good on paper, but when you do the prototype, you might realize that it is not what it is. It is a very risky venture. It is something that if you get it right, you are a winner, but if you get it wrong, you have lost. I am only trying to be a professional, but there is another part to the issue. I have certain convictions that I am doing the right thing. I understand what I am doing and I am very confident that I have a system that will beat all other systems in existence. That has been proven by me, and will soon be proven by experts.
“I am not a material scientist. Until we have experts like material scientists coming in, and other experts who know what the market costs of engines, we would know what the price is, and get an estimate. But now, I might not be able to get an estimate because jet engines are quite expensive systems. We are looking at something that will be in millions of dollars, not in naira. As for evaluators coming into the country, it is the issue of having a sponsor because this is a business opportunity. Anyone who understands that there are economic benefits that he, or she could get from this system, wouldn’t want to let others cash in on it before them. At the stage where I am now, I am willing to work with ready investors. People who are ready to talk to me, and develop this invention.
“We have people who are gifted. It is like someone who goes to music school, and another who is a gifted musician. Someone who goes to music school, is someone who goes to learn the in and out of music. Now a gifted musician comes up and produces a track that is far better than that produced by someone who went to music school. This, he does without even going to music school.
“I believe that gift is credible. Something you can count on to reach certain conditions. Certain people are gifted and can create certain things. This has nothing to do with certificate. It is in them naturally. You can look at the Wright brothers who invented an aircraft. They didn’t go to any school of aero dynamics to study aerospace engineering but they were able to come up with something that worked. So, my educational qualification is immaterial. In fact, it doesn’t bother me because if I have people who understand what it entails, and are able to come down and evaluate what I have.”
Friday, September 10, 2010
7 New Skills Every Worker Needs
You're an expert at something? Hey, congratulations. Now, go become an expert at something else.
Most Americans striving to find or keep a job know the sensation: It's getting harder to get ahead, and the demands keep intensifying. Everybody knows how the recession destroyed wealth and derailed careers, leaving millions in a hole they're trying to dig out of. Now we're beginning to see some of the longer-term changes in the way Americans live and work. Some are distressing, but there's also plenty of hope for people who are industrious and willing to do what's necessary to succeed.
N.B Visit www.campusflava.com for updates and information related to other schools.
Unemployment is obviously far too high these days, and likely to stay that way for a couple of years at least. A prolonged "jobless recovery" is likely to depress incomes, spending, and living standards. But it's a mistake to assume that there are no good jobs or that Americans must consign themselves to inevitable decline. Despite a damaged economy, good jobs are emerging for people with the right qualifications. And it's an ineluctable fact of capitalism that wealth can be created by those who are shrewd, determined, or just plain lucky. Even now.
The catch is that success these days requires new skills and a degree of toughness that a lot of Americans lack. A recent survey of big companies by consulting firm Accenture, for example, found that the majority plan to hire over the next two years. But not like before. Like many individuals, firms fear that they're failing to keep up with technology and falling behind in a ruthlessly competitive marketplace. Only 15 percent of firms in the survey, for instance, felt that their workers have cutting-edge skills. That means they're interested in hiring talented workers who are able to give them an edge. But few companies plan across-the-board hiring to reverse the mass layoffs of the last three years. Instead, most firms plan targeted hiring to fill their most vital needs--while maintaining a lean payroll in case the economy turns south again.
Specific needs vary by company and industry, of course, but some key commonalities apply to many firms. Here are some of the attributes that workers will need to thrive in an austere economy:
Agility
When the recession hit, a lot of companies discovered that their workforce was poorly configured for a sharp downturn. Many big firms didn't know enough about their workers' skills to move people where they were needed, for example, so they ended up cutting staff by arbitrary percentages or axing whole departments. Then they realized that they had fired people they needed, along with others they could do without. Now, as companies rebuild, they intend to fix that problem. That means there will be fewer full-time hires and more temporary workers, even among managers and professionals. Companies will hire people for particular projects, for example, and maybe even offer some of the same benefits that full-time staffers get. But they'll also retain the ability to quickly downsize without the trauma and expense of a mass layoff. And they'll move people around more frequently, to best match workers' abilities with the company's needs.
Workers will have to get used to less predictable work, more turnover, and careers that could entail several different jobs and even different disciplines. Those who adjust to project-related work without a single, long-term employer could turn out to be appealing hires--and they might learn to enjoy the breaks between jobs. But those who complain about turbulence and insist on a stable, predictable career path could find that nobody's listening--or offering them a job.
Skill Combos
If you're good at one thing--but only one thing--companies might pass you by. In the Accenture survey, for example, companies said that sales, customer service, and finance were their most important functional areas. But lots of people have that kind of experience, and many of them are unemployed. The way to differentiate yourself--and land that job that 150 people applied for--is to develop and highlight two or three different skill sets, such as IT and strategic planning, or sales and logistics. That will make you more valuable to an employer, especially if they need to shuffle workers around. A 2009 study by consulting firm McKinsey found that the highest earners with the best overall prospects have a combination of valuable skills. That's especially true in global companies that need technical experts who are also good at managing the complexities of international supply chains or a dispersed staff. The more things you're good at, the more reasons you give a company to hire you.
Tacit Skills
Companies increasingly value intangible qualities that are hard to put on a resume, like informed intuition, judgment under pressure, ease with clients, and problem-solving abilities. These "tacit" or "cognitive" skills tend to come with experience, but they also accrue to people who seek additional responsibility, volunteer for tough assignments, and are willing to take risks. The McKinsey study, for instance, found "an increasing demand for tasks that require human skills complemented by technology." To build these kinds of skills, work with colleagues who seem to have them and volunteer for projects that will force you to learn new things. To highlight these intangibles for a potential employer, line up references from people who can attest to your tacit abilities and find concrete ways to emphasize how you've solved problems or achieved unconventional results.
A Broad Vision
You might be missing out on a good job simply because you're looking in the wrong field. Most people tend to look for work in the industry they're most familiar with, but with sharp downsizing in industries like construction, real estate, retail, and manufacturing, that can be self-defeating. Cathy Farley of Accenture recommends focusing on your skills--not your job or title--and exploring whether you can apply them in a different field. "If you did supply chain management in manufacturing, maybe look in healthcare," she says. "If you did project management in construction, that could apply in a corporate environment." Companies might even value the perspective of somebody who comes from a different discipline, but it's up to you to suggest the fit and explain why it might work.
Analytics
Whatever your field, chances are there are new data-gathering tools to help assess performance and identify opportunities. The explosion of computer programs and other tools for measuring sales, Web traffic, return on investment, and consumer behavior leaves little in business unexamined--including your own performance. In the past, analytics was often the job of data geeks poring over spreadsheets. But it's becoming everybody's job, and the more you know about your own performance or that of your division, the more likely you'll be able to improve it. Training involves the use of spreadsheets and various computer applications, offered through many companies, community colleges, and training centers. Or teach yourself.
Curiosity
It's not something you'd put on a resume, but an inquisitive mind can help inoculate you against the vicissitudes of a chronically tough job market. "Your greatest defense against what's happening is to be interested in a wide variety of things and be intrigued by things," says business guru Tom Peters, author of The Little Big Things and 14 other books. Curiosity, he says, "will lead you instinctively to talk to people you wouldn't ordinarily talk to, to go farther afield than you might think you should." That's the way to find opportunity, especially when many conventional paths to advancement have narrowed or closed.
Self-Reliance
It's becoming apparent that the big institutions that many Americans have relied on for the last 50 years--corporate America, banks, the government--won't be as supportive in the future. Those who adjust and become more entrepreneurial will be the winners. That means developing more technical skills instead of relying on others, making lots of backup plans, and building a big cushion in case something goes wrong. "Don't get too dependent on having total continuous employment," advises Peters. That way, if you end up out of work for a while, it might seem like more of a blessing than a curse. And you'll know what to do next.
Most Americans striving to find or keep a job know the sensation: It's getting harder to get ahead, and the demands keep intensifying. Everybody knows how the recession destroyed wealth and derailed careers, leaving millions in a hole they're trying to dig out of. Now we're beginning to see some of the longer-term changes in the way Americans live and work. Some are distressing, but there's also plenty of hope for people who are industrious and willing to do what's necessary to succeed.
N.B Visit www.campusflava.com for updates and information related to other schools.
Unemployment is obviously far too high these days, and likely to stay that way for a couple of years at least. A prolonged "jobless recovery" is likely to depress incomes, spending, and living standards. But it's a mistake to assume that there are no good jobs or that Americans must consign themselves to inevitable decline. Despite a damaged economy, good jobs are emerging for people with the right qualifications. And it's an ineluctable fact of capitalism that wealth can be created by those who are shrewd, determined, or just plain lucky. Even now.
The catch is that success these days requires new skills and a degree of toughness that a lot of Americans lack. A recent survey of big companies by consulting firm Accenture, for example, found that the majority plan to hire over the next two years. But not like before. Like many individuals, firms fear that they're failing to keep up with technology and falling behind in a ruthlessly competitive marketplace. Only 15 percent of firms in the survey, for instance, felt that their workers have cutting-edge skills. That means they're interested in hiring talented workers who are able to give them an edge. But few companies plan across-the-board hiring to reverse the mass layoffs of the last three years. Instead, most firms plan targeted hiring to fill their most vital needs--while maintaining a lean payroll in case the economy turns south again.
Specific needs vary by company and industry, of course, but some key commonalities apply to many firms. Here are some of the attributes that workers will need to thrive in an austere economy:
Agility
When the recession hit, a lot of companies discovered that their workforce was poorly configured for a sharp downturn. Many big firms didn't know enough about their workers' skills to move people where they were needed, for example, so they ended up cutting staff by arbitrary percentages or axing whole departments. Then they realized that they had fired people they needed, along with others they could do without. Now, as companies rebuild, they intend to fix that problem. That means there will be fewer full-time hires and more temporary workers, even among managers and professionals. Companies will hire people for particular projects, for example, and maybe even offer some of the same benefits that full-time staffers get. But they'll also retain the ability to quickly downsize without the trauma and expense of a mass layoff. And they'll move people around more frequently, to best match workers' abilities with the company's needs.
Workers will have to get used to less predictable work, more turnover, and careers that could entail several different jobs and even different disciplines. Those who adjust to project-related work without a single, long-term employer could turn out to be appealing hires--and they might learn to enjoy the breaks between jobs. But those who complain about turbulence and insist on a stable, predictable career path could find that nobody's listening--or offering them a job.
Skill Combos
If you're good at one thing--but only one thing--companies might pass you by. In the Accenture survey, for example, companies said that sales, customer service, and finance were their most important functional areas. But lots of people have that kind of experience, and many of them are unemployed. The way to differentiate yourself--and land that job that 150 people applied for--is to develop and highlight two or three different skill sets, such as IT and strategic planning, or sales and logistics. That will make you more valuable to an employer, especially if they need to shuffle workers around. A 2009 study by consulting firm McKinsey found that the highest earners with the best overall prospects have a combination of valuable skills. That's especially true in global companies that need technical experts who are also good at managing the complexities of international supply chains or a dispersed staff. The more things you're good at, the more reasons you give a company to hire you.
Tacit Skills
Companies increasingly value intangible qualities that are hard to put on a resume, like informed intuition, judgment under pressure, ease with clients, and problem-solving abilities. These "tacit" or "cognitive" skills tend to come with experience, but they also accrue to people who seek additional responsibility, volunteer for tough assignments, and are willing to take risks. The McKinsey study, for instance, found "an increasing demand for tasks that require human skills complemented by technology." To build these kinds of skills, work with colleagues who seem to have them and volunteer for projects that will force you to learn new things. To highlight these intangibles for a potential employer, line up references from people who can attest to your tacit abilities and find concrete ways to emphasize how you've solved problems or achieved unconventional results.
A Broad Vision
You might be missing out on a good job simply because you're looking in the wrong field. Most people tend to look for work in the industry they're most familiar with, but with sharp downsizing in industries like construction, real estate, retail, and manufacturing, that can be self-defeating. Cathy Farley of Accenture recommends focusing on your skills--not your job or title--and exploring whether you can apply them in a different field. "If you did supply chain management in manufacturing, maybe look in healthcare," she says. "If you did project management in construction, that could apply in a corporate environment." Companies might even value the perspective of somebody who comes from a different discipline, but it's up to you to suggest the fit and explain why it might work.
Analytics
Whatever your field, chances are there are new data-gathering tools to help assess performance and identify opportunities. The explosion of computer programs and other tools for measuring sales, Web traffic, return on investment, and consumer behavior leaves little in business unexamined--including your own performance. In the past, analytics was often the job of data geeks poring over spreadsheets. But it's becoming everybody's job, and the more you know about your own performance or that of your division, the more likely you'll be able to improve it. Training involves the use of spreadsheets and various computer applications, offered through many companies, community colleges, and training centers. Or teach yourself.
Curiosity
It's not something you'd put on a resume, but an inquisitive mind can help inoculate you against the vicissitudes of a chronically tough job market. "Your greatest defense against what's happening is to be interested in a wide variety of things and be intrigued by things," says business guru Tom Peters, author of The Little Big Things and 14 other books. Curiosity, he says, "will lead you instinctively to talk to people you wouldn't ordinarily talk to, to go farther afield than you might think you should." That's the way to find opportunity, especially when many conventional paths to advancement have narrowed or closed.
Self-Reliance
It's becoming apparent that the big institutions that many Americans have relied on for the last 50 years--corporate America, banks, the government--won't be as supportive in the future. Those who adjust and become more entrepreneurial will be the winners. That means developing more technical skills instead of relying on others, making lots of backup plans, and building a big cushion in case something goes wrong. "Don't get too dependent on having total continuous employment," advises Peters. That way, if you end up out of work for a while, it might seem like more of a blessing than a curse. And you'll know what to do next.
8 Things Employers Aren't Allowed to Ask You
The rough economy has made many people desperate for a job. In their eagerness for gainful employment, many people may overlook improper interview questions. Depending on how they are asked, questions about personal topics such as marital status, race and health are more than just poor manners - they are illegal under federal and some state and local laws. These types of questions can be used to discriminate against applicants, and it is your right not to answer them. Here are eight questions your employer cannot ask you.
N.B Visit www.campusflava.com for updates and information related to other schools.
1. How old are you?
The Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (ADEA), protects individuals who are 40 or older from being discriminated against in the workplace in favor of younger employees. There is no federal protection in place to protect workers younger than 40 from age discrimination. To determine if you are legally eligible to perform a job, employers are allowed to ask if you are over the age of 18.
2. Are you married?
Questions about marital status are prohibited. Employers might be tempted to ask this question to find out if your relationship could have a negative impact on your work. For example, if you are married you might be more likely to leave the company if your spouse gets a job transferred to a different city. Even a question as seemingly innocent as "Do you wish to be addressed as Mrs., Miss, or Ms.?" is not allowed.
3. Are you a U.S. citizen?
Citizenship and immigration status cannot be used against a potential employee during the hiring process according to The Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 (IRCA). Employers must wait until after a job offer had been extended to require a worker to complete the Employment Eligibility Verification (I-9) Form and submit documentation that proves identity and employment authorization. It is lawful for an employer to ask an interviewee if they are authorized to work in the US.
4. Do you have any disabilities?
This question might seem necessary to determine if a job applicant can perform the required duties, but it is illegal to ask under the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Employers cannot discount anyone from a job because of a physical or mental disability. In fact, the law requires that they accommodate disabilities unless they can prove it would cause significant difficulty or expense to do so. Employers also cannot ask you if you have had any past illnesses or operations.
5. Do you take drugs, smoke or drink?
Concerns about drug, alcohol or nicotine addictions are valid as they can impact an employee's quality of work and the rates of a company's health insurance coverage. However, an employer might find themselves in legal trouble if they don't frame questions about these potential problems in a careful manner. They are allowed to ask if you have ever been disciplined for violating company policies about the use of alcohol and tobacco products. They can also ask directly if you use illegal drugs, but an employer can't inquire about your use of prescription medications.
6. What religion do you practice?
Inquires about religious beliefs are a sensitive issue. An interviewer might be curious for scheduling reasons such as holidays that an employee might need off, or if the candidate will be unavailable to work on weekends because of religious obligations. It is illegal to intentionally discriminate against an employee or harass them based on their religious beliefs. Employers are required to accommodate an employee's religious beliefs or practices in regards to things such as dress and grooming policy and flexible scheduling.
7. What is your race?
There is no situation in which questions about an employee's race or skin color should be use to determine their eligibility for a job. This protection is granted under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 that prohibits employment discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex or national origin. Employers are permitted to ask an employee to reveal their race on a voluntary basis for affirmative action purposes.
8. Are you pregnant?
Questions about family status tend to affect women the most, but they can also pertain to men in certain situations. Employers might have concerns about an employee taking time off work for pregnancy leave or not having child care arrangements during work hours. The Pregnancy Discrimination Act states that an employer cannot refuse to hire a pregnant woman because of her pregnancy, because of a pregnancy-related condition, or because of the prejudices of co-workers, clients or customers.
It is, however, lawful for employers to ease their nerves about an employee's availability or commitment to a position by asking about long-term career goals or the ability for an employee to work overtime and travel.
The Bottom Line
It is important to know your rights as an employee. Unlawful questions are not acceptable on applications, during the interview process or in the workplace. Although improper questions by employers might be simple mistakes, they could also be intentional cases of discrimination that should be reported.
CULLED FROM YAHOO NEWS
N.B Visit www.campusflava.com for updates and information related to other schools.
1. How old are you?
The Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (ADEA), protects individuals who are 40 or older from being discriminated against in the workplace in favor of younger employees. There is no federal protection in place to protect workers younger than 40 from age discrimination. To determine if you are legally eligible to perform a job, employers are allowed to ask if you are over the age of 18.
2. Are you married?
Questions about marital status are prohibited. Employers might be tempted to ask this question to find out if your relationship could have a negative impact on your work. For example, if you are married you might be more likely to leave the company if your spouse gets a job transferred to a different city. Even a question as seemingly innocent as "Do you wish to be addressed as Mrs., Miss, or Ms.?" is not allowed.
3. Are you a U.S. citizen?
Citizenship and immigration status cannot be used against a potential employee during the hiring process according to The Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 (IRCA). Employers must wait until after a job offer had been extended to require a worker to complete the Employment Eligibility Verification (I-9) Form and submit documentation that proves identity and employment authorization. It is lawful for an employer to ask an interviewee if they are authorized to work in the US.
4. Do you have any disabilities?
This question might seem necessary to determine if a job applicant can perform the required duties, but it is illegal to ask under the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Employers cannot discount anyone from a job because of a physical or mental disability. In fact, the law requires that they accommodate disabilities unless they can prove it would cause significant difficulty or expense to do so. Employers also cannot ask you if you have had any past illnesses or operations.
5. Do you take drugs, smoke or drink?
Concerns about drug, alcohol or nicotine addictions are valid as they can impact an employee's quality of work and the rates of a company's health insurance coverage. However, an employer might find themselves in legal trouble if they don't frame questions about these potential problems in a careful manner. They are allowed to ask if you have ever been disciplined for violating company policies about the use of alcohol and tobacco products. They can also ask directly if you use illegal drugs, but an employer can't inquire about your use of prescription medications.
6. What religion do you practice?
Inquires about religious beliefs are a sensitive issue. An interviewer might be curious for scheduling reasons such as holidays that an employee might need off, or if the candidate will be unavailable to work on weekends because of religious obligations. It is illegal to intentionally discriminate against an employee or harass them based on their religious beliefs. Employers are required to accommodate an employee's religious beliefs or practices in regards to things such as dress and grooming policy and flexible scheduling.
7. What is your race?
There is no situation in which questions about an employee's race or skin color should be use to determine their eligibility for a job. This protection is granted under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 that prohibits employment discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex or national origin. Employers are permitted to ask an employee to reveal their race on a voluntary basis for affirmative action purposes.
8. Are you pregnant?
Questions about family status tend to affect women the most, but they can also pertain to men in certain situations. Employers might have concerns about an employee taking time off work for pregnancy leave or not having child care arrangements during work hours. The Pregnancy Discrimination Act states that an employer cannot refuse to hire a pregnant woman because of her pregnancy, because of a pregnancy-related condition, or because of the prejudices of co-workers, clients or customers.
It is, however, lawful for employers to ease their nerves about an employee's availability or commitment to a position by asking about long-term career goals or the ability for an employee to work overtime and travel.
The Bottom Line
It is important to know your rights as an employee. Unlawful questions are not acceptable on applications, during the interview process or in the workplace. Although improper questions by employers might be simple mistakes, they could also be intentional cases of discrimination that should be reported.
CULLED FROM YAHOO NEWS
BNC raises alarm over plot to cause fresh crisis at UNIBEN
BENIN CITY — THE Benin National Congress, BNC, a Bini socio-cultural organisation, has raised alarm over alleged plot by some persons to cause fresh crisis at the University of Benin, UNIBEN, through what it described as frivolous petitions against the management of the university.
While vowing to resist such attempt, the Congress pointed accusing fingers at some persons it described as failed contractors, who had perfected plans to embark on a campaign of calumny against the management of the university led by its Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Osayuki Oshodin, to cause unrest in the university.
N.B Visit www.campusflava.com for updates and information related to other schools.
BNC in a statement by its Vice-President, Mr. Isibor Iziengbuna, said, “we appreciate sincere efforts for social justice, in the case of abuse of due process, however, we will not tolerate calculated attempts or acts that could smear the characters of our reputable sons and daughters by surrogates of a ‘failed opportunist’, as it is the case in this matter, even if it demands sacrificing the last drop of our blood.
“It is in a bid to dislodge these acts of opportunism and violation of due process, that the Congress staged a 2,500-man procession in University of Benin, on September 7, 2009. We are equally prepared to do same if these hired-pen-practitioners do not desist from distracting purposeful leadership that is currently in place in UNIBEN.
“As a prominent member of the host community of the University, we can attest to the credibility, transparency and a proactive sense of purpose with which the current management of the institution, led by Prof. Oshodin has been handling issues of admission, staff welfare, contracts awards as well as corporate social responsibility in the last nine months of assumption of office,” he said.
While vowing to resist such attempt, the Congress pointed accusing fingers at some persons it described as failed contractors, who had perfected plans to embark on a campaign of calumny against the management of the university led by its Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Osayuki Oshodin, to cause unrest in the university.
N.B Visit www.campusflava.com for updates and information related to other schools.
BNC in a statement by its Vice-President, Mr. Isibor Iziengbuna, said, “we appreciate sincere efforts for social justice, in the case of abuse of due process, however, we will not tolerate calculated attempts or acts that could smear the characters of our reputable sons and daughters by surrogates of a ‘failed opportunist’, as it is the case in this matter, even if it demands sacrificing the last drop of our blood.
“It is in a bid to dislodge these acts of opportunism and violation of due process, that the Congress staged a 2,500-man procession in University of Benin, on September 7, 2009. We are equally prepared to do same if these hired-pen-practitioners do not desist from distracting purposeful leadership that is currently in place in UNIBEN.
“As a prominent member of the host community of the University, we can attest to the credibility, transparency and a proactive sense of purpose with which the current management of the institution, led by Prof. Oshodin has been handling issues of admission, staff welfare, contracts awards as well as corporate social responsibility in the last nine months of assumption of office,” he said.
Saturday, September 4, 2010
FG Takes Over LAUTECH
FOLLOWING the management crisis that had rocked the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso, for about four months, the proprietors, Oyo and Osun State governments, have said they can no longer continue to own the university as a joint venture.
Accordingly, the Federal Government is to take over the management of the university. Already, a transition committee to oversee the affairs of the university is to be set up by the National Universities Commission (NUC) for the next three months.
N.B Visit www.campusflava.com for updates and information related to other schools.
These resolutions were the outcome of the truce brokered by the NUC management on the expiration on Thursday of the ultimatum given by the commission for the two state governments to resolve the issues involved amicably or lose the licence of the university.
Director, Executive Secretary Office, NUC, Professor Chiedu Mafiana, who briefed newsmen in Abuja on Friday on behalf of the NUC Executive Secretary, Professor Julius Okojie, said the two state governors, Adebayo Alao-Akala of Oyo and Olagunsoye Oyinlola of Osun, who have been locked in the ownership crisis, have agreed to the recommendations of the commission.
Both states were represented by the secretaries to their governments and commissioners for education: Chief L. A. Olakojo and Prof. Taoheed Adedoja for Oyo State; as well as Alhaji Kazeem Adio and Mr. Kolawole Hassan for Osun State.
The two parties were given 24 hours within which to respond to the proposal presented to them by the NUC management after extensive dialogue on the issues in contention.
Mafiana disclosed to journalists that the two state governments agreed to the NUC proposals, and by implication, the governing council of university stands dissolved as the transition committee will be soon inaugurated by the NUC and will run the university until final arrangements on assets sharing are completed.
The proposal on the outcome of the meeting held on Thursday with the representatives of the two state governments addressed to the two governors, entitled, “Re: Proposal of National Universities Commission on Governance/Management Issues at LAUTECH” reads:
“The executive governors will please refer to the National Universities Commission (NUC) letter Ref. NUC/ES/244Nol. 32/37 of27 August 2010. The commission appreciates your acceptance of its consideration to arbitrate on the matter vide your letters Ref. EG/OSGH/114 of 1 September, 2010 and GOV.25Nol. II/445 of 1st September, 2010 from the governors of Osun and Oyo States respectively.
“As a mark of its commitment to amicable resolution of the issues, the commission, conscious of its responsibility and the need to safeguard the interests of staff, students, parents and guardians, considered the issues in contention at a meeting with officials of the two states on Thursday, 2 September 2010 at the NUC Secretariat, Abuja.
“Following extensive discussions, the meeting proposed the following actions towards full and amicable resolution of the governance/management issues at LAUTECH:
“A Transition Committee, to be headed by a reputable academic, shall be appointed to run the affairs of the university for a period of three (3) months; the Governing Council of the university shall stand dissolved immediately on appointment of the Transition Committee.
“The head of the Transition Committee shall not be an indigene of any of the states in the South West geopolitical zone: During the transition period, the roles of the Visitor to the university and the Vice-Chancellor shall be suspended.
“The university shall retain its present admission quota for both Osun and Oyo states in the 2010/2011 admission session; the interest of staff and students shall be fully protected irrespective of their state of origin.
The governors of Osun and Oyo states were required to accept or reject the above proposals not later than 3rd September, 2010.”
Mafiana, addressing newsmen, said the two states have accepted the proposal, bringing to an end the months-long crisis rocking the institution.
Accordingly, the Federal Government is to take over the management of the university. Already, a transition committee to oversee the affairs of the university is to be set up by the National Universities Commission (NUC) for the next three months.
N.B Visit www.campusflava.com for updates and information related to other schools.
These resolutions were the outcome of the truce brokered by the NUC management on the expiration on Thursday of the ultimatum given by the commission for the two state governments to resolve the issues involved amicably or lose the licence of the university.
Director, Executive Secretary Office, NUC, Professor Chiedu Mafiana, who briefed newsmen in Abuja on Friday on behalf of the NUC Executive Secretary, Professor Julius Okojie, said the two state governors, Adebayo Alao-Akala of Oyo and Olagunsoye Oyinlola of Osun, who have been locked in the ownership crisis, have agreed to the recommendations of the commission.
Both states were represented by the secretaries to their governments and commissioners for education: Chief L. A. Olakojo and Prof. Taoheed Adedoja for Oyo State; as well as Alhaji Kazeem Adio and Mr. Kolawole Hassan for Osun State.
The two parties were given 24 hours within which to respond to the proposal presented to them by the NUC management after extensive dialogue on the issues in contention.
Mafiana disclosed to journalists that the two state governments agreed to the NUC proposals, and by implication, the governing council of university stands dissolved as the transition committee will be soon inaugurated by the NUC and will run the university until final arrangements on assets sharing are completed.
The proposal on the outcome of the meeting held on Thursday with the representatives of the two state governments addressed to the two governors, entitled, “Re: Proposal of National Universities Commission on Governance/Management Issues at LAUTECH” reads:
“The executive governors will please refer to the National Universities Commission (NUC) letter Ref. NUC/ES/244Nol. 32/37 of27 August 2010. The commission appreciates your acceptance of its consideration to arbitrate on the matter vide your letters Ref. EG/OSGH/114 of 1 September, 2010 and GOV.25Nol. II/445 of 1st September, 2010 from the governors of Osun and Oyo States respectively.
“As a mark of its commitment to amicable resolution of the issues, the commission, conscious of its responsibility and the need to safeguard the interests of staff, students, parents and guardians, considered the issues in contention at a meeting with officials of the two states on Thursday, 2 September 2010 at the NUC Secretariat, Abuja.
“Following extensive discussions, the meeting proposed the following actions towards full and amicable resolution of the governance/management issues at LAUTECH:
“A Transition Committee, to be headed by a reputable academic, shall be appointed to run the affairs of the university for a period of three (3) months; the Governing Council of the university shall stand dissolved immediately on appointment of the Transition Committee.
“The head of the Transition Committee shall not be an indigene of any of the states in the South West geopolitical zone: During the transition period, the roles of the Visitor to the university and the Vice-Chancellor shall be suspended.
“The university shall retain its present admission quota for both Osun and Oyo states in the 2010/2011 admission session; the interest of staff and students shall be fully protected irrespective of their state of origin.
The governors of Osun and Oyo states were required to accept or reject the above proposals not later than 3rd September, 2010.”
Mafiana, addressing newsmen, said the two states have accepted the proposal, bringing to an end the months-long crisis rocking the institution.
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