Not less than 100 students in two public schools in Jos South Local Government Area of Plateau State will enjoy direct support from National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies, NIPSS.
This is for activities targeted at improving examination outcomes and transition to the world of skill-work in business, vocational and technical education.
Students from Government Science and Technical College, Kuru and Government Secondary School, Kanadap who are billed to participate in the September/October, 2020 National Business and Technical Examinations Board, NABTEB would be supported in areas that ensure success in the examination.
While issuing a cheque for N250,000.00 each to the two schools, Dr. Musa Umar of the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies, NIPSS said the gesture was the idea of the Development Research and Projects Centre, DRPC in conjuction with NIPSS and Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC.
He said it was to support technical and vocational education aimed at mitigating the negative impacts of COVID-19 on school system.
“the fund provided by Open Society Foundations is specifically to support after school hours coaching, airtime for online coaching or for students to access recommended websites, purchase of past questions papers and answers, textbooks, purchase of COVID-19 protection materials such as hand sanitizers, tables and chairs to ensure physical distancing in classes among others.” Umar said
He, however cautioned that the gesture was not to support any activity associated with exam malpractices but to aid schools with follow-up support to mentor school leavers in areas of business, vocation and technical education. This became necessary as Nigerians were eagerly looking forward to see “a Nigeria where we will not import everything, a Nigeria where we can produce our cars, television, all that we need and also export them.”
Reacting, the Principal of Government Science and Technical College, Nantim Larson and his counterpart in Government Secondary School, Kanadap, Martin Mancha commended the donors for the support and promised to use the fund for the intended purposes.
The Area Director, Jos South, from the Ministry of Education, Mary Dongmuk, expressed delight over the two schools. She said they were from her area and promised to monitor the use of the fund, seeing that it achieves its aims. So, other schools would in the future also get access and improve the standard of education and add value to the benefiting students.
