Education

Leave before visa expires, UK warns foreign students

Published

11 months ago

September 2, 2025

Tens of thousands of international students in the United Kingdom are being directly contacted by the government with a warning: leave the country when your visa expires or face removal, the BBC reported on Tuesday.

The Home Office has launched a new campaign aimed at tackling what it describes as an “alarming” rise in student visa holders attempting to stay in the UK by claiming asylum.

In a first-of-its-kind move, the government is now proactively contacting students via text and email to issue formal warnings about the consequences of overstaying.

The campaign came amid growing concern in Whitehall about students using the asylum system as a way to remain in the country after their studies end.

“If you have no legal right to remain in the UK, you must leave. If you don’t, we will remove you,” the messages read, as reported by BBC.

According to Home Office data, around 15 per cent of asylum applications last year—approximately 16,000—were submitted by people who originally arrived on student visas. While the data does not specify how many of those were made after visas had expired, officials say the pattern is clear enough to warrant immediate action.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper told the BBC that some students are “claiming asylum even when things have not changed in their home country.”

She added, “We obviously will do our bit to support genuine refugees, but if nothing has changed in their country, people should not be claiming asylum at the end of a student course.”

Cooper also said the growing number of students entering the asylum system is placing added pressure on already overstretched asylum accommodation and hotel services.

Around 10,000 students whose visas are nearing expiry have already received direct warnings.

A further 130,000 students and their families are expected to be contacted in the coming months, coinciding with the busy autumn intake period, according to the BBC.

The message being sent reads in full, “If you submit an asylum claim that lacks merit, it will be swiftly and robustly refused.

“Any request for asylum support will be assessed against destitution criteria. If you do not meet the criteria, you will not receive support.

“If you have no legal right to remain in the UK, you must leave. If you don’t, we will remove you,” as reported by BBC.

The crackdown is part of a broader tightening of immigration rules under the Labour government. In May, the Home Office announced that universities would face stricter thresholds on visa refusal and course completion rates to maintain their ability to sponsor international students.

While much public attention has focused on small boat arrivals across the Channel, ministers are increasingly concerned about legal entrants—such as students—who later switch to the asylum system.

Of the 108,000 asylum applications made in the UK last year, around 40,000 came from people who arrived legally, including on work, study, or visitor visas. By contrast, about 35,000 came from small boat crossings, BBC reported.

Among legal entrants, student visa holders made up the largest group seeking asylum, with numbers almost six times higher than in 2020. Although the figure has since fallen by 10 per cent, the Home Office wants further reductions.

Cooper acknowledged that student visa asylum claims account for just over 10 per cent of total applications but insisted that “to fix the system, we must tackle every single bit of it.”

The government has also moved to reduce the amount of time overseas graduates can stay in the UK after completing their courses, from two years to 18 months.

The number of successful asylum claims from skilled worker visa holders has also declined, according to recent Home Office figures.

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Education

Enugu gov celebrates 13-year-old STEM Olympiad gold medallist

Published

1 hour ago

July 21, 2026

Newsbreak365_Admin

Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State has received 13-year-old International STEM Olympiad champion, Chimdiebube Onwubiko Victor, following his gold medal performance in Mathematics and silver medal finish in Science at the 2026 International STEM Olympiad in Rome, Italy.

Chimdiebube Onwubiko Victor. Photo credit: Peter Mbah

Mbah announced this in a statement shared on his social media accounts on Tuesday, describing the teenager’s achievement as a proud moment for Enugu State and Nigeria.

“Yesterday, I welcomed Chimdiebube Onwubiko, our brilliant 13-year-old International STEM Olympiad champion, to the Lion Building after his remarkable performance in Rome, where he emerged with a Gold Medal in Mathematics and a Silver Medal in Science,” the governor said.

He added, “Chimdiebube’s achievement is a proud moment for Enugu and a reflection of the power of discipline, dedication, and quality education.”

Mbah also commended the student’s Mathematics teacher, Chisom Unachukwu, and Evergreen Schools for nurturing the young champion.

“I commend him, his Mathematics teacher, Chisom Unachukwu, and Evergreen Schools for their commitment to excellence and for proving that Enugu’s young talents can compete and excel on the global stage,” he said.

The governor reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to improving education through its Smart Green Schools initiative.

“As we continue to transform education through the Smart Green Schools initiative, we remain committed to creating opportunities for every child in Enugu to discover their potential and become champions in their chosen fields,” Mbah stated.

Chimdiebube was among three Nigerian students who excelled at the 2026 International STEM Olympiad Grand Finale held in Rome, Italy, from July 2 to 8. The competition attracted participants from more than 150 countries.

The 13-year-old won gold in Junior Mathematics and silver in Science, while Don Anele Munachimso Marvelous claimed double gold in Mathematics and Science and was named the World’s Best in Science. Eleven-year-old Egejurum Onyedikachi Ethan also won gold in Mathematics and emerged the World’s Best in Primary Mathematics.

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Education

Nigerian students win gold at Spelling Bee World Cup in China

Published

21 hours ago

July 20, 2026

Newsbreak365_Admin

Team Nigeria has won the Gold Award in the Middle School Group Category at the 2026 Spelling Bee World Cup in Shanghai, China.

The achievement was announced by the Nigeria Spelling Bee on its official Facebook page on Sunday.

The organisation wrote, “Team Nigeria has won the Gold Award in the Middle School Group Category at the Spelling Bee World Cup in Shanghai, China.”

Also confirming the feat on Sunday, Ar-Raheem International College, Ilorin, announced that two of its students, Maryam Yusuf and Abdurrahman Yusuf, won medals at the global competition.

Maryam Yusuf won medals at Spelling Bee World Cup final in Shanghai, China 2026…Photo Credit: Ar-Raheem International College

The school wrote on its Facebook page, “Ar-Raheem International College students Maryam YUSUF and Abdurrahman YUSUF won medals at Spelling Bee World Cup final in Shanghai, China 2026.”

PUNCH Online had earlier reported that Team Nigeria was making its first-ever appearance at the Spelling Bee World Cup after qualifying through the Nigeria Spelling Bee and the African Spelling Bee Championship.

Abdurrahman Yusuf won medals at Spelling Bee World Cup final in Shanghai, China 2026…Photo Credit: Ar-Raheem International College

The four-member team comprised 2026 African Spelling Bee Junior champion, Oluwadamilola Adeolu of St. Lawrence Metropolitan College, Ado-Ekiti; Abdurrahman Yusuf of Ar-Raheem International College, Ilorin; Chinedu Okediachi of Madonna International Schools, Asaba; and Maryam Yusuf of Ar-Raheem International College, Ilorin.

Maryam Yusuf and Abdurrahman Yusuf won medals at Spelling Bee World Cup final in Shanghai, China 2026…Photo Credit: Ar-Raheem International College

Announcing Nigeria’s historic participation before the tournament, the Nigeria Spelling Bee had said, “For the first time ever, Nigeria will be represented at the Spelling Bee World Cup, as four outstanding young spellers prepare to compete in Shanghai, China, from 10th–20th July 2026.

“Their journey has been one of excellence and determination—beginning with the Nigeria Spelling Bee, progressing to the African Spelling Bee Championship in Harare, Zimbabwe, and now advancing to the world stage.”

Team Nigeria wins Gold at the World Cup Spelling Bee in China…Photo Credit: Nigeria Spelling Bee

The organisers also noted that the students were representing not only Nigeria but the African continent.

“As they compete against the world’s finest young spellers, they carry with them the hopes of a nation and the pride of an entire continent. Join us in wishing Team Nigeria a successful outing as they make history at the Spelling Bee World Cup 2026. Go Team Nigeria!” the statement added.

Ahead of the competition, Adeolu had expressed excitement about competing on the global stage.

“I am proud to be part of the Nigerian Spelling Bee and African Spelling Bee delegation travelling to the Spelling Bee World Cup in Shanghai, China, to represent Nigeria,” she had said.

She added, “I am looking forward to the competition itself, meeting new spellers across the world, boosting my vocabulary and confidence on the global stage and also raising the trophy and bringing it back home.”

PUNCH Online also reported that Adeolu qualified for the World Cup after emerging champion of the Junior category at the African Spelling Bee Championship in Harare, Zimbabwe, where she outperformed contestants from more than 30 African countries.

At the continental competition, Abdurrahman Yusuf finished third, while Nigeria emerged the second-best overall team, further strengthening the country’s growing reputation in international spelling competitions.

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Education

Technical education, Nigeria’s fastest job creation route – NABTEB

Published

6 days ago

July 15, 2026

Newsbreak365_Admin

The Chief Executive Officer of the National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB), Dr Muhammed Aminu Muhammed, has declared that technical education remains Nigeria’s strongest pathway to employment, entrepreneurship and national economic growth.

Speaking during an inspection of the 2026 May/June NABTEB examinations at the Federal Technical College, Awka, Anambra State capital, Muhammed said the future of Nigeria depends on equipping young people with practical skills that will enable them to create jobs.

His visit to the Awka centre is part of a nationwide monitoring exercise covering examination centres across Nigeria.

He said, “Technical education remains the Nigeria’s strongest pathway to employment, entrepreneurship and national economic growth.

“The future of Nigeria depends on equipping young people with practical skills that will enable them to create jobs rather than wait endlessly for white-collar jobs.

“Effective leadership within a school naturally reflects in students’ performance and the quality of teaching and learning.”

Muhammed disclosed that more than 167,000 candidates are sitting for this year’s examinations nationwide, while 226 candidates are taking their papers at the Federal Technical College, Awka.

During the exercise, the NABTEB Registrar inspected the Physics practical examination, monitored the organisation of candidates, interacted with officials supervising the exercise and assessed the overall conduct of the examination.

He expressed satisfaction with what he witnessed at the Awka centre, describing it as one of the most organised technical colleges visited during his nationwide assessment tour.

He commended the way the practical examination was organised, noting that candidates were carefully grouped to ensure the exercise ran smoothly despite the large number of students involved.

Reflecting on the nationwide exercise, Muhammed said this year’s examinations have shown remarkable improvement over those conducted in 2025.

He attributed the progress to stronger supervision by school principals, better coordination by NABTEB officials and increased support from security agencies working to safeguard the examination process.

“In every area, this year’s examination is better than last year’s,” he added.

The Registrar stressed that the practical component of NABTEB examinations remains central to the Board’s mission of producing graduates with employable skills that can transform their lives and contribute meaningfully to the nation’s economy.

He maintained that expanding technical education is essential if Nigeria hopes to reduce unemployment, empower young people and build a more productive economy.

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