NAN-H-54
Education
By Grace Nlemadim and Kate Obande
Abuja, Nov. 7, 2016 (NAN) The Senate Committee on Tertiary Education and Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) has pledged its commitment to ensuring quality standard for Colleges of Education across the country.
Sen. Jibrin Barau, the Chairman, made the pledge during the committee’s oversight function at the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE) on Monday in Abuja.
Barau said that actualising quality standard for the colleges would be achieved through adequate Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) programmes.
He said that the committee was willing to collaborate with the commission in its quest to boost education in the country, through teachers’ development.
“ I want to ensure that the Colleges of Education in the country are of high standard and able to compete globally.
“I will not hesitate to ask the commission questions where necessary, to ensure clarity and understanding in moving the education sector forward.
“I will not unnecessarily intervene in the commission’s activities except I notice any case of fraud or corruption,’’ Barau said.
Earlier, Prof. Bappa-Aliyu Muhammadu, NCCE Executive Secretary, told the committee that his administration would ensure the production of quality teachers at the National Teachers Institute (NTI).
He said that the commission would also promote the conduct of research activities and dissemination of findings in teacher education.
According to him, NCCE is also reviewing the curriculum for vocational and technical education.
Muhammadu stated that lack of funds had hindered adequate monitoring and evaluation of the colleges and accreditation of Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) courses.
He said that paucity of funds had hindered data collection and completion of the ommission’s multi-storey car park under construction for the past nine years.
Muhammadu said that the car park, designed as a six-floor structure with inbuilt convenience facilities, was been awarded in 2007 at the cost of N500 million.
Meanwhile, the executive secretary said that due to funding challenges, the commission and some Colleges of Education had decided to fund accreditation of courses themselves.
He decried a situation where many NCE awarding institutions had not been accredited for more than five years.
“It is important for the senate committee to note that the commission is having a shortfall in personnel cost for 2016.
“The actual personnel cost of the commission is over N600 million but there is a shortfall of over N30 million in the personnel cost.
“Even the total overhead cost released to date is for January to June 2016; the commission awaits the release of the balance of July to December 2016,’’ he said. (NAN)
NG/KTE/DO/NKO
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Edited by David Onilede/Nkechi Okoronkwo
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