Friday, December 12, 2014

Minister decries state of federal college

The Minister of State for Education, Prof. Viola Onwuliri, has said that Federal Government colleges have lost their glory.

She spoke during the 2014 Annual General Meeting of Principals of Federal Unity Colleges in Ilorin, Kwara State.

The AGM was themed “School Safety in a Contemporary Society: Issues, Challenges and Way Forward.”

The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, Dr. MacJohn Nwaobiala, represented her on the occasion.

The minister, while frowning on the decay in the schools, promised that the government was committed to enhancing their standards and learning environments.

Onwuliri said, “You will agree with me that the Federal Government colleges today are a far cry from their glorious past. We can no longer continue to allow them to go on a downward spiral to deterioration.

“It is for this reason that the merit-based system of selecting the best pupils was adopted in 2013/2014 academic session. It is our duty to return these colleges to the models which was the vision of the founding fathers.’

She regretted that the nation’s schools, in recent times, had been facing serious threat to lives and property, especially from insurgency.

According to her, the situation has disrupted academic life in some of the unity colleges, particularly in the North Eastern part of the country.

Onwuliri said that to achieve a more conducive and safe learning environment, the Federal Government initiated the Safe School Initiative as well as the provision of well-equipped structures with modern educational gadgets, including e-libraries in the unity colleges.

She commended international development partners, parent-teacher-associations, the private sector, philanthropists, school-based management committees, faith-based organisations, old students associations and host communities for their timely intervention in basic and secondary education in Nigeria.

The Chairperson, Conference of Principals of Federal Government Colleges, Mrs. Ijeoma Efobi, identified old and decaying infrastructure, an ageing workforce and lack of essential instructional materials as some of the constraints against the effective fulfilment of the mandates of the colleges.

The Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Zulu-Gambari, urged the government not pay lip service to education, noting that it is the bedrock of the society.

Represented by the Balogun Fulani of Ilorin, Alhaji Durosinlohun Atiku, Zulu-Gambari said lack of training for teachers and poor infrastructure in many of the nation’s schools were, impacting negatively on the sector.

“Government should put more interest in education and ensure it is adequately funded. Our leaders should face education squarely so that we do not bred bad eggs,” he said.