The Provost Federal College of Education Technical Isu, Ebonyi State, Okey Reuben Okechukwu has commended the Federal government for enacting into law the Dual Mode Act for the Colleges of Education system.
The bill signed into law on 12th June 2023, by President Bola Tinubu enables Colleges of Education (CoEs) to carry the dual mandate of producing NCE graduates and degrees graduates, NCE-B.Ed, in line with the Act establishing colleges of education in the country.
Prof Okey spoke during the 2nd matriculation ceremony of the Federal College of Education Technical Isu on Wednesday.
The provosts expressed hope for the full implementation of the law, pointing out that the law will address the impasse in student enrolment in colleges of education, which is dwindling.
He urged parents to encourage their wards to seek admission into Federal Colleges of Education Technical Isu as the act would also address other challenges and prospects of the College of Education system and NCE graduates in the country.
"It’s no longer news that dwindling enrolment in colleges of the education system for acquisition of Nigeria certificate in education (NCE) including Federal Colleges of Education have reached an alarming rate and is on the increase.
" The reasons are many and obvious, including but not limited to: "Non-trained and professional university graduate teachers have taken over the job of teaching in our primary and secondary education subsector contrary to professional needs, thereby paralyzing teacher education.
" Political influence and government policy have eroded basic principles of qualification and certification in the recruitment of teachers
iii. NCE graduates and the Colleges of Education system have hitherto been reduced to third class level in the education frame and ladder in Nigeria.
"Before now, teaching has become unattractive in our country due to poor conditions of service.
However, there is good news. Our President, His Excellency, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has signed into law the Dual Mode Act for the Colleges of Education system.
"This act empowers the Federal Colleges of Education to run NCE and Degree Programmes simultaneously within a duration of five (5) or four years or as may be explained in the implementation document. Three (3) years of NCE and two (2) years of degree programme.
"The implementation document is indeed ready. There are also special incentives for staff and students including the students’ loan for all education students. In light of this positive development, I am elated to announce to all of you especially our teeming young Nigeria students and teenagers to apply for admission into Federal Colleges of Education for NCE and degree programs at a stretch or in two segments ie you can continue to degree at a stretch or finish your NCE, take a break and come back for two (2) years of a degree program.
" With this development, it’s a victory to acquire education through the Colleges of Education system. This is because, in the College of Education system, you will obtain both NCE and a degree with minimal cost and tuition-free, courtesy of Federal Government largesse.
" I, therefore, appeal to stakeholders to publicize this good news and encourage your children and wards to seek admission into our college where we produce graduates with skills for life sustenance and self-reliance after school and not “take-a-job mentality graduates”. Just as our college motto implies, “Excellence in Technology and Letters”, we produce graduates who are adequately prepared and certified worthily in learning, skills acquisition, and character to face the future with robust confidence, self-reliance option and capacity to compete in any global academic arena and turn an enterprise". He said.
In the college 2023/2024 matriculation, the institution, in line with NCE and JAMB admission guidelines, admitted eighty-five (85) students.
Francis Nwifuru, Governor of Ebonyi, represented by the Commissioner for Education Tertiary.
Prof Omari Omaka urged the students to avoid gallivanting and study hard so that they would impact knowledge on society.
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