By Balarabe Abdullahi Kiru
Minister of Education Professor Tahir Mamman has deplored low enrollment of Students into Federal Unity Colleges across Northern States.
Professor Tahir Mamman noted that despite the fact that Federal Unity Colleges were founded to provide secondary school education of high standard, most of the Northern States are left behind in terms of filling their quota .
Prof. Mamman was speaking during Advocacy and Sensitization Visit to Kano State Ministry of Education aimed at boosting enrollment for the National Common Entrance Examination( NCEE) and Gifted Examination into Colleges.
Represented by the Deputy Director and Head Junior Secondary Education Mrs. Edith Osanyinpejun revealed that statistics made available to the Ministry by the National Examination Council (NECO) indicated that most states in the North havw low enrollment in the National Common Entrance Examination and Gifted Examination.
” Kano was the first among them to introduce such sensitization campaign on students enrollment into theFed Colleges during which the state was having higher percentage among it counterparts but as of some years back, the enrollment has changed ” Said Tahir.
According to the Minister, last year, record shows that admission of students ito such schools in Kano was just 574 candidates compared to 5000 enrolled when this campaign was intensified in the state.
He explained that the essence of the advocacy visit was to solicit for the unwavering support and commitment of all stakeholders in boosting enrollment for the 2024 National Common Entrance Examination to ensure full utilization of the State quota into the Colleges.
” It is on this premise that the Federal Ministry of Education decided to bring stakeholders, parents and guardians together as part of its mandate to sensitize the community on the importance of quality education in the lives ofr children, especially when the Entrance Examination for admission into the Colleges is coming up in April for the National Common Entrance Examination and May for the Gifted Examination.
” It is our desire that the state will put in place all the necessary machinery to assist those in the rural areas and the less privileged in the society, who desire a secondary education that is affordable and of remarkable standard ” the Minister urged.
Speaking, the Zonal Director North West National Examination Council Dr. Charles E. Udoh commended the present administration of Abba Kabiru Yusuf for the support and cooperation it has been giving to the National Body since inception.
He maintained that NECO had remained the dear host to the state and would continue to provide the best services needed to improve quality of education in the state.
Receiving the delegate in his office, the state Commissioner of Education Alhaji Umar Haruna Doguwa said Kano State Government would continue to be more Committed to it’s policies on educational development.
He explained that the United Nations benchmark on education remains 25% but with commitment of the present administration on education, the government sets aside 29.97% of its budget for education.
Umar Doguwa announced that even recently, the state had made all arrangements to register it’s students for the Federal Government Colleges, stressing that….” it is now an opportunity for us to start fresh through the most proper way and ensure that our students sit for next National Common Entrance Examination
” Kano being the most populated state, we are looking for more opportunities where our children can go and learn and thiat why we need assurance and cooperation especially from NECO ” said Doguwa.
He further urged the delegation to come up with moderlities targeted towards improving students enrollment in the National Common Entrance Examination and Gifted Examination
