NANS Threatens Mass Action Against Alleged Reversal Of Upgraded Federal Varsities Of Education
SAN FRANCISCO, August 13, (THEWILL) – The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) Zone B said Thursday that it was rejecting in its entirety the alleged planned reversal to status quo ante the recently upgraded Colleges of Education to Federal University of Education.
Describing the reversal allegedly being planned by President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration as a retrogressive educational policy, NANS said the alleged plan should be condemned by all sane minds as it threatened mass action against the alleged plan.
A statement signed for (NANS) Zone B by its Public Relations Officer (PRO), Pedro Obi, said: “It should be noted that the purpose of the establishment of the colleges of education in Nigeria is to train serious minded fellow to be efficient in teaching and in a way that is morally acceptable in the society at large.”
“However, there are limitations to the level where the colleges of education graduates can teach. It is a known fact that the highest level NCE graduates can teach is Junior secondary schools and this has greatly affected the education sector as evident by the invasion of misfit into the teaching profession.”
“This is however, one of the problems of professionalisation of teaching. It is expected of an individual who have obtained his bachelor degree in education to be inducted into the Teachers Registration council of Nigeria (TRCN), and the faculties of education in our conventional universities cannot adequately cater for the number of qualified and professional teachers that our country needs.”
“This limitation no doubt explains the reason, why 95 percent of today NCE graduates tends to apply for degree programmes through direct entry in order to avoid the discrimination associated with NCE holders. To some school of thought, it is a waste of scarce resources, which explains while many people run away from colleges of education.”
“Also reversal of the upgrade will greatly affect those who already applied for admission into these institutions with the mindset of pursuing a degree programme. This will no doubt further contribute to the congestion of our conventional universities by admission seekers instead of decongesting same.”
“As an educational based universities, their primary mandate is to produce qualified teachers who are lacking in our society, Therefore, NANS has no option but rejects this draconian policy in all ramification before it is too late, as we rather call for the upgrade of more colleges to universities of education in Nigeria.”
“NANS has equally identified that most colleges of Education are running degree programmes in affiliation with universities, the question now is, who is deceiving who?”
“We hereby call on this administration to shelve any such plan to reverse the upgrade of these colleges in the overall interest of the Nigerian masses and the educational sector or be ready to face mass action by Nigerian students.”