FIC Report (Kano State) – The Federal Minister of Education Professor Tahir Mamman has expressed concerned about low enrollment of Students in to Federal Unity Colleges among the 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 quoter.
Prof. Mamman was speaking on Tuesday, 26 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 in to Federal Unity Colleges.
The Minster 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 Northern part of the country had low enrollment in the National Common Entrance Examination and Gifted Examination.
“Kano was the first among Northern States to introduce such sensitization campaign on students enrollment in to Federal Unity Colleges during which the state was having higher percentage among it’s counterpart but as of some years back, the enrollment had changed”, Said Tahir.
According to the Minister, last year, record shows that enrollment of students in to Federal Unity Colleges in Kano was just 574 candidates compared to 5000 candidates enrolled when this campaign was intensified in the state.
He explained that the essence of the advocacy visit was therefore to solicit for the unwavering support and commitment of all stakeholders, parents and guardians in boosting enrollment for the 2024 National Common Entrance Examination to ensure full utilization of the State quoter in to the Federal Unity 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 of education in the lives of our children, especially when the Entrance Examination for admission into the Federal Unity 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 coming National Common Entrance Examination.
“Kano being the most populated state, we are looking for more opportunity where our children can go and learn and this 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.
By KABIRU HARUNA
Asst Director (Information and Public Relations)
