LAGOS AUGUST 13TH (URHOBOTODAY)-The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) Zone B has rejected the planned reversal to status quo ante the recently upgraded Colleges of Education to Federal Universities of Education in the federation.
The student in a statement made signed by the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Zone B, Public Relations Officer (PRO, Comrade Pedro Obi made available to URHOBOTODAY an online medium described the plan reversal as a retrogressive educational policy in this 21st century and should be condemned by all sane mind in this country.
Noting that the purpose of the establishment of the colleges of education in Nigeria is to train serious minded fellow to be efficient in teaching in a way that is morally acceptable in the society at large, the students however argued that 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 professionalization 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 carter for the number of qualified and professional teachers that our country needs.
“This limitation no doubt explains the reason, while 95% of today NCE graduates tends to apply for degree programmes through direct entry inorder 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,” the statement observed.
They equally mainatained that the reversal of the upgrade will greatly affect those who already applied for admission into these institutions with the mindset of pursuing a degree programme, stressing that such action would no doubt further contribute to the congestion of conventional universities by admission seekers instead of decongesting same.
“ As an educational based universities, their primary mandate is to produce qualified teachers whom 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 of 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 a mass action by the Nigerian Students,” the statemet threatened.