Minister for Education, Prof Tahir Mamman, shared concerns about the low number of students attending Federal Unity Colleges in the northern region during a visit to the Kano State Ministry of Education.
He emphasized that these colleges were established to offer high-quality secondary education but noted that many Northern States were struggling to meet their quota.
Representing Prof Mamman, Mrs. Edith Osanyinpejun, the deputy director and head of junior secondary education, highlighted the importance of increasing enrolment for the National Common Entrance Examination (NCEE) and Gifted Examination into Federal Unity Colleges.
The Minister said, “The Entrance Examination for admission into the Federal Unity Colleges is coming up next month while the National Common Entrance Examination comes up in 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 a remarkable standard.”
She mentioned that data from the National Examination Council (NECO) showed low enrolment rates in these exams across most Northern States.
Prof Mamman praised Kano State for previously leading in student enrolment efforts but expressed disappointment in recent trends showing a decline in enrolment numbers.
Last year, only 574 students enrolled in Federal Unity Colleges in Kano compared to 5000 when enrolment campaigns were more active.
The purpose of the advocacy visit was to seek support from stakeholders, parents, and guardians to boost enrolment for the 2024 National Common Entrance Examination.
Prof Mamman emphasized the importance of quality education and urged the community to prioritize it for their children.
Dr. Charles E. Udoh, the Zonal director of Northwest Examination Council, lauded the support of the Abba Kabiru Yusuf administration and assured continued assistance to improve education quality in Kano State.
Alhaji Umar Haruna Doguwa, the Commissioner of Education, affirmed the state government’s commitment to educational development, stating that 29.97% of the budget is allocated to education, surpassing the United Nations benchmark of 25%.
He also mentioned the state’s recent efforts to register students for Federal Government Colleges.
