Executive Secretary.of National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE), Prof. Paulinus Chijioke Okwelle, has urged the newly inaugurated Chairmen and members of Colleges of Education (COE) Governing Councils to use multifaceted approach to address the challenges in the system.
Speaking at a retreat organised for the new Council members in Abuja on Thursday, Prof Okwelle said the colleges of education have faced several challenges that require their immediate attention and concerted efforts.
He listed the challenges to include inadequate Funds as a major hindrance to the development and smooth operation of the colleges and dwindling enrolments into NCE Programmes
He said inadequate funds affect infrastructure development, staff welfare, and the overall quality of education.
“We must explore innovative ways to secure additional funding and make optimal use of available resources.”
On dwindling enrolments into NCE Programmes, he said it poses a threat to the sustainability of colleges and overall quality of the education.
He noted that several factors contribute to this decline, including the perception of teaching as a less attractive career option and competition from other tertiary institutions.
He said to address the challenges, they must adopt a multifaceted approach of enhancing the appeal of teaching, promoting teaching as a rewarding and noble profession through targeted campaigns and incentives and improving programme quality and ensuring that NCE programmes are rigorous, relevant, and aligned with contemporary educational needs among others.8 that establish Federal Colleges of Education, as they are the foundation upon which the institutions are built, and they provide the framework for governance, operations, and academic activities.
While assuring them of the commission’s maximum support to make their work easy and deliver on their mandate creditably, he disclosed that at the end of the retreat, a Committee of Chairmen of governing Council would be constituted with a staff of the commission as a Desk Officer for the purpose of liaising with and interfacing with FME, NCCE Management, Committee of Federal Provosts as others as the need arises.
He advised them.on the need to also follow the law diligently.
Speaking, the Director of Colleges of Education at the Federal Ministry of Education, Uchenna Uba who represented the Minister of Education Prof Tahir Mamman, said their contributions would directly impact the development of educators, who will in turn, transform the minds and future of many young Nigerians positively.
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