Egwu moves to resuscitate unity schools

THE Minister of Education, Dr. Sam Egwu has initiated plans to reposition the 102, Federal Government Colleges in the country in line with the vision of the present administration on education.

The schools, which were hitherto established as symbols of national integration and unity as a nation, apart from serving as models for state and private schools, have witnessed infrastructural collapse.

Irked by this trend, Dr. Egwu said that as Minister of Education, he would turn round the fortunes of the education sector and ensure that the schools regain their past glory.

He spoke in Abuja while inaugurating an 18-member committee drawn from the six geopolitical zones of the country, to carry out comprehensive assessment of the schools and come out with recommendations that would provide the government a roadmap to restructuring the schools.

“My administration is committed to restoring the lost glory of our model colleges. In a short while, a memorandum will be forwarded to the Federal Executive Council for consideration and approval of our repositioning of these schools.

“Over the years, the Federal Unity colleges have been the leading lights and reference points of academic excellence in secondary education in Nigeria. The students used to record the best results in Secondary School Certificate in Education (GCE) examinations at both Ordinary and Advanced levels.

“However, it is sad to note that one level of decay that has besieged these colleges in recent years had made them ghosts of what they used to be. The colleges are littered with dilapidated structures and abandoned projects.

“The performance of their students at public examinations has dropped to an alarming level of great concern. The composition of the various zonal committees is, therefore, to salvage this national monument from total collapse,” the minister stated.

Egwu, also disclosed that as part of the efforts to revamp the schools, “I intend to institute school-based management committees to complement the administration of the the schools and also efforts are being made to release the funds for capital projects of the colleges directly to the principals, and once that is done, the SBMCs will be expected to work with the principals for the execution of the approved projects under the strict supervision of the ministry.”