By Stephen Adeleye.
The Kogi State Government has restated its determination to sanction any operator of private tertiary institutions that failed to adhere to the education guidelines and directives in the state.
The State’s Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Hon. Wemi Jones, stated this when the proprietress and management of Gloryland Polytechnic, Ankpa, paid a ‘thank you’ visit to his office on Wednesday in Lokoja.
The Gloryland Polytechnic, Ankpa, recently got approval of accreditation for six of its academic programmes by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE).
The commissioner said that Kogi Government is rebranding education, and could not afford to have private operators who would mess up the system.
He stressed that substandard and illegal private schools especially tertiary institutions had done enough damage to education in the state.
”The Government under the leadership of Governor Yahaya Bello will not allow all the efforts being put to education to be wasted.
”Owners of private educational institutions especially the tertiary institutions are advised to follow the foot step of Gloryland polytechnic, Anpka, who had heeded the call of the government.
”The school had gone ahead to do the needful by ensuring that National Board for Technical Education, gave full recognition and accreditation to their programmes.
”The same way I called Gloryland to my office and advised them was the same way I invited several other operators of all private tertiary institutions in in the state.
”The Gloryland took it as a call to duty, and in less than three years of my meeting with them, they have done the needful and now have all the necessary approvals,” he said.
The commissioner noted that the ultimatum given to those other private tertiary institutions would soon expire.
Jones stressed that the ministry would soon invite them to get update on what the institutions have been able to achieve.
He added that the Ministry would then consider and see how far they have gone, saying those that are making steady progress would be considered.
The commissioner warned that those private schools that have turned deaf ears to the government’s directive would definitely be sanctioned.
Jones commended the Governor for given the ministry free hand to drive his vision of revamping education in the state.
He commended the proprietress and management of Gloryland Polytechnic for taking the lead in ensuring compliance with the government directive.
He, however advised them to build on the achievement by creating a formidable research department with strong internet facility that would enhance their feat in technical and vocational education.
The commissioner further assured the school of the Ministry’s continuous support and advice to becoming a formidable standard private institution in the state.
Earlier, the School Proprietress, Hajia Vivian Idama, expressed her joy over the accreditation of the six courses by NBTE.
Idama commended the commissioner for playing a significant role in ensuring that the school gained approval of the Federal Ministry of Education.
She thanked the governor for making sure that education in Kogi was not hampered by industrial actions, insecurity and sociopolitical disruptions.
”By the special grace of God, as an institution, we will continue to adhere strictly to the education guidelines of the ministry as well as the advice of the commissioner,” she said.
In his vote of thanks, the school Rector, Dr. Lawrence Awodi, thanked the state government for its efforts at creating a conducive environment for businesses to thrive in the state.
”We are not only focused on contributing to the educational sector but we hope to make meaning in other key sectors,” Awodi said.
The accredited academic programmes by NBTE include: National Diploma in Computer Science, Statistics, Accountancy, Business Administration & Management.
Others are: ND Computer Engineering Technology, and Electrical/Electronics Engineering Technology.
