Bauchi Govt. Shuts 39 Colleges of Education

By Idris Ayinde

The Bauchi state government says it has closed down 39 private colleges of education in the state.

The Commissioner for Higher Education, Mrs Lydia Tsammani stated this in a news conference in Bauchi on Thursday.

According to her, the affected colleges of education were found to have put nothing in place and without the approval of the National Commission for Colleges of Education.

The Commissioner said “39 were found to be without anything.

“They were either operating in a primary school and when the school closes, then the NCE programmes start with even primary school and secondary school teachers as their teachers.

“They even borrowed teachers because they don’t have anything to make them stand as a college.

She said that the state government also resolved that all colleges of education operating without permission from her ministry and NCCE but have permanent structures be given six months within which to complete their registration or face closure.

The commissioner, however, explained that a total of 12 colleges of education operating with National Commission for Colleges of Education’s approval should be allowed to continue but with conditions.

She said the schools must employ qualified permanent staff because it was discovered that they were still operating with ‘borrowed’ staff, a trend she said if persisted, would be met with sanctions.

“They should pay the annual renewal dues. Since 2019 they have not paid these dues that were supposed to be paid to the government through the Ministry of Higher Education.

“They must ensure that it’s only qualified candidates they are admitting because it was discovered that some of them are just interested in the school fees that the student would pay.

“They must also ensure continuous upgrade of school facilities and equipment. Some of them are still using analogue typewriters in their offices in this digital era,” said the commissioner.

=============