By Miracle Ogunde
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, has stated that the increasing demand for education makes the establishment of more colleges of education imperative.
According to him, the 205 federal, state and privately-owned Colleges of Education are not enough to meet the education needs of Nigerians.
Abbas made the remarks at a public hearing in Abuja on Tuesday, on a bill on Colleges of Education and Teachers Training Schools in Nigeria.
He said, “On the face value, this number looks substantial. However, when considered against the backdrop of Nigeria’s population of about 230m, with over 60 per cent under the age of 24 years, the demand for education makes the number of existing colleges of education in Nigeria quite insignificant.
“Therefore, these bills seeking to establish 10 Colleges of Education should be seen as relevant, appropriate and justified.”
Abbas identified human capital as the key driver of development in any society, stressing that material resources, though important, will remain dormant until they are activated and galvanised by human knowledge, skills and innovation for national development, social mobility and economic empowerment.
“One way to sustain education is through the ceaseless production of well-trained and highly skilled teachers for primary and secondary education.
“It is pertinent, therefore, that we continue to strengthen teacher education in Nigeria by expanding access to quality institutions that will train the next generation of educators”, Abbas said.
Justifying the need to establish more education training schools, the Speaker said, “The establishment of new federal Colleges of Education will not only improve the training of professional teachers, but will also foster educational development, create employment opportunities, and stimulate socio-economic growth in the host communities.
“The House recognises the urgent need to expand access to quality teacher education, especially in underserved regions. These bills before the Committee today represent a significant step in ensuring equitable distribution of educational institutions, fostering national integration, and promoting human capital development.
“The proposed Federal Colleges of Education will not only train future teachers but also contribute to research, innovation, and the socio-economic growth of their host communities.”
The Speaker added that the public hearing serves as a critical step in the legislative process, providing stakeholders with the opportunity to contribute to the refinement of these bills, adding that the House believes strongly in inclusive governance and stakeholder engagement.
Also speaking, the Chairman, House Committee on Colleges of Education, Adamu Tanko, said education must be prioritised by the government across all levels in the nation’s drive toward national development.
He said the establishment of new federal Colleges of Education is a critical step in addressing the gaps in teacher training, strengthening the educational sector and building the skilled workforce needed to drive national development.
In his contribution, House Leader, Prof Julius Ihonvbere, lamented that many colleges lack quality teachers hence the need to have more training institutions that will enhance the manpower need.
On his part, Anamero Dekeri, who is sponsoring the Federal College of Education Technical in Ogute-Oke, Okpella, Edo State stressed the need to focus on technical education to advance the course of development in the country.
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