Unity Colleges admission: Wike urges principals to adhere to guideline

Posted by African Examiner News Thursday, April 25th, 2013

Minister of State for Education, Barr. Ezenwo Nyesom Wike has
called on principals of Federal Government Colleges to strictly
adhere to the Federal Government’s guidelines and criteria while
conducting admissions into Junior Secondary School, JSS, one
classes.

Wike who spoke on Monday in Abuja while flagging off the 2013
selection and placement exercise into Federal Unity Colleges in
Mararaba, Nasarawa State urged the principals to be fair to all
applicants.

He said: “The demand for placement has continued exponentially to
outstrip the availability of places and facilities in most of our unity
colleges. Every parent whose child has applied for admission to any
of the schools logically expects placement of his or her child in their
preferred college of choice.

” Ordinarily, this should be the situation, however, the reality may be
different when it comes to admission into unity colleges because of
the larger role and interest they are established to serve.”

The Minister noted that automatic admission cannot be guaranteed
for every applicant, stressing however that principals must not
unfairly deny placement to any qualified candidate who meets the
mandatory requirements to the college of his/her choice.

According to him, the vision of the Jonathan administration is to
ensure that the unity colleges become the best possible places for
the education and training of Nigerian children, irrespective of their
socio-economic status.

The Minister stated: “The translation of this vision into reality
requires that all unity colleges must be provided with adequate
number of quality teachers, adequate and appropriate leaning
facilities, conducive and least restrictive environments, an effective
school management and a committed instructional leadership”.

He noted that the Federal Ministry of Education is committed to
transforming and re-positioning of all Federal Unity Colleges,
irrespective of their location.

“It is important to remind you that as principals you must see
yourselves as leaders who are directly responsible for achieving
qualitative improvement in our unity college”, he said.

In his remarks, director, Basic and Secondary Education of the
Federal Ministry of Education, Chike Uwaezuoke assured the
minister that the guidelines for the admission of candidates for the
Unity Colleges.

The 2013 selection and placement exercise will last five days and
students will be admitted into 101 Federal Unity Colleges. The other
three schools will hold their placement at later dates.

The meeting is being attended by 101 principals of the Federal Unity
Colleges and officials of the Federal Ministry of Education
headquarters.