By Uche Amunike
The sums of N150,000 and N100,000 has been earmarked respectively for every undergraduate in an Education program and NCE students as bursary in universities and Colleges of Education throughout the country.
This reintroduction of bursary in Nigerian universities and Colleges of Education was announced by the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu in his keynote address delivered at the 2021 World Teachers Day celebration in Abuja, Tuesday.
He stated that the reintroduction of the bursary formed part of the resolutions of the National Implementation Committee constituted by the Federal government following Buhari’s pronouncements in rebranding the nation’s Education sector and the teaching profession particularly during the 2020 world teachers day celebration.
He also added that the Ministry will collaborate with the thirty-six state Education Ministries, including that of the FCT in order to proceed with effecting the new scheme.
They are expected to identify the respective courses of study required by every state while the beneficiaries must attend public institutions only and sign a bond to serve their state for five years on graduation, he said.
According to him, the funds will be sourced from UBEC, TETfund and managed by the Federal Scholarship Board.
His Ministry, he added, shall collaborate with agencies like NTI, TRCN, CPN, NUC, NCCE, UBEC, PTDF, TETFund, and non-governmental organisations to organize trainings in pedagogy and information and communication technology for academic and non-academic staff.
He assured that UBEC, TETFund and PTDF will assist in sponsoring the annual training, while the Federal government will join hands with recognized institutions like Federal Government Staff Housing Loans Board, Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria, FME Staff Welfare, NUT and FGSLB, to sponsor affordable homes for teachers on a build-operate-and-transfer basis.
He also added that the type of house to be built depends on a range determined by grade level and personal choice, talking about two or three bedroom homes for middle-level officers and four bedroom homes or duplex for senior-level and directorate cadre.
As for the special salary scale for those in basic and secondary schools, including provisions for rural posting, science teachers and peculiar allowances, he stated that advocacy and sensitization to critical stakeholders like representatives of state governments, ALGON, NUT, OPSON, NAPPS and others will be approached for their buy-in.
He also said that a survey of the six geo-political zones of the country will be carried out, to find out from state and local governments the situations prevalent in their respective areas for an informed decision.
Mallam Adamu also further stated that the committee’s document presently awaits presentation to the National Council on Establishment, Head of Civil Service of the Federation and the Federal Executive Council for adoption.
He also give his assurances that frantic efforts are being made to implement the resolutions that will complement the delivery of effective and equitable standard education which will advance development and help contribute to the evolution of an egalitarian, indivisible, indissoluble, strong, democratic, prosperous, sovereign nation.
