The ongoing effort towards the development of education in Nigeria has gained a boost as the bill which seeks to establish a University of Education in Pankshin, Plateau State, has passed the third reading on the floor of the House of Representatives.
This move is seen as part of efforts by lawmakers to perpetuate the proliferation of universities in the country. Already, the state is home to the University of Jos, a second generation federal university.
The bill was passed at the Committee of the Whole, following the adoption of the report and recommendations of the House Committee on Tertiary Education chaired by Honourable Aminu Suleiman.
The objectives of the university, as stipulated in the bill, include: “to encourage the advancement of learning and to hold out to all persons without distinction of race, creed, sex or political conviction; develop and offer academic programmes leading to the award of certificates, first degrees, post-graduate, diploma and higher degrees with emphasis on planning, developmental and adaptive skills in education, technology and so forth.”
The university is also expected to “act as agents and catalysts for effective educational system, through postgraduate training, research and innovation, for effective economic utilisation and conservation of the country’s human resources as well as bring quality change in education by focusing on teacher education through teaching and learning innovations.”
The bill also empowers the university to collaborate with other national and international institutions that are involved in training, research and development of education with a view to promoting governance, leadership and management skills among educational managers; and identify educational needs of the society with a view to finding solutions to them within the context of overall national development.
The institution is expected to provide and promote sound basic education training as a foundation for the development of Nigeria, taking into account indigenous culture and the need to enhance national unity; provide higher education and foster a systematic advancement of the science and act of teacher education; and provide for instruction in such branches of teacher education as it may deem necessary to make provision for research advancement and dissemination of knowledge in such manner as it may determine, among others.
Clause 1(k) further empower University to provide teachers with operational competence for teaching in pre-tertiary institutions, basic, senior secondary schools and non-formal educational institutions; and undertake any other activity that is appropriate for a university of education of the highest standard.
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