Don canvasses dual mode system for colleges of education

The Provost, Federal College of Education (Technical) Akoka, Dr. Wahab Azeez, has stressed the need for the Federal Government to allow colleges run dual mode education system.

Azeez, who stated this during the 2020/2021 Nigeria Certificate In Education (NCE) and Professional Diploma In Education (PDE) matriculation, said the only way to address challenges in the sector is to allow colleges of education run dual mode, where those admitted to study teacher education are allowed to spend three years and additional two years for a degree.

The provost said the system would be an added advantage to the sector.

He lamented that students enrolment into the college this year was lower than that of last year because many applicants prefer university and polytechnics, and only consider colleges of education as last option.

The don said: “This has been a yearly problem faced by most colleges of education in Nigeria. Admission is getting very competitive as colleges of education, including federal, states and privates, are springing up on a monthly basis.  We are all sourcing candidates from the same society.

“Secondly, FCE is not a conventional college of education where you run courses like English, Yoruba, and religious studies, it is science-based. The same requirement needed in a university to run science courses is being used for colleges of education. That is why the intake is affected.

Speaking on the affiliation of the institution to the University of Benin, Edo State, he said the FCE is capable of running a degree programme on its own.

He said: “We have presented it to the FG to allow colleges of education like FCE, Akoka, run degree programmes. Most private universities granted licences to operate do not have the facilities that we have here.”

The provost urged the new students to attend lectures regularly and punctually.

A total of 635 were admitted for NCE while 92 students came in for PDE in various programmes.