The federal government has approved a six-year ban on the establishment of new universities, polytechnics and colleges of education across the country. The decision was taken during a Federal Executive Council meeting presided over by President Bola Tinubu in Abuja on Wednesday.
The Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, told State House correspondents that the moratorium is aimed at addressing challenges related to financial sustainability and educational quality. He noted that while there are many institutions, demand for quality education remains high, with limited capacity to absorb applicants.
Alausa highlighted data from the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board showing over 2.3 million applicants for university places in the last exam cycle, with fewer than 228,000 securing space in public universities. He said the ban will allow oversight and support for existing institutions, both public and private, to become more financially stable.
Also Read: Chelsea Appoints Liam Rosenior Head Coach on Six-Year Deal
The council also approved the restoration of the National Commission for Mass Literacy, Adult and Non-Formal Education to full independent status to help tackle Nigeria’s literacy challenges. Other measures include recognising medical fellowships as equivalent to PhD qualifications and comprehensive insurance coverage for federal unity schools.
Leave feedback about this
You must be logged in to post a comment.