Dayo Johnson

THE seven-month-old strike action embarked upon by staff of Polytechnics and Colleges of Education in the country has been described as not only regrettable but unfortunate.

Chairman, Governing Council of Adeyemi College of Education, Ondo in Ondo State, Ambassador John Musa Jen said this while speaking to Vanguard Learning.
Jen said the worrisome development was discussed at a retreat held in Kaduna recently which the Education Minister, Ezenwo Nyesom Wike attended.

According to him the Chairmen of colleges of Education are uncomfortable with the lingering strike action. He appealed to both parties to consider the interest of the education of the students who have been out of school in the last seven months.

Speaking on the upgrading of colleges of Education to a full fledged University of Education, the chairman said all stakeholders are been   carried along to realise this proposal.
According to him the National Assembly and state governments are working on this intention to become a reality.

Jen said 50th anniversary and 33rd special convocation ceremony of the College is scheduled to commence on May 7 this year.
According to him the ceremony covers 5147 graduands in the NCE, Degree and Sandwich Programmes from 2010 to 2012.

He pointed out that 1,622 are for NCE while 3,459 are Degrees. Four made first class, 416 second class upper, 1,831 second class lower, 1,106 third class while 102 made pass all totalling 3459.

He said that ten   projects include the Vocation and education complex, Centre for Education technology, Counselling Laboratory, Early Childhood complex, Blocks of Staff Offices, Multi-Media Micro Laboratory, a 500- twin lecture theatre to accomodate 1000 students, Fine and Applied Art studio and Home Economics textile Laboratory.

Those to be awarded College Fellowships include Minister of Communication Technologuy Omobola Johnson, Founder of Afe Babalola University Ado Ekiti (ABUA) Aare Afe Babalola, Director General National Teachers Institute NTI, Kaduna, Dr Aminu Ladan Sharehu and Chairman Pacesetters Group oF schools Abuja, Kenneth Imansuangbon.