Abuja tech university to be completed in 2018 – Secretary
Many factors are said to have contributed to the delay in the takeoff of academic activities at Abuja University of Technology, Abaji (AUTA). The Education Secretary, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Senator Isa Maina, in this interview explained the opti
There are challenges facing education in the territory, what new plans do you have for the system?
I have a very short plan for the want of time as FCT education secretary. You are aware of Abuja University of Technology, Abaji (AUTA), which we have been trying to complete for over 10 years now. It is my hope that this year, business activities will commence on that university. My second priority is to ensure that the College of Education Zuba that has been at a temporary site for over 20 years will move to its permanent site this year.
We will also look at the secondary schools system in the FCT and try to tackle overcrowding in classrooms. We shall improve science and technical education because it is important to the development of any nation. Vocational education can prepare students for high quality jobs and plan to see that children acquire education to be self reliant.
From your findings, what would you say led to the delay in the project and what recommendations are you making?
Well, I don’t want to really talk about issues like this but I am tempted to say I didn’t see seriousness in it. I am aware that in some states, the year the decision to establish a university was made, work was completed and academic activities started. Unfortunately, we commissioned the wrong people to advise government on this issue. That is why there is a problem.
One of the marching orders I got from the FCT minister is that by 2018, academic activities should commence at the university immediately. You know the minister is passionate about university education that is why he is giving me all the support and confidence to ensure that the university commences this year.
How far have you gone in liaising with the National Universities Commission (NUC) in ensuring that the university meets all the guidelines of accreditation?
The NUC, which is the regulatory body, requires three documents to accredit a university. There is academic plan, the master plan and the draft law. The draft law has just gone to the secondary reading in the National Assembly. We are working on the academic brief and fiscal planning. We are now sending a memo to the executive council for approval and as soon as it is approved we will submit it to the NUC.
The structures are already there, it is just the finishing touches. We have it in the 2017 budget to complete the laboratories of physics, chemistry and biology. We are about to give contract for the completion of this project.
Is it true that the host community insists that the vice chancellor must be selected from there, contrary to what the government wants?
There is an implementation committee set up by the previous administration which was headed by Professor Buba Bajoga and some other members to advise government on the production of these documents but nobody has even proposed a vice chancellor. As a matter of fact, somebody came to my office with his curriculum vitae and wanted to be considered for the position.
So it is not true. As a matter of fact the people are so anxious to have this university in their community. You can’t insist that a vice chancellor must come from your community. The university needs a qualified person as vice chancellor.
What efforts are you making to address the issue of overcrowding and inadequate teachers in FCT schools?
You may be surprised to hear that over 90 per cent of FCT schools are in the rural areas. Most of the schools are not very accessible. Most teachers don’t want to go to the rural areas. We are now coming to adopt a policy on teaching. We are on the verge of recruiting teachers and any teacher recruited has to go to rural area, if you don’t want to your appointment will be terminated.
Under my watch, if a teacher is employed he must go to the rural areas. We cannot have a situation where there are no teachers in our rural schools.
On overcrowding, we are going to build a lot of classrooms. We are also considering starting morning and afternoon sessions to decongest the classes. I can assure you things will be done to address these issues.
Most schools have no instructional materials and security fencing. What do you plan to solve these problems?
The short supply of revenue in the country generally has affected this effort, especially in the last year. Simply, government did not have money to do some things but I can assure you that as soon as the new financial year begins, we are going to start massive fencing of FCT schools. We are aware of encroachment in some schools due to lack of fence.
The issue of instructional materials depends on money. We are making provision in the 2018 budget to make sure we address this issue of fencing and instructional materials. We want to reach out to donor agencies to come to our aid on this aspect.
UBEC has built a Junior Girls Model School and handed it over to FCT UBEB. What is the stage of enrolment there presently?
I went to the school last week. You are right to say UBEC handed over the school but they made a request for purchase of furniture but there was insufficient money at the time and delay in approval but which was subsequently given. You see, UBEC gave us school structure without equipment and you know UBEC has different financial year with FCT; so we have to wait for FCT financial year to get the money. I am glad to tell you that money was released, you can even go to the school next week and you will see the changes.
The FCT School for the Blind has been facing many challenges, have you captured the school in your budget?
We are going to make some changes in that school. We don’t want to take education lightly. I assure you that as soon as our budget is approved we will deal with the challenges.
Are you facing challenges in managing the education system?
One of the major problems confronting education is inadequate financial resources, but government is doing its best.