FG To Pay Undergraduates Studying Education N75,000

By Our Correspondent

The Federal Government has proposed to pay the sum of N75,000 per semester for undergraduates studying education courses in public institutions and N50,000 for those who enroll for a National Certificate In Education (N.C.E.) programme.

The Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, disclosed this on Tuesday during the celebration of this year’s World Teachers’ Day in Abuja as the Federal Government reintroduces bursary awards.

The Ministry also noted that it will liaise with the Ministries of Education in the 36 states including the FCT Education Board, to identify respective courses of study required by each state after which N150,000 will be awarded for undergraduates and N100,000 for NCE students.

“Beneficiaries must attend public institutions only and sign a bond to serve their state for five (5) years on graduation,” a statement from the ministry read.

According to Adamu, the fund would be sourced from UBEC, TETFund, and managed by the Federal Scholarship Board.

Beneficiaries will also be awarded a sponsorship to at least one refresher training per annum.

As part of efforts to further boost the quality of education in the country, Adamu says the Federal Government’s plans to establish a polytechnic in each of the states of the federation where none exists presently, are underway.

Construction is expected to take off in phases in Kaltungo, Bauchi State: Daura, Katsina State; Monguno, Borno State; Shendam, Plateau State, Wannune, Benue State; Ugep, Cross River State; Ayede, Oyo State; Ohodo, Enugu State; and Orogun in Delta State.

The minister added that the Federal Government has also approved the establishment of six new Federal Colleges of Education to be located in Iwo, Osun State: Ekhadolor, Edo State; Gidan Madi, Sokoto State; Odugbo, Benue State: Jama’are, Bauchi State and Isu, Ebonyi State.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) says primary and secondary school teachers in states yet to implement the new National Minimum Wage may soon be forced to withdraw their services.