FG to split unity colleges into basic, secondary schools

Secondary school students

The Federal Government has announced that the 115 Federal Unity Colleges in the country will soon be unbundled into basic and secondary schools.

The Minister of State for Education, Dr Yusuf Sununu, made this known during the opening of the Annual General Meeting of Principals of Unity Colleges in Abuja on Tuesday.

The event is themed: “Entrepreneurship Education: A Panacea for Self-Reliance and National Development.”

Sununu stated that the plan to unbundle the Unity Colleges aligns with the National Policy on Education.

The Minister explained that the unbundling of Federal Unity Colleges would, among other things, attract more funding to improve infrastructure, address teachers’ welfare, and create employment opportunities.

He added that the Ministry, with support from relevant government agencies, would ensure this is achieved in the shortest possible time.

Sununu said, “I want to emphasise the significance of fostering an entrepreneurial spirit in our youths, a spirit that will propel them toward self-reliance and contribute meaningfully to our nation’s development.

“Unemployment remains a pressing concern, and it is our collective responsibility to equip our students with the skills and mindset necessary to succeed.

“Entrepreneurship education offers a solution to this challenge as it prepares students to think creatively, innovatively, and develop the confidence to take calculated risks.”

Sununu called for the collaboration of the Principals as critical stakeholders to improve the educational landscape of the schools.

He further urged them to curb social vices, instil a maintenance culture among the students, and cooperate with their host communities for the overall security and growth of the Colleges.

Additionally, the Chairperson of the Principals of Federal Unity Schools, Dr Idowu Akinbamijo, said the meeting aimed to set the agenda for the coming year and build capacity for the tasks ahead.

NAN