Lagos — The 55th Session of the National Council on Education (NCE), the federal government's highest decision-making body in the education sector, has again directed that tertiary institutions should not charge more than N1, 000 as processing fee per candidate for the post-Universities Marticulation Examination (post-UME) and post Monotechnics, Polytechnics and Colleges of Education (post-MPCE) screening exercises.

In a communiqué issued at the end of the meeting last Friday, the schools were also directed to institutionalise standard test instruments and transparency in the post screening exercise and release the results within two weeks.

Since the tests were introduced about four years ago, the federal government had repeatedly directed institutions conducting them to charge no more than N1, 000 for them, to no avail.

It ordered the immediate closure of all illegal tertiary institutions in the country and solicited the support of law enforcement agencies in the implementation of this decision.

The National Examinations Council (NECO) was also directed to modify its website for on-line registration of candidates for the SSCE that would allow initial off-line validation procedures for a minimum of 14 days before sending the entries online into the website and to release all backlog of SSCE certificates to schools at no cost.

The meeting also directed the immediate implementation of the Converged Examination Management Technology Platform (CEMTP) to reduce the incidence of examination malpractice and cost, as well as facilitate data management of data; while states and the FCT are to commence the immediate use of continuous assessment instruments in Basic Education schools nationwide.

Other far-reaching decisions taken at the week-long meeting, hosted by the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja and presided over by the Minister for Education, Dr. Sam Egwu, include the approval of the National Teacher Education Policy (NTEP), which prescribes the minimum standards for teachers and actions required of all stakeholders, to guide the production of teachers in adequate number and quality; strategies for their training and the enabling environment for them to be effective and efficient.

Closely linked to this was the approval of the Education Quality Assurance Policy and Handbook; and the National Information Technology Education Framework (NITEF). The federal ministry of education is expected to expedite action on the establishment of a National Quality Assurance Commission.

The meeting also approved the application of a 10-year Strategic Plan and Three-year Operational Plan that would guide the allocation of public funds in the development of education in the states and Local Government Areas; and the first batch of the revised Senior Secondary School (SSS) curricula in 17 subjects.

Among others, the council noted the enormous challenges facing the country in meeting the Education for All (EFA) and Millennium Development Goals (MDGs); the need for greater access to educational opportunities at all levels for Nigerian citizens; the need for educational institutions to respond to societal needs for relevance in order to produce a workforce that can meet the country's challenges; implementation of inclusive education to cater for all, especially the girl-child, children with special needs and the under-privileged;

Others were, the need for integration and domestication of intervention projects by development partners for sustainability; usefulness of Entrepreneurship Education in improving and accelerating human capacity building; launching of the Computer Education curriculum for the teaching and learning of Computer Studies at the Basic Education level; dearth of manpower as a major challenge in the implementation of policies in the education of children with special needs, the need for massive training of teachers for effective implementation of the new nine-year Basic Education curricula.

There is also the initiative of the Computer Professionals Registration Council of Nigeria (CPN) to carry out the accreditation of all private computer outfits in the country in order to establish standards; the poor student enrolment in Technical and Vocational Education (TVE) across the country and its attendant implications for the realisation of the seven-Point Agenda and the attainment of Vision 2020; and the need to improve the capacity of State Agencies for Mass Education through greater funding and use of ICT for better and effective service delivery.

At the Ministerial Session,

Midway into the Ministerial Session, which was attended by the Director-General of UNESCO, Mr. Kochiro Matsuura and his team, Dr. Egwu, in his keynote address had stressed the need for commitment of all stakeholders to the country's development and the resolve to make it one of the 20 largest economies of the world by year 2020.

He reiterated the central role of education in achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and as a platform for advancing national development through the seven-Point Agenda of this administration and regretted the slow draw-down of UBE intervention fund by States, which has serious consequences on the implementation of the UBE programme

The council therefore urged states and the FCT to increase the pace of accessing the UBE Intervention Funds to enable government to achieve its developmental goals; to employ Federal Teachers Scheme (FTS) teachers and make their appointment permanent and pensionable;

The office of the Head of Service of the Federation is to look into the issue of disparity existing between the graduate teachers in primary schools and those of secondary schools, concerning salary progression and terminal grade levels;

Science and technology education professional bodies, development partners and the private sector, among others, are to collaborate with federal and state ministries of education in organising capacity-building programmes in Science and Technology Education (STE);

All levels of government, private proprietors and non-governmental organisations are also to promote Technical and Vocational Education (TVE) through the establishment of more technical and vocational institutions, increased funding, equipping and staffing of existing schools to ensure the production of high quality middle-level manpower for the country;

The National Teachers' Institute (NTI) was called upon to extend the Special Teachers' Upgrading Programme (STUP) to teachers in schools for nomads, migrant fishermen and farmers.

Federal and state ministries of education, as well as the FCT are to vigorously monitor the implementation of Drug Education Curriculum in schools and support drug free clubs; as well as indigent and gifted students by way of scholarships, bursaries and other incentives that may support them while in school;

Federal, States and the FCT to expand the carrying capacity of tertiary institutions responsible for the training of teachers in readiness for the impending high enrolment for inclusive education programmes;

States and the FCT are to sustain the READ Campaign through the provision of more libraries and replenishment of existing ones;

stem the tide of adolescent crisis through: the teaching of Civic and Moral Education in schools; provision of sports and games facilities and equipment in schools; encouraging students to participate in extra-curricular activities and clubs such as the Boys' Scout, Girls Guide, Man-O-War Bay, etc, which positively impact on discipline and socialisation; encouraging the PTA and School-Based Management Committees (SBMCs), religious leaders and traditional rulers to initiate programmes that will enhance discipline and national consciousness in the Nigerian youths; and re-introducing the culture of morning/afternoon assemblies in schools.

The minister also stressed the need to establish an accountability system by which states and educational agencies that meet their targets are commended and those who do not are sanctioned so that a clear message is sent about holding public officers accountable in delivering their mandate; greater collaboration among Federal, States and Local Education Authorities and creating a more efficient communication process to achieve synergy; and the need to harmonise the efforts of all stakeholders in order to leverage and maximise the use of resources, reduce redundancy and share best practices.

Minister of State for Education, Hajiya Aishatu Jibril Dukku delivered the welcome address, while the Minister of State of the FCT, Abuja, Chief Chuka Odom declared the meeting open on behalf of the Minister of FCT, Senator Mohammadu Adamu Aliero. The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, Dr. Goke Adegoroye, chaired the three-day Officials' meeting. The 56th meeting of the NCE is to hold in Imo State.