A bill for establishment of Federal College of Education, Afon, Kwara State, yesterday scaled second reading in House of Representatives.
Its sponsor, Muktar Shagaya, said the bill, read for the first time on July 25, 2023, is of significance to the educational sector and national development.
Leading the debate on its general principles, he said education is the bedrock of every society.
Shagaya said a sound and robust educational system is predicated on availability of qualified and well trained teachers to impact knowledge, skills, discipline and values on students.
Thus, he said, there’s need for a strong system in the sector to produce well qualified, trained and disciplined teachers.
“Mr. Speaker, colleagues, permit me to highlight a glaring inequity in our nation’s educational system: Kwara State, despite its strategic location and rich cultural and educational heritage, remains without a federal college of education. This stands in contrast to the progress in other states and leaves Kwara underserved in teacher training and professional development.
“Of the 36 states and Federal Capital Territory, Kwara is among the minority that lacks a federal institution to train teachers. This is a critical gap that we must address to ensure equitable access to quality education for Nigerians,” he said.
He said establishment of the institution will provide equitable access to teacher training and education, address shortage of qualified teachers, boost local and regional development, support Federal Government’s Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) as well as Community Readiness and Commitment
“Mr Speaker, colleagues, establishment of federal college of education in Afon, Kwara State, is not just a matter of equity but also a critical investment. This Bill seeks to address shortage of qualified teachers, reduce educational inequality, and enhance the quality of education in Nigeria.
“The Economic Recovery and Growth Plan of the Federal Government is in tandem with the provision of this Bill as it is set to improve teacher quality by incentivising performance and building capabilities and capacities,” he said.
