By Princess-Ekwi Ajide, Abuja
The President of Senior Staff Union in Colleges of Education, Nigeria SSUCOEN, Mr. Danladi Msheliza, has stressed the importance of mainstreaming of staff of demonstration schools in Colleges of Education (COE) and not seen as private entities.
Msheliza, made the plea when the Union visited the Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu in Abuja on Friday.
According to him, it is a requirement for graduating students of primary Education Studies (PES) and Early Childhood Care Education (ECCE).
The President of the Union, who lamented that the ministry gives prominence to to universities and polytechnics at their expense, implored the minister to give more prominence to issues of colleges of education especially as it relates to the non-payment of arrears of minimum wages of its staff.
He brought to the attention of the Minister, a document which emanated from his office in response to their letter requesting that demonstration schools should not be seen as private entities.
Msheliza, noted, that when salaries and wages commission wrote the Minister’s office for clarification on the status of possession of schools in colleges of education and the need to be mainstreamed, the response to them signed by the permanent secretary stated that the ministry had carefully examined their document and that the 2021 edition of the NCE on minimum standards for Early Child Care and Primary Education Studies should be established in demonstration schools.
He however, noted that there was no 2021 edition of the minimum standards but only had 2020 edition saying the minimum standards had clearly stated that demonstration schools shall be established within the vicinity of colleges.
The president, while speaking on revitalisation fund of the colleges, called on the minister to resume the stalled renegotiation of the 2010 FGN/SSUCOEN Agreement adding that there is need to release the approved revitalisation fund to colleges arising from the NEED Assessment exercise.
In his response, the Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu, said the ministry would constitute a committee to look at the letter and amend necessary areas especially as regards the demonstration schools of colleges of education.
The Minister also promised to look into all gray areas brought before him by the Union and attend to them appropriately.
