By Princess-Ekwi Ajide, Abuja
The Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, has directed principals of the 110 Unity Colleges in Nigeria to be guided by the principles of fairness,equity and good conscience in the conduct of the admission .
In a message to the body of Principals to kick-start this year’s admission, the Minister emphasized that the process must reflect the ideals of the founding fathers of unity colleges as centers of academic excellence and models for states and private schools as well as instruments for National integration and unity and as such, every part of the country must be given a sense of belonging in the admission exercise.
Speaking to the principals who converged on Benin city, the Edo State capital, through the Director Senior Secondary Education, Hajia Binta Abdulkadir, the Minister, noted that if we are to produce responsible citizens, we must stick to the rules so as to make the right choices of qualified candidates especially as a foundation for future academic excellence.
Adamu, reminded the principals, that they must stick to the National policy of the ratio of one teacher to forty students per class in line with UNESCO regulations, adding that the carrying capacity must be adhered to.
He emphasized that candidates who have applied for admission into Unity schools outside of their immediate communities should be given Priority and urged the Principals to adhere strictly to the criteria for the selection which is 60 percent National merit, 30 percent equality of states and 10 percent exigency.
Earlier in her welcome address, the Chairperson of Principals of Federal Unity colleges who is also the Principal of Queens Collage Lagos,Dr Tokunbo Yakubu-Oyinloye said government’s guidelines on merit and equality of states will be followed strictly so as to get the best candidates for the Nation’s Unity Colleges.
Highlights of the opening ceremony included a guided tour of the host college, Federal Government Girls College Benin, by the Principal of the collage Mrs Aghedo Osamediame.
