News
Provost of Federal College of Education (Technical), Asaba, Laments Low Enrollment, Misleading Media Reports
By Francis Sadhere, Warri
The Provost of the Federal College of Education (Technical), Asaba, Delta State, Prof. Josephine Anene-Okeakwa, has expressed concern over the issue of low student enrollment in colleges of education across the country, while urging media practitioners to uphold responsible journalism.
Speaking to journalists who visited the institution following reports on some online media platforms claiming that the number of lecturers at the college surpassed that of students, Prof. Anene-Okeakwa refuted the allegations. She emphasized that the report was misleading and based on a lack of proper research.
Prof. Anene-Okeakwa acknowledged that enrollment in colleges of education has been generally low, particularly in Southern Nigeria, compared to previous years.
However, she stressed that the claims regarding an imbalance between staff and student numbers at the Federal College of Education (Technical), Asaba, were unfounded.
The Provost revealed that the Federal Government is already addressing the issue of low enrollment through initiatives such as the introduction of a dual-mode system. This allows the institution to run both National Certificate in Education (NCE) and degree programs, which has resulted in an increase in student enrollment.
Appealing to media professionals, Prof. Anene-Okeakwa urged journalists to ensure they conduct thorough investigations and verify facts before publishing reports.
She expressed her gratitude to the visiting journalists for their commitment to fact-checking and refraining from relying on rumors, especially those originating from “enemies of the college.”
Further, the Provost expressed concern over a growing negative perception among Nigerian youth, with some believing that “education is a scam.”
She strongly warned against such misconceptions, stressing the importance of education as the foundation for success in any field.
Prof. Anene-Okeakwa also called on wealthy individuals and politicians to sponsor students from rural communities as part of their constituency projects, emphasizing that the college has adequate hostel accommodations and state-of-the-art facilities for students at all levels.
In her remarks on the Federal Government’s commitment to addressing challenges in Colleges of Education, she assured the public that the government is actively working on solutions.
She reiterated the institution’s commitment to delivering quality teacher education and encouraged prospective students to take advantage of the opportunities available.
Concluding her address, Prof. Anene-Okeakwa thanked the journalists for their visit and for verifying the facts firsthand.
She urged the media to support educational institutions by promoting positive narratives that would encourage student enrollment and foster development in the education sector.
Following a tour of completed and ongoing projects at the college, journalists praised Prof. Anene-Okeakwa for her leadership and the remarkable transformation under her administration. They encouraged her not to be discouraged by unwarranted attacks, whether from within or outside the institution.
With the clarifications made by the Provost, the Federal College of Education (Technical), Asaba, aims to dispel the misinformation and attract more students, reinforcing the critical role of education in national development.
End
The Provost of the Federal College of Education (Technical), Asaba, Delta State, Prof. Josephine Anene-Okeakwa, has expressed concern over the issue of low student enrollment in colleges of education across the country, while urging media practitioners to uphold responsible journalism.
Speaking to journalists who visited the institution following reports on some online media platforms claiming that the number of lecturers at the college surpassed that of students, Prof. Anene-Okeakwa refuted the allegations. She emphasized that the report was misleading and based on a lack of proper research.
Prof. Anene-Okeakwa acknowledged that enrollment in colleges of education has been generally low, particularly in Southern Nigeria, compared to previous years.
However, she stressed that the claims regarding an imbalance between staff and student numbers at the Federal College of Education (Technical), Asaba, were unfounded.
The Provost revealed that the Federal Government is already addressing the issue of low enrollment through initiatives such as the introduction of a dual-mode system. This allows the institution to run both National Certificate in Education (NCE) and degree programs, which has resulted in an increase in student enrollment.
Appealing to media professionals, Prof. Anene-Okeakwa urged journalists to ensure they conduct thorough investigations and verify facts before publishing reports.
She expressed her gratitude to the visiting journalists for their commitment to fact-checking and refraining from relying on rumors, especially those originating from “enemies of the college.”
Further, the Provost expressed concern over a growing negative perception among Nigerian youth, with some believing that “education is a scam.”
She strongly warned against such misconceptions, stressing the importance of education as the foundation for success in any field.
Prof. Anene-Okeakwa also called on wealthy individuals and politicians to sponsor students from rural communities as part of their constituency projects, emphasizing that the college has adequate hostel accommodations and state-of-the-art facilities for students at all levels.
In her remarks on the Federal Government’s commitment to addressing challenges in Colleges of Education, she assured the public that the government is actively working on solutions.
She reiterated the institution’s commitment to delivering quality teacher education and encouraged prospective students to take advantage of the opportunities available.
Concluding her address, Prof. Anene-Okeakwa thanked the journalists for their visit and for verifying the facts firsthand.
She urged the media to support educational institutions by promoting positive narratives that would encourage student enrollment and foster development in the education sector.
Following a tour of completed and ongoing projects at the college, journalists praised Prof. Anene-Okeakwa for her leadership and the remarkable transformation under her administration. They encouraged her not to be discouraged by unwarranted attacks, whether from within or outside the institution.
With the clarifications made by the Provost, the Federal College of Education (Technical), Asaba, aims to dispel the misinformation and attract more students, reinforcing the critical role of education in national development.
End
