Gombe gov inaugurates higher institutions’ visitation panels
By Ben Ngwakwe, Gombe.
Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, has inaugurated the visitation panels to all the state-owned institutions of higher learning with the firm desire to ensure efficient and transparent management of the tertiary institutions and to foster accountability and improving access to higher education in the State.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony on Thursday in Gombe, the Governor explained that since coming to office in 2019 his administration has pursued a holistic reform of the education sector through the declaration of state of emergency on education as well as they set out to aggressively address various challenges bedeviling the sector.
He pointed out that the aggressive measures taken have provided positive results among which is The construction and/or renovation of over 1440 classrooms across 350 schools in the state and Mopping up of over 350,000 out of school children through BESDA.
Others are the upgrading of 5 Secondary Schools to Mega School standard, and constructed of four special schools in order to take care of physically challenged students recruitment of 1,000 teachers in order to address the human resource gaps in the education sector and the construction of 4 Integrated Qur’anic Almajiri Schools with a view to aligning them with the formal education sector.
He said, “It was gratifying that all these efforts have started bearing fruits, as the percentage of the students who scored five credits and above (including math and English) rose from 26 per cent in 2019 to 78 cent in 2022 while Gombe State has the highest number of students admitted into tertiary institutions among the six states in the North-east subregion in 2022, with a total of 6112 new admissions, according to the report of the North-East Governors Forum Committee on Education.
“Interestingly, 87 per cent of this (that is, 5,334 students) were admitted into tertiary institutions within the state. This further highlights the crucial role our tertiary institutions play in the education of our youth.Therefore, our tertiary educational institutions hold the key to unlocking the potentials of our youth by equipping them with knowledge, skills, and values that will shape their future and that of the state. It is imperative that we continuously strive to improve our state-owned institutions of higher learning in order to meet the needs of both students and the state for a qualified and competitive manpower in the rapidly-changing global economy.”
Yahaya remarked that against this backdrop and in compliance with extant laws establishing the institutions that he took the decision to constitute the visitation panels for the following institutions: i. Gombe State University, Gombe; Gombe State Polytechnic, Bajoga; Gombe State College of Education, Billiri; Gombe State College of Education and Legal Studies, Nafada;
and Gombe State College of Health Science and Technology, Kaltungo.
According to him, “In line with global best practice, I expect you to conduct a thorough and impartial assessment of these institutions, leaving no stone unturned. The panels are also expected to assess the degree of compliance of the institutions with existing regulations, as well as issues regarding staff welfare and financial discipline. I urge you to engage with the academic community, students, administrative staff, and other stakeholders so as to ensure that this assignment is all-inclusive. Details of your Terms of Reference, with specific consideration to the peculiarities of the institutions, will be provided by the secretary to the government after the inauguration.”
The Governor said the visitations are expected to be concluded within two months and reports of the findings of each panel will be submitted to the Government for further action while the recommendations that they proffer would shape the future of these institutions, charting the path towards academic success, infrastructural development, and efficient management of resources.
He added, “It is my hope that your report will serve as a blueprint for us to build an educational system that empowers our youth and prepares them to tackle the challenges of the 21st century.
He emphasised the need for transparency, integrity, and fairness in the evaluation process, saying “Our commitment to quality education demands that we assess these institutions with objectivity, ensuring that our actions reflect the best interests of the students and the State.”
Yahaya called on the management of all the institutions to cooperate with their respective panels, and to make available all relevant documents and records that they may require and assured them that his administration is committed to charting a course towards progress, development, and transformative change in the educational sector.
