The Bauchi State Government has shut down 39 unregistered private colleges of education, according to Commissioner for Higher Education, Lydia Tsammani, who made the announcement at a press conference in Bauchi on Thursday.
Tsammani explained that the affected institutions lacked approval from the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE) and failed to establish adequate infrastructure, saying, “A total of 39 colleges were found to be without anything.
They are operating in primary schools and when the school closes, then the NCE programmes start…”
She further highlighted the substandard conditions, stating, “They even borrowed teachers because they don’t have anything to make them stand as a college.” This emphasizes the lack of resources and qualified staff in these unregistered colleges.
The ministry had previously issued a notice to unregistered colleges with approved structures, giving them six months to complete their registration or face sanctions, Tsammani revealed. This move aims to ensure that only legitimate institutions operate in the state.
Tsammani also mentioned that 12 colleges with NCCE approval would be allowed to continue operating, but only if they meet certain conditions.
These include engaging qualified staff, paying registration fees to the ministry, admitting only qualified candidates, and continuously upgrading school facilities and equipment.
She emphasized the need for improvement, pointing out that some colleges were still using analogue typewriters in their offices, highlighting the need for modernization in this digital era.
