The Provost, Federal College of Education (Technical), Asaba, Delta State, Prof. Josephine Anene-Okeakwa, has said that the Federal Government was working towards addressing the issue of low enrollment in colleges of education across the country, as she called on media practitioners to imbibe the principle of responsible journalism.
Prof. Anene-Okeakwa made the observation while speaking to journalists who visited her institution following a report on some online media platforms that lecturers were more than students studying at the institution.
She expressed deep disappointment over the misleading publication, stating that the author failed to conduct proper research before making such allegations.
Prof. Anene-Okeakwa acknowledged that student enrollment in Colleges of Education was generally low across the country, especially in Southern Nigeria, compared to what it used to be in the past, but firmly refuted claims that lecturers outnumber students at FCE (Technical), Asaba.
She clarified that the Federal Government is already tackling the issue, citing the introduction of a dual-mode system that allows the institution to run both NCE and degree programs, thereby increasing enrollment.
Appealing for responsible journalism, the Provost called on journalists to uphold professionalism by thoroughly investigating reports before publishing. She commended the visiting journalists for taking the time to verify facts firsthand rather than relying on rumours from enemies of the college.
On the growing disregard for education, she expressed concern over the rising belief among Nigerian youths that “education is a scam”.
Prof. Anene-Okeakwa warned against such misconceptions as she charged young people to understand that education remains the foundation of success in any field.
She also appealed to wealthy individuals and politicians to sponsor students from rural communities as part of their constituency projects, emphasizing that the college has sufficient hostel accommodations and state-of-the-art facilities for students at all levels.
On the Government’s commitment to Colleges of Education, the Provost assured the public that the Federal Government is making deliberate efforts to address challenges facing Colleges of Education. She reaffirmed the institution’s commitment to delivering quality teacher education and encouraged prospective students to take advantage of the available opportunities.
Calling for collective action, Prof. Anene-Okeakwa concluded by thanking the journalists for their visit and fact-finding efforts, urging the media to support institutions by promoting factual and positive narratives that encourage enrollment and development in the education sector.
With her clarifications, the Federal College of Education (Technical), Asaba, hopes to dispel misinformation and attract more students into its programmes, reinforcing the critical role of education in national development.
Journalists, after the tour of projects (some completed while some are ongoing), praised Prof. Anene-Okeakwa for the transformation that has taken place under her administration and encouraged her not to be discouraged by unwarranted attacks from quarters within and outside the institute.
