The Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu, says the Federal Government is working toward establishing six new universities of science and technology to expand access to tertiary education.
The Education Minister Malam Adamu Adamu, disclosed this at a News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Forum on Tuesday in Abuja.
He said that the future of the world depended on science and technology.
“This government has already decided to even add more; it is going to establish six new universities of science and technology.
“And at the lower level, there will be a technical school in each state of the federation and then vocational centres at the wards and local government levels.
“You know, we have a problem of access; if you look at it last year, one million people sat for the universities but only 150,000 were taken.
“So, we still need to build more universities to create more space for those who want to get in.
“And then the fact that the six new universities are being created for science and technology underscores the decision by the government to put more emphasis on science.”
According to him, the move is in tandem with the campaign promises of the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led Federal Government.
He said that over the years the Federal Government had laid emphasis on science and technology by giving more access to students in such fields.
Adamu recalled that during the tenure of Prof. Babs Fafunwa as the Minister of Education, it was agreed that the ratio of science to arts should be 60 to 40.
The minister noted that ever since, the policy had been carried out by successive governments it remains the stance of the present Federal Government.
He further said that the new universities would be located in the six geo-political zones.
“Whether we agree or not, oil has limited time before it finishes; the whole economies of the world are going towards the knowledge economy.
“Actually, it is the cultivation of Science, Technology and Engineering studies that will hold the economy in the future.”
On Almajiri issue, the minister said that the Federal Government recognised the problem; hence the building of Almajiri schools.
He said that there was a steady progress in the Almajiri education as well as boy-child drop out issue in the South-East and problems bordering on girl-child education. (NAN)
•Photo shows Malam Adamu.
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