FG Fully Funds Technical Colleges, Warns Against Illegal Charges

The Federal Government has restated its stand on free technical education, making it clear that no Nigerian child should be barred from Federal Technical Colleges because of hidden or unlawful payments. The Honourable Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Tunji Alausa, emphasised that the government covers tuition and a long list of approved charges, so families are not to be burdened.

What the Funding Covers

The free package is not just about tuition. The government foots the bill for:

• Boarding
• Uniforms
• Textbooks and exercise books
• Stationery, ID cards and prospectus
• Clubs and societies
• Medical services
• Vocational needs
• Utilities and security
• Website and e-result services
• Skool Media
• Extra lessons
• Insurance

Parents are not to pay a kobo for these. Circulars are being issued to all schools and families to reinforce this directive.

Minister's Warning

Dr Alausa did not mince words. Principals and administrators are banned from asking parents for unauthorised charges. Any such demands should be reported directly to the Ministry.

• Hotline: 0803 657 6733, 0803 637 3796
• Email: tse@education.gov.ng

He added that while the core costs are fully funded, students who board are expected to bring personal belongings like bedding, clothing and toiletries.

Items Students Must Provide

For new entrants, especially TVET 1 students, the list of personal needs includes:

• Sunday or Jumat wear with scarf or hijab
• One blanket, cover cloth, towel, pillow and beddings (with house colours where stated)
• Slippers, rubber shoes, rain boots or raincoat (optional)
• Undergarments, socks, mosquito net, sanitary towels for girls
• Toiletries such as soap, toothpaste, comb, detergent, disinfectant
• Torchlight with batteries, water bottle, 10-litre keg
• Mattress with mackintosh
• Cutlery set, cup, plate and bowl
• Padlock and school shoes
• One ream of A4 paper (80 grams) for registration

The list may look long, but it is made up mostly of everyday items.

Bigger Picture

This move ties into President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's Renewed Hope Agenda, with Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) placed at the centre of national growth. By training young people with real, employable skills, the government hopes to shape a more self-reliant Nigeria.

Monitoring systems have been put in place to catch violations quickly. Stakeholders, from school heads to parents, are urged to safeguard this free education policy so that Federal Technical Colleges can keep producing skilled graduates who add value to the country.

As Dr Alausa put it, the mission is simple: "No Nigerian child should be denied access to technical education because of illegal charges."

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Meet The Author

This post is authored by Olusegun Fapohunda, the founder and editor of MySchoolGist.

Boasting over a decade of expertise in the education sector, Olusegun offers current insights into educational trends, career opportunities and the latest news.

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