Imo Govt. will prioritize vocational, technical education -Onwuliri

Gov. Emeka Ihedioha has declared that his administration will prioritize vocational and technical education in order to tackle unemployment in the State. This was made known by the Commissioner for Education, Prof. (Noble Lady) Viola Adaku Onwuliri, during an official visit to the Imo State College of Education, Ihitte Uboma.
Speaking further, Prof. Onwuliri revealed that the Rebuild Imo Government, had planned to achieve the foregoing, by revamping the four Technical Colleges in the State, hitherto neglected by the immediate past administration of Rochas Okorocha.
While addressing the Management of the Institution, the Commissioner who was acompanied in the visit by some top officers of the Ministry, also stated that Government was making every effort to ensure that the College moves to it’s permanent site, as soon as practicable.
She also expressed satisfaction with the successful Enlistment Verification Visit by the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETfund) to the College. As a result, she called upon well meaning individuals and organizations to partner with the Government in the development of the Institution, especially in the area of infrastructure.
Furthermore, the Education Czar enjoined the Management of the College to exploit other avenues of raising funds for the Institution, by organizing a stakeholders forum to create awareness for such support. Stressing that education is a collective responsibility that shouldn’t be left for Government alone.
Prof. Onwuliri congratulated the Management of the lnstitution for achievements recorded so far. She urged them to make conscious and aggressive efforts towards increasing the number of student’s enrolment, by sensitizing the public through the communities, churches and other social organizations. The Commissioner announced that the Ministry of Education had instituted a prize for the Best Graduating Student in lgbo Language, in line with the Rebuild Imo Government’s efforts to promote lgbo language and culture.
Also speaking at the event, the Executive Secretary of the Secondary Education Management Board (SEMB), Barr Oby Anyikude requested the College Management to officially inform the Board of its students going for teaching practice, as it is the case with Alvan Ikoku Federal College of Education and lmo State University. So that the Board can also avail the students with the instructional materials provided by the Rebuild Imo Government.
Earlier, the Provost of the College, Dr. Chris Osuegbu disclosed that the College has about 200 Students with a staff strength of 66, comprising of 61 teaching and 5 non-teaching staff. He stated that the College has advanced from providing only Pre-National Certificate of Education (NCE) programmes to running additional four Schools, namely : Schools of Languages, Arts and Social Sciences, Sciences and General Education, as approved by the National Council for Colleges of Education (NCCE).
Speaking further, he said that Management is making efforts to ensure that courses are accredited by the Council, before the graduation of students. He revealed that the College was initially established as a specialized College of Technical Education, but with the amendment of the Law in 2014, it is no longer one.
However, Dr. Osuegbu hinted that the final year Students are doing their teaching practice and that in the next two years, the College would produce the best lgbo language teachers. He said the lnstitution has sought for an affiliation with the University of Port Harcourt and will initiate similar move with the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
The Provost also said that the Management of the lnstitution is committed to increasing the number of the students and have adopted various measures to that effect. He drew the attention of Government to the infrastructural needs of the College which was also pointed out by the NCCE as follows: moving the Madonna Science School out of the Campus to its new site at lhitte Uboma Secondary School, accommodation for staff, hostel for students, electricity challenges, amongst others.
The Commissioner and her entourage were conducted round by the Management to inspect some of the facilities and offices of the Institution.