By Gabriel Udeh, kaduna
Kaduna State College of Education (CoE) Gidan Waya, on Friday opened a part time Study Centre in Jagindi, Jemaa Local Government Area (LGA), Kaduna state.
The centre, which is currently operating from Government Day Secondary School, Jagind will offer National Certificate of Education (NCE) in a combination of ten courses, “mainly in arts, religion, education and social sciences.
The Chairman of Jemaa LGA, Peter Danjuma Averik, speaking at the inauguration of the centre, enthused that opportunity for learning has been brought to the grass roots for all those who intend to add value to themselves and become professional teachers.
Averik who said he bagged his first degree through part time studies from the University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, told the new students that the quality of education they would obtain and the certificate that will be issued them after successful completion is same as the one obtained through regular studies.
He said that a higher certificate creates an array of oppurnities for greater things in the future.
The Provost of CoE, Prof. Alexander Kure, who inaugurated the centre, said the centre was established in line with the educational policy of Governor Nasir el-Rufai, who, according to him, places educational advancement as one of his most important goals.
“When I came in as provost, I said I was going to work in that direction. And that’s what informed the creation of this centre,” he said.
“I am happy for the pioneer students of this programme, because apart from academics, they shall also learn entrepreneurship. And I want to assure you that no trained teacher is ever idle in a rural area. There will always be a group of people earnestly seeking to learn who will engage you if you are unable to secure formal employment,” he said.
“I come from a family of teachers. My dad, my mum, brothers, sister, my wife and most of my family members and I are teachers. In fact, at a time, my family had 38 teachers.
“Yes, there is no money in teaching,” said the former Deputy Vice Chancellor, Admin, Kaduna State University (KASU), “but we are proud of the dignity and the noble service that comes with the humble profession of teaching.
“And think we deserve to be in the Guinness Book of records for a family from a single father to have 38 teachers,” he said.
According to the coordinator of the Programme, Mallam Mohammed Abdullahi, 35 students have enrolled with more expected. He said that 20 qualified volunteer lectures from the Jagindi Community have agreed to teach as their contribution to their community.
He said that more students were welcomed to apply as admission was still opened till the end of February, 2021.
Mr Kefas Luka, who spoke on behalf of the students, said he was grateful for the chance offered them to study and acquire advance certificates and asked for God’s blessings on the programme.
