Gombe Deputy Governor Calls for Education Rebirth in North-East, Backs Skills-Based Teacher Training

Gombe State Deputy Governor, Dr. Manassah Daniel Jatau, has called for a comprehensive rebirth of education in the North-East, stressing the need for reforms that reposition education as a foundation for knowledge, innovation, entrepreneurship and sustainable development, rather than merely a pathway to employment.

Dr. Jatau made the call when the Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE), Dr. Angela Ajala, led Provosts of Colleges of Education across the North-East on a courtesy visit to the Gombe State Government.

The delegation, hosted by the Provost of the Federal College of Education (Technical), Gombe, Dr. Muhammad Ghazali Abdul Hamid, comprised heads of federal, state and private Colleges of Education from Gombe, Bauchi, Borno, Taraba, Adamawa and Yobe States.

The Deputy Governor said the North-East must urgently rethink its approach to education, noting that the region was experiencing growth without commensurate development due to gaps in the quality and application of knowledge.

He observed that difficulties faced by graduates in securing formal employment had contributed to declining enthusiasm for education in some communities, stressing that education must be presented as a tool for improving any legitimate profession or vocation.

Dr. Jatau welcomed the NCCE's reforms aimed at integrating skills acquisition into teacher education, saying the approach would produce graduates who are academically qualified and practically equipped to contribute to society.

He called for stronger collaboration among federal and state governments, Colleges of Education, communities and relevant agencies to address challenges confronting education, and urged stakeholders to intensify efforts against drug abuse among youths.

Earlier, the NCCE Executive Secretary, Dr. Angela Ajala, said teacher education remained central to national development, as teachers shape the quality of other professions and society at large.

She explained that the NCCE was implementing significant reforms, particularly the Dual Mandate, which allows Colleges of Education to offer both the National Certificate in Education (NCE) and degree programmes.

According to her, under the emerging five-year structure, students will have the opportunity to acquire an NCE, a Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.) and a globally recognised skills certification.

She called on state governments to domesticate the Dual Mandate policy through their Houses of Assembly to enable state and private Colleges of Education to fully participate in the reform, and disclosed that every College of Education is expected to establish a skills centre to serve students and youths in host communities.

Dr. Ajala appealed for increased investment in Colleges of Education and stronger partnerships involving government, industry, development partners and regulatory agencies.

At the event, the NCCE presented an award to Gombe State Governor, Alhaji Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, in recognition of his administration's contribution to education, while the state government presented copies of the Gombe State 10-Year Development Plan (DEVAGOM) and the state scorecard to the NCCE leadership.

The meeting was attended by the Secretary to the State Government, Professor Ibrahim Abubakar Njodi, Commissioner for Education, Professor Aishatu Umar Maigari, other commissioners, education administrators, provosts and members of the media.