By: Janet Samuel

The Senior Staff Union in Colleges of Education, Nigeria (SSUCOEN) has called for the mainstreaming of staff of demonstration schools in its entire Colleges of Education (COE).

President of the Union, Mr Danladi Msheliza, made the request during a meeting with the Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu in Abuja.

Msheliza said that this was a requirement for graduating of students of primary Education Studies (PES) and Early Childhood Care Education (ECCE).

“But when salaries and wages commission wrote to your office to give clarification on the status of possession of schools in colleges of education and the need to be mainstreamed, in your response to them signed by the permanent secretary you stated that the ministry has carefully examined our document

“And that the 2021 edition of the NCE on minimum standards for Early Child Care and Primary Education Studies should be established in demonstration schools

“But if the institutions are not able to do so, it should adopt school community of their reach which is also against the content of this document,” he said.

He therefore clarified that there was no 2021 edition of the minimum standards but only had 2020 edition saying the minimum standards had clearly stated that demonstration schools shall be established within the vicinity of colleges.

While appreciating the Minister for the reappointment of the Provost of College of Education, Gombe, he called on the minister to also give more prominence to issues of the colleges especially as it relate to the non-payment of arrears of minimum wages for its staff.

Speaking on the revitalization fund of the colleges, the president called on the minister to resume the stalled renegotiation of the 2010 FGN/SSUCOEN Agreement.

He added that there was also the need to release the approved revitalization fund to colleges arising from the NEED Assessment exercise.

Responding, the Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu said the ministry would establish a committee to look into the letter and amend appropriately.

He promised to attend to the issues from the union especially on the acceptance of the staff of demonstration school into the Colleges Of Education.